Super Ginormous

Year: 2008

  • WordPress 2.7 Comments Not Threading

    Wordpress Stacked LogoHaving problems getting WordPress 2.7 Comment Threading to work on your site? Unless you’re using one of the default themes provided with each version of WordPress, chances are your theme isn’t ready for comment threading when you upgrade to WordPress 2.7. To enable comment threading, you need to do the following:

    • Enable comment threads in your admin. Go to Settings > Discussion. Check the box next to Enable threaded (nested) comments __ levels deep. Save the changes and your blog can now support threaded comments.
    • Update your comments.php by replacing it with the one provided with the Default theme that comes with WordPress 2.7 (/wp-content/themes/default/comments.php) OR follow Otto’s instructions to add threading AND inline replies. (Obviously, before you go about changing any files in your theme, make a backup of your files before making any changes to your files. It’s possible that the comments.php file bundled with your theme could have been customized. Overwriting the file will cause you to lose any customizations.)
    • Once you’ve done the first 2 things, you’re pretty much ready to go. The only thing left is to update the styles to support nesting. I’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you… with my Wordpress 2.7 Comment Style Starters (#1, #2). Simply use the provided code in your theme’s stylesheet. If you’re more hands on, consider looking over this post on Stylizing WordPress 2.7 Nested/Threaded Comments to see the structure of the CSS.

    If you’re still having problems, let me know. I’m happy to help others as time permits. If you’d prefer not to do any of this yourself, and would like me to take care of it for you, I am available for a small fee ($15 via PayPal) to make the upgrade for you. All it would require is temporary Admin access to your site. If you’re unable to use the Theme Editor to modify files through your backend, FTP access would be required. Send an email to chris@cdharrison.com if you’re interested.

  • Too Late?

    Apple Store EmployeesAugusta’s finally getting an “official” Apple Store, but is it too late?

    ifoApple Store reported yesterday: “All of Georgia’s Apple stores are clustered within a 27-mile circle north and east of Atlanta, but not for long. Apple will open a retail store at the Augusta Mall in that city, 125 miles east of Atlanta. The 1.1 million square-foot mall along Interstate 20 is operated by General Growth Properties, and features 134 shops. The mall completed a Main Street-type expansion and renovation (The Augusta Promenade) last month, where Apple could open by July 2009.”

    Additional confirmation can be found on the Apple US Jobs site where it lists Augusta, GA has a new store.

    peachmac_homeI talked about the Apple Retail Void in this region almost two years ago. But it wasn’t Apple that stepped up to fill the need. PeachMac saw an opportunity in the Augusta, GA area and opened up an awesome store in Columbia County just a couple of months ago. Darryl, who is – I assume – an employee of some degree at PeachMac, wrote in a forum regarding the Apple Store news:

    “Just wanted to point out that Apple is already in Augusta. PeachMac is one of the country’s largest Apple dealers, and recently opened a store on Washington Road in Evans. We stock more than twice as many items as an Apple company store and no appointment is needed for service. “

    I’m glad to see Apple finally taking notice of our community, but I hate that it’s coming so soon after PeachMac has setup shop here. I think the two stores can and will coexist. But I wonder how many people who are looking to buy an Apple product will go directly to an Apple Store instead of buying from a retailer that is more invested in the community they are serving? We’ll see… The new store could be open as early as July 2009.

  • WordPress 2.7 Comments – Style Starter #2

    In case you missed the first post related to WordPress 2.7 comments, please check it out. This is the second set of WordPress 2.7 Comment style starters. (Here’s Style Starter #1.) (more…)

  • WordPress 2.7 Comments – Style Starter #1

    WordPress 2.7 Comment Style Starters:

    wp-comment-style-1In case you missed the first post related to WordPress 2.7 comments, please check it out.

    As promised here’s some starter CSS for stylizing comments in your WordPress 2.7-compatible theme. I hope to release a few more over the coming days that can be added to existing themes pretty easily. You can see this in action here on the site. This “style starter” will give parent comments and their children rounded corners. (Browsers that don’t support border-radius (or -moz-border-radius or -webkit-border-radius) won’t see rounded corners.) This has been tested in Firefox 3.0.4, Internet Explorer 7, Opera 9.6 and Safari 3.1. It may require some tweaking to get it to fit properly into your theme.

    [sourcecode language=’css’]
    ol.commentlist { list-style:none; margin:0; padding:0; text-indent:0; }
    ol.commentlist li { border:1px solid #d5d5d5; border-radius:5px; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px; height:1%; margin:0 0 10px; padding:5px 7px 5px 57px; position:relative; }
    ol.commentlist li.alt { }
    ol.commentlist li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment { }
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-author { padding:0 170px 0 0; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard { font:bold 14px/1.4 helvetica,arial,sans-serif; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard cite.fn { font-style:normal; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard cite.fn a.url { color:#c00; text-decoration:none; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard cite.fn a.url:hover { color:#000; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.avatar { border:5px solid #d5d5d5; left:7px; position:absolute; top:7px; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.avatar-32 {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.photo {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard span.says {}
    ol.commentlist li div.commentmetadata {}
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-meta { font:bold 10px/1.4 helvetica,arial,sans-serif; position:absolute; right:10px; text-align:right; top:5px; }
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-meta a { color:#333; text-decoration:none; }
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-meta a:hover { color:#000; }
    ol.commentlist li p { font:normal 12px/1.4 helvetica,arial,sans-serif; margin:0 0 1em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul { font:normal 12px/1.4 helvetica,arial,sans-serif; list-style:square; margin:0 0 1em; padding:0; text-indent:0; }
    ol.commentlist li div.reply { background:#999; border:1px solid #666; border-radius:2px; -moz-border-radius:2px; -webkit-border-radius:2px; color:#fff; font:bold 9px/1 helvetica,arial,sans-serif; padding:5px 10px;  text-align:center; width:36px; }
    ol.commentlist li div.reply:hover { background:#c30; border:1px solid #c00; }
    ol.commentlist li div.reply a { color:#fff; text-decoration:none; text-transform:uppercase; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children { list-style:none; margin:1em 0 0; text-indent:0; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li { }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.alt {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.comment {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-2 { margin:0 0 .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-3 { margin:0 0 .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-4 { margin:0 0 .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-5 {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.odd {}
    ol.commentlist li.even { background:#fff; }
    ol.commentlist li.odd { background:#f6f6f6; }
    ol.commentlist li.parent { }
    ol.commentlist li.pingback { }
    ol.commentlist li.pingback.parent { }
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.vcard { padding:0 170px 0 0; }
    ol.commentlist li.thread-alt { }
    ol.commentlist li.thread-even {}
    ol.commentlist li.thread-odd {}
    [/sourcecode]

    WordPress 2.7 Comment Style Starters:

  • 20 signs you don’t want that web design project

  • Stylizing Threaded/Nested Comments in WordPress 2.7

    WordPress 2.7 Comment Style Starters:

    Wordpress Stacked Logo

    One of the features I love in WordPress 2.7 is the ability to have threaded (nested) comments up to 10 levels deep. While viewing comments on this – or any WordPress 2.7-powered – site, you’ll notice a Reply button (assuming nested discussions are enabled). Clicking that will enable you to reply directly to that comment, keeping discussions in context.

    This is probably not all inclusive, but here is the basic structure for ol.commentlist as it exists in the Default theme’s comments.php. To take advantage of the new discussion features, I copied this file over to my own theme. (You’re more than welcome to roll your own.) For many of the elements, more than one class is used with it. Where applicable, I’ve chosen the most descriptive class (e.g. li.comment instead of li.alt) as the parent for child formatting.

    [css]
    ol.commentlist {}
    ol.commentlist li {}
    ol.commentlist li.alt {}
    ol.commentlist li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.comment-author {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard cite.fn {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard cite.fn a.url {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard img.avatar {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard img.avatar-32 {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard img.photo {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.vcard span.says {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.commentmetadata {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.comment-meta {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.comment-meta a {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment * {} – (p, em, strong, blockquote, ul, ol, etc.)
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.reply {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment div.reply a {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.alt {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.comment {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.depth-2 {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.depth-3 {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.depth-4 {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.depth-5 {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment ul.children li.odd {}
    ol.commentlist li.even {}
    ol.commentlist li.odd {}
    ol.commentlist li.parent {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.comment-author {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.vcard {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.vcard cite.fn {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.vcard cite.fn a.url {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.vcard span.says {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.commentmetadata {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.comment-meta {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.comment-meta a {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback * {} – (p, em, strong, blockquote, ul, ol, etc.)
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.reply {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback div.reply a {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.alt {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.comment {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.depth-2 {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.depth-3 {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.depth-4 {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.depth-5 {}
    ol.commentlist li.pingback ul.children li.odd {}
    ol.commentlist li.thread-alt {}
    ol.commentlist li.thread-even {}
    ol.commentlist li.thread-odd {}
    [/css]

    Here is the CSS I’m using to stylize my comments below. (You can see an example of the nesting here.) Even though a number of the selectors are currently unused, I am keeping them in place in the event I decide to do something with them in the future.

    I updated the following code to account for the presence of pingbacks in a comment thread. For my site, I used the more generic selector of ol.commentlist li instead of specifying a class (such as comment or pingback). This will allow pingbacks to be styled in much the same way as comments. The CSS above lets you target the types individually. (Which, if you wanted pingbacks to look different, you’d obviously would want to do.)

    [sourcecode language=”css”]
    ol.commentlist { list-style:none; margin:0 0 1em; padding:0; text-indent:0; }
    ol.commentlist li { }
    ol.commentlist li.alt { }
    ol.commentlist li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li.comment { border-bottom:1px dotted #666; padding:1em; }
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-author {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard { font:normal 16px georgia,times,serif; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard cite.fn { font-style:normal; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard cite.fn a.url {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.avatar { border:5px solid #ccc; float:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; }
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.avatar-32 {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard img.photo {}
    ol.commentlist li div.vcard span.says {}
    ol.commentlist li div.commentmetadata {}
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-meta { font-size:9px; }
    ol.commentlist li div.comment-meta a { color:#ccc; }
    ol.commentlist li p { font-size:11px; margin:0 0 1em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul { font-size:11px; list-style:square; margin:0 0 1em 2em; }
    ol.commentlist li div.reply { font-size:11px; }
    ol.commentlist li div.reply a { font-weight:bold; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children { list-style:none; margin:1em 0 0; text-indent:0; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.alt {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.bypostauthor {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.byuser {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.comment {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.comment-author-admin {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-2 { border-left:5px solid #555; margin:0 0 .25em .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-3 { border-left:5px solid #999; margin:0 0 .25em .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-4 { border-left:5px solid #bbb; margin:0 0 .25em .25em; }
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.depth-5 {}
    ol.commentlist li ul.children li.odd {}
    ol.commentlist li.even { background:#fff; }
    ol.commentlist li.odd { background:#f6f6f6; }
    ol.commentlist li.parent { border-left:5px solid #111; }
    ol.commentlist li.pingback { border-bottom:1px dotted #666; padding:1em; }
    ol.commentlist li.thread-alt { }
    ol.commentlist li.thread-even {}
    ol.commentlist li.thread-odd {}
    [/sourcecode]

    If you would like to learn more about the enhancements made in comments, here are a couple of sites you should check out for further information:

    WordPress 2.7 Comment Style Starters:

  • Microformats

    Last night I had the opportunity to talk about Microformats at the November RefreshAugusta meeting. To support the slides, I created a microsite with links to all of the sites mentioned in the slides. Hopefully you’ll find this useful. I’m also making the slides available for you to reuse/repurpose/remix under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License:

  • BaconTwits

    So, a couple of weeks ago Phil and I were joking around about bacon. (It’s a pretty common occurrence these days.) We came up with the idea of  raising money for a .bacon TLD (e.g. iaccidentallythewhole.bacon). Out of nowhere he suggests: twitterbacon.com. I thought it was brilliant. I got the domain. I started working on a site by myself, but couldn’t quite get it the way I wanted (or find the time to devote to doing it). So, I asked Emily Lewis and Jonathan Delaigle for their help. I came up with a design. Emily got the design implemented. Jonathan made it work.

    Without further adieu: bacontwits.com

    At some point in the near future, it’s our goal to package the site up into something others can take and build their own mashups from. Once we’re ready to release, I’ll make an announcement here, on BaconTwits and on Twitter.

    Enjoy!

  • The Abduction Lamp

    The Abduction Lamp. I _need_ this. (ht: Emily)

  • Design for Obama. There’s some really inspiring work here.