Did you know that the correct functioning of some plugins is dependent the “plugin-friendliness” of your WordPress theme?
The themes that come default with WordPress are okay. But if you’re using a theme designed by someone else, you might want to inspect it to make sure.
First go to the “Theme Editor” tab under the Design or Presentation section. You’ll see a list of files — click the files whose names are listed below, and look for these lines of code. (Of course, if any of this code isn’t there, you can always copy/paste it in yourself and click Save.)
- Header — Does your theme have this important line of code before the </head> closing tag? It’s used by plugins to insert JavaScript, CSS, meta tags, etc. WordPress itself even uses it to insert some header code.
<?php wp_head(); ?> - Sidebar — Although not as commonly used by plugins, it would be good for this code to be found in the “Meta” section of your sidebar:
<?php wp_meta(); ?> - Comments — This should go at the end of your comment form, before the </form> closing tag. It’s critical for the function of some plugins, such as the popular “Subscribe to Comments.”
<?php do_action('comment_form', $post->ID); ?> - Footer — This line of code should be at the bottom of your theme, before the closing </body> tag. It can be used, among other things, to insert JavaScript code or statistical information (spam counters, etc).
<?php wp_footer(); ?>
Did your theme pass the test?
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i think some of my plugins or my theme has disable features (such as avatars) in WP 2.5.1…what do i do, change my theme?
@natural: Yes, the easiest way to add WP 2.5 avatars is to find a theme that supports them.
“natural”: Try the “Easy Gravatars” plugin if your theme doesn’t already support them.
John: Good article. Short and too the point. You might be a bit more specific in that wp_footer should probably go right before the closing body tag.
Thank for the article!
@Stephen R: Thanks; I’ve updated the article to state that wp_footer should go before </body>
@Yoyon Sugiono: Glad you found the article helpful.
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Hi, I landed up reading this through a link from SEO Ultimate, a SEO plugin I have recently switched over to in an effort to clean up a site with a lot of duplicate content in meta and title tags. A lot of problems trying to sort out duplicate content leading from a translation plugin and trying to understand the structure to follow. SEO ultimate is the Ultimate in SEO plugins and this article made me track back once again to my theme, so thanks – information really does not age!
for #3
“Comments — This should go at the end of your comment form, before the closing tag. It’s critical for the function of some plugins, such as the popular “Subscribe to Comments.”
ID); ?>”
What if the comments.php doesn’t have a closing tag? The code ends with these strings:
Do I place ID); ?> before or will that mess up the code?
So sorry I’m new at this?