WordPress Plugin: New2WP Author Box Version 1.0
New2WP Author Box
I am very aware that there are dozens of WordPress plugins already available out there that add an author bio box to posts providing a bit of info about the post author. What I am not sure of, and correct me if I'm wrong, is there is no other plugin that will add a Twitter field to your profile, that will be used in that author bio box.
What my plugin does is it utilizes the WordPress dashboard profile section, which is so very neglected to my knowledge. It will replace the Yahoo IM field that most people may find rather useless, with a Twitter field.
Authors can then add their Twitter name, if they choose, and using the other existing fields they can add their URL to their website, with a little blurb about themselves in the biographical info box, and obviously their email address.
A breakdown of what profile fields the Author Box plugin uses and what the information is used for:
- Email - *required by default in WordPress. Is used to show gravatar image.
- Nick Name - *required by default in WordPress. Link's the gravatar image to all other posts by the author.
- Biographical Info - *required Shows the "About the Author" blurb.
- Display Name - (optional) Used in the text of website and Twitter links.
- URL / Website - (optional) adds a link to authors' website.
- Twitter Name - (optional) adds a link to authors' Twitter page.
All of this info is what the plugin uses to create the Author Box that you see below.
This screenshot is taken from my other website Tweeaks.com where I am currently using this plugin. You can view it in action here.
Requirements
Currently in this release, in order to use this, you must have at least a short blurb about yourself in the bio field, as well as your email address, which is used to your Gravatar image. If you do not have either of these, then it will just show a blank box. But I assume if you are going to install this, you will plan on using it right? So these will probably be filled in, so you don't have anything to worry about.
I haven't yet implemented any options to change the styling of the box, and that will be in the next release for sure. Also, I plan to add other options, such as adding more fields, or enabling and disabling other fields.
Any suggestions would be greatly welcomed. If you would like to see something I have not mentioned in the next release, or if you have any issues, or questions about the plugin, please let a comment below.
Installation and Usage
1. Upload the whole plugin folder to your /wp-content/plugins/ folder.
2. Go to the Plugins page in the WordPress dashboard and activate the plugin.
3. Go to your profile page in WordPress dashboard and enter in your email address, a short bio about yourself, Twitter name and website URL in the form fields. Email and bio are required.
4. Check your blog posts to see if it is showing up between your posts and comments.
Here is a more narrow version (520px) in case the one above is too wide for your posts.
I am currently waiting for WordPress subversion access, and as soon as I get it, I will be adding this to the WordPress plugin repository. For now, you can download this plugin here in case you do not see the the download button above.
About the Author
Jared is from Boston working as a web and graphic designer. Also owns the design blog Tweeaks.com, and has designed many other websites powered by Wordpress including the New2WP theme.
User Comments
( ADD YOURS )Jill March 12
Hey!
Just installed it. Looks great! Is there any way to turn it on or off? We would like to have it on for guest posts, but for routine posts we would like it removed.
Please let me know. Thanks.
Jared March 12
Glad you like it! Right now there is no way to select who the box will show up for and who it won't. The only way to turn it off is by disabling the plugin.
I will try to come up with something like this for you this weekend, or asap. I have a lot more planned for it as well too.
I can email you if/when I add this functionality for you if you like. I will also update this post with any near future updates to version 1.0 as well.
Jill March 15
Jared,
That sounds great! Thanks for your excitement and willingness to help. Please keep me posted on your progress. We are looking forward to it and will pass the word along.
Jaggs March 19
Hi,
Nice plugin, thanks very much. :) How can I move the actual box up a little? At the moment it's clashing with my Intense Debate box and I would like it placed higher up the page a little.
Jared March 19
What is your website so I can see what you mean exactly?
Nogizaka March 19
Thank you so much ;) I'm using it on my site right now :)
I cant wait for more features :D
Jared March 20
I'm happy you like it. I was working hard last night on adding new features.
In the next version, hopefully this week, it will have features such as:
Option to add a link to Facebook fan page or profile.
Ability to change the colors of it to match your site.
Size of gravatar image.
Pick and choose which users/author levels to display it for.
And more!!
I am still waiting for WordPress to allow me to upload it to the plugin directory (they can be slow in response to that) but once they do, you will be able to upgrade it right from your dashboard. For now though check back here for any updates.
Laura April 9
This is just what I was looking for. A lovely plugin. It is a bit too wide for my column. Not a real problem, just doesn't look as nice as it could. I hope you add more options so we could link to Flickr, Facebook, Tumblr, and etc. I wanted to move all my social media networks into this rather than have them cluttering up my blog's sidebar.
Jared April 9
Yes I've been working on adding more options. The next version will have things like:
Complete control of the color settings (background, border, heading, text, links)
Ability to change the size of the Gravatar image
Hide/show for different user levels (admin, author, editor, contributor)
Choice to include more social profile links (facebook, youtube, etc.)
Choice of icons for each link
Ability to change the width
Ability to change the location (top or bottom of post)
And more I think...
I am open to any suggestions anyone might have that they'd like to see included too. I have been working hard to make the next release of it 10 times better and am close to completing it.
Dene May 1
Hi Jared
Thanks for your nice plugin. It looks like WordPress 3.0 has the ability to add the Author's image to his/her profile. Is your plugin able to display that image if the Author doesn't have a gravatar?
Jared May 1
Unfortunately no it doesn't. It was a feature I had planned to add in a newer version, but I have not completed making it yet. I've been really busy lately and haven't had much time to work on this.
There are plugins that add that kind of functionality to profiles. I can't think of any off the top of my head besides the Author Image plugin.
Dene May 2
Thanks Jared
I installed the Author image plugin. The replaced your;
with:
Works great.
Thanks again.
Ali May 10
how can i move this author box above adsense code, in my blog
http://www.smashinghub.com
Omar Jutt June 16
author bio plugin crashes :(
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting T_OLD_FUNCTION or T_FUNCTION or T_VAR or '}' in C:\...\wp-content\plugins\author-box-1\authorbox.php on line 28
Omar Jutt June 16
Problem solved :)
another problem. I want to place the author box just below the post and above the 'sexybookmarks'. take a look at my blog. Please do help me.
Regards.
suyesh July 13
what is that subscribe to rss thing after ur post ?
Jared July 13
@suyesh Just a little box I added to single.php. I'll write a tutorial on how to do something like that for you.
Mario July 29
Hey,
thanks for this great Plugin. I will try to setup a WordPress for 10-12 Authors in a few weeks, and this Plugin is the right thing to inform the visitors about the Editors - Great Job, Thank you for this!
Jeremy Meyers August 2
Hey Jared-
Dig the plugin... a couple of things
1) the image seems to not be automatically 'floating left' as relative to the bio (using it on http://www.newcommbiz.com at the moment, and the image pushes the bio down below it)
2) being able to call the box as a function (i.e. ?php the_author_box()) would allow us to place this wherever we like (just like wp-greetbox does)
Jared August 2
@Jeremy Try using this version of the plugin instead. I've fixed some of the CSS.
Let me know if it doesn't work any better.
http://new2wp.com/labs/downloads/New2WP_Author_Box.v2.zip
As for making it a function that you can call where ever you want, that's something that would require an option to embed manually or automatically. I haven't had time to finish making the updated version for this, that includes various other options as well. This will be added if/when I finish making an update, hopefully soon.
Jeremy Meyers August 3
I'm getting a "this plugin does not have a valid header" error
Jared August 4
Oops, my bad sorry. I made a mistake zipping the files correctly. Try re-downloading it and check that there is no subfolders. All the files should be in the same directory.
David Knapp August 19
I like your plugin but is there a way to change the location of the box? It needs to be located below my post but above the related posts area. Thanks.
David Knapp recently posted..Spiritual Growth with Myers-Briggs
Jason August 20
Thanks jared for the plugin. I was just wondering how to change the color of the font being used with the plugin.
Thanks again
Jared August 20
You can edit the CSS stylesheet file that is included in the zip file of the download. There is no way to do it from the dashboard in the current version.
Jared August 20
That would require having the ability to manually embed a code to call a function for showing the box. It's on my list of things to do, but haven't had the time to add it yet. Plugins that are added to the bottom of posts like related posts, and others, are randomly added I believe, so the only way to control the order is to manually embed a function into single.php to call the plugins in the order you want.
Steve August 25
Jared, I'm having the same problem that Jeremy was having. The image isn't floating left and is pushing the bio down. I am using the later version that you provided for him. Any way to fix this?
Steve recently posted..A Warm Welcome to Angella
Steve August 25
Nevermind. I added float:left; to the .authorbio img and it's working great now.
Jared August 26
Ok cool. I don't know why that wasn't already floated left because I know I remember doing that. Glad you were able to fix it.
Federico August 27
Hi Jared
Cool plugin. Just wanted to say that although I downloaded it and installed it I am going to wait for the updated version because what I want is to give a short bio of guest authors of my blog. Readers already know who I am and I don't need my own author box. I look fwd to that release!
Federico
Mario September 3
Thank you for this great plugin. Its a very usefull Plugin, i will test it on our blogs. More information "About Author" is what people want to know. Thanks :)
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