You will notice that I have stopped using the threaded comments plugin that I had activated on this blog. The reason for this is the forthcoming changes with regards to comments that are included in WordPress 2.7. The threaded bits used by the mentioned plugin will not work in the new version of WordPress and therefore I have de-activated it. For now some of the comments might appear a little out of place but as new comments are made the situation will rectify itself.
I you have also been using a plugin to give you the threaded comments functionality you might just be lucky. Not all plugins will fail to work with the new WordPress. If the plugin you are using makes use of the comment_parent field in the comments table you should be okay. Unfortunately I chose the wrong plugin to start off with.
A lot has been written about the forthcoming changes so I am not going to repeat all of the new features. I have been using the developer’s version of WordPress for a while now and I must say, I am impressed. There are major changes in store for all of us. I do suppose there will be the usual ranting and raving about the changes but in all honesty, this version is one to look forward to. WordPress have really outdone themselves this time. In my opinion, version 2.7 is bigger than 2.5 ever was.
The changes that I would like to have a look at today are the changes to the comments. Threaded commenting will now be available for everyone to use without the need of any plugin. Unfortunately the present WordPress themes will need some tweaking to get them ready to use the new features but I am sure that most theme developers are already hard at work.
Your old theme should work as it is in the new WordPress version, the commenting included. It is only the new features (amongst these being the threading of comments) that will require changes to make the themes use the new functionality.
Enough yacking, let me show you what the new comments will look like:
This is a screenshot of the new theme I am busy developing for use on this blog. The threaded comments work like a dream and they can in fact work down to 10 levels of threading.
It is still early days, many things could still change in the new WordPress version, but what you see above is more or less what you can expect.
I also managed to get the comments separated from the trackbacks but this is another story for another day.
While I am at it, allow me to show you a little snippet of the new theme (called Hybiscus) which will be used on this site shortly.
Please do not let all of this talk about necessary changes to your theme put you off or make you wary to install the new version of WordPress when it is released. I say again, your old theme should work correctly, you will just not be able to use some of the new functionality without the necessary changes.
I cannot wait for the new baby, but then again I love tweaking code and thus all new versions are good news for me. Roll on 10 November (or round about then).
Till next time.
Do you know when 2.7 version is coming out?
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10 November is the date they are aiming at.
Lyndi, you said you are using a developer version of wordpress. Is this the same as the beta version of Wordpress 2.7?
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Arun, if you register with wordpress.org you can download the nightly builds of the latest version of WP. I do this on a daily basis but I run this version on a local XAMPP installation. The one I am using now (the one used for these graphics) is the almost beta version. The public beta version should be available any day soon.
Sounds like this is going to be an awesome roll out and your new theme — all I can say is TEASER! It looks beautiful!
Now, I would love it if you would work on a specialized theme for those of us who are photo bloggers. I’ve used a couple of different themes on Travelin’ Show and have settled on the best of them IMO, but there are improvements that could be made.
Can’t wait for both 2.7 and Hybiscus to be rolled out!
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Eagerly waiting for its release. Thank you for writing about this. The new comment system looks great. I just hope that my current theme goes along with the new version.
Oh I like that threaded comments deal in 2.7. I have a plugin now but I’ll disable it if it before upgrading for sure.
I just hope they fix the widgets page.. I still don’t like it. I don’t like that removing a widget makes it poof, if it’s a text widget.
And having to use the drop down to switch from sidebar to sidebar has never stopped annoying me.
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Cynthia, I am afraid the widgets have not changed much in the new version, maybe they will get some attention the next time around.
Margaret, thanks for the nice words. I am working hard on this one. Sometime down the line I will have a look at a possible photo blog type of theme.
Louie, I am sure most themes will hold up, it is just the comment threading that will need some attention before it will work.
I’m kinda scared about the new changes simply because I don’t have the time to tweak my blogs just to try & keep up with wordpress changes. lol
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Lyndi,it seems we are going to deal with some ‘make-over’ specially the ‘Dashboard’ yet they are not extreme make over.
Me Love WP
(grammatically wrong but I like it that way)
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Thinks for the heads up about WP 2.7. I appreciate all information that saves me problems.
Dawn, there should not be much you have to change if indeed there is anything. Some of the new features (like ’sticky’ posts) will work without any changes. Some of the other features will require a bit of tweaking.
Hicham, the dashboard changes look a bit better to me in that there are no longer so many new pages. We will all get used to the new layout pretty quickly.
Bob, there is no need to worry about the new version, everything should work just fine.
Thanks to all of you for the visit and the comment. I am missing the old threaded comments, everything feels all wrong to me now.
I was wondering where all this talk of 2.7 was coming from but I hadn’t gotten that annoying little message on my dashboard yet telling me to upgrade. Now I know, everyone’s just been writing pre-emtive posts!
I’m not sure I’m looking forward to yet another upgrade especially since I’m just about getting my blog where I want it (design wise). *sigh*
Fragileheart, the good news is that all your design changes should still work in the new version.
That’s good to hear Lyndi! Thanks
Well.. I have seen some screen shots of the new wp 2.7 and I think I’m going to like it. However..The new comment system.. I don’t know if I’m going to like OR maybe even more important, I hope that my current theme goes along with the new version!
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BioTecK, your current theme should work just fine. If you do not want the comment changes you simply leave things as they are. It is going to be interesting to see if SezWho and the other comment systems adapt to the WP changes or not.
Hi Lyndi,
Thanks for dropping by my blog. good luck on your new template which looks very nice, and like you and everybody else, Im also looking forward to v2.7
I can’t wait for WordPress 2.7
The threaded comment will definitely eliminate the use of “@Mr.X: “, “@Mr. Y: ” and so on!
Thanks Jun.
Michael, over and above the threaded comments, I am looking forward to the feature to turn comments off on older posts and to show numerous comments on an article in different pages. This last one will eliminate these endless long lists of comments all on one page.