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Mitch Canter

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Tutorial

Two Recently Updated Plugins YOU Should Be Using

CMDR Mitchcraft

Reading time: 2 minutes

Every now and then, just because I’m the biggest WordPress dork I know, I like to just peruse the plugin database to see what’s been updated recently.  After all, how can you use new plugins if you don’t know they’re there?  I’m glad I looked when I did – I found a few plugins that give you some sweet new functionality.

WYSIWYG Widgets

I’ll be honest – this plugin may start to fill a gap that I’ve had in my toolbox: content that anyone can edit.  This drops in a wysiwyg editor no different than your typical page and post editor right into the sidebar.  This lets you have full control over your content, even so much as to allow photo and video uploads.  Basically, it’s the full page editor in a bite-size package, and who couldn’t ask for more?

include_once(ABSPATH.WPINC.’/feed.php’);
$feed = fetch_feed(‘#’); // Replace the hash mark with your feed URL
$limit = $feed->get_item_quantity(3); // specify number of items to show
$items = $feed->get_items(0, $limit); // create an array of items
}
if ($limit == 0) echo ‘<div>The feed is either empty or unavailable.</div>’; // Message to show if 0 items in feed
else foreach ($items as $item) : ?>
<div class=”post”>
<a class=”rsswidget” href=”<?php echo $item->get_permalink(); ?>”
title=”<?php echo $item->get_date(‘F j Y @ g:i a’); ?>”><h2><?php echo $item->get_title(); ?></h2></a>
<p><?php echo $item->get_date(‘F j Y’); ?></p>
<div class=”entry”>
<?php echo substr($item->get_description(), 0, 100); ?> // change 100 to number of characters to show
<a class=”fullpost” href=”<?php echo $item->get_permalink(); ?>”>read more</a>
</div>
</div>
<?php endforeach; ?>

rss feeds, SimplePie, WordPress
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