WordPress

Best 5 hot changes coming to WordPress 6.7

KABIR / November 10, 2024

On November 12, WordPress is slated to release its third and final major update of the year with WordPress 6.7. As with all major releases, you can expect new and improved features, performance and accessibility improvements, bug fixes, and security patches. In this article, we’ll highlight the new and enhanced features that are most relevant to site builders and designers. Many of these changes will let you work with WordPress smarter and more efficiently. Since the final release is still being worked on, some of what you see here may not be what you will find on November 12. We also used the upcoming Twenty Twenty-Five theme when testing this new update, so some features we will discuss may not appear on other themes. A new default theme: Twenty Twenty-Five As always, WordPress releases a new default theme along with every major update to demonstrate its new features. Such is the case with the new theme, Twenty Twenty-Five. This is hardly a design-agnostic theme. Twenty Twenty-Five offers glimpses of natural beauty and ancestral heritage, intertwining elements that evoke a sense of impermanence, the passage of time, and ongoing evolution. That said, you can customize and extend it to meet your needs. While this theme can be used to build any type of website, it’s best suited to personal, photography, and complex blogging. Patterns The new theme comes with 70 pre-made patterns to get your creative juices flowing. From call-to-action buttons to full-page patterns, they can be completely modified to suit your needs. Styles Twenty Twenty-Five has eight style variations in addition to the default style. There are also nine color pallets and eight typography sets that can be mixed and matched to your heart’s delight. Speaking of typography, there are nine serif and sans serif font families included with this theme, giving you many creative possibilities to express yourself. As always, you can refine your style preferences globally in the Styles section of the Site Editor (only for block themes) or for an individual block within any page or post. Templates The standard templates that you will find in most themes are in Twenty Twenty-Five. Custom templates, as usual, can also be made if needed. A better editing experience Whether you’re using a block or classic theme, WordPress 6.7 opens the door to an improved workflow and a more unified editing experience. However, you can only see and benefit from all these changes if you’re using a block theme. For block theme users, the Site Editor now provides a clearer vision of the future of WP Admin and how it will function. Zoomed-out pattern view WordPress 6.7 introduces an improved view when inserting a pattern into a page or post. The pattern choices no longer partially cover the content area. Zoomed-out views are also here. With the click of a button, you can get a better view of how your design stacks up. Before the zoomed-out tool, you were likely to see something like this: With this new feature selected, the way the design is laid out is easier to work with, especially when working with patterns. Improved view on the block editor’s library A button has replaced the link text Add filter in Site Editor’s Templates and Patterns. These filters allow you to quickly find a template or pattern by specific criteria, such as the author or category. A new layout button lets you change the view of templates or patterns to a list, grid, or table view. Here, you can see the grid layout by default: A Settings cog now allows you to set the number of templates or patterns to be seen, among other things. There is also a properties section where you can decide what items (for example, template descriptions) you prefer to hide or show. Note that these same features – a new filter button, a layout button, and a settings cog – are also available while working with pages in the Site Editor. An easier way to set up your blog archive This new version of WordPress refreshes the all-important Query Loop block, which organizes a blog archive. The Query Loop block is a block that contains dynamic blocks such as a post feature image, post title, post excerpt, post author, and any other information related to a post that is pulled from existing content in your database or media library. Chief among the changes is the removal of the Inherit query from template and Force page reload toggles from the right sidebar settings. They are now the default functions of the block. The Post List block has been removed from the Inserter as well since it was frequently mistaken for the Query Loop block itself. For WordPress 6.7, the focus is on making the Query Loop block easier to use and more intuitive. Through subtle changes, the interface has improved significantly. In the right settings sidebar, it is now clear how to choose between posts, pages, and custom post types. That’s right, you can now set up pages and custom post types – not just blog posts – as an archive. This is not completely new to WordPress, but 6.7 makes it more intuitive through the improved user interface. Finally, the Query Loop toolbar sports a simpler look. The Display settings have been removed and are now located in the right sidebar. Instant Gallery Starting an image gallery has never been easier. You can now instantly drag and drop multiple images from your computer directly into a page or post – there’s no need to insert the Gallery block first. Once the images are in place, you can customize the gallery as you see fit. Automatic conversion of HEIC files to JPG format Have you been converting your HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) image files using an online converter or image editing program before uploading them to your WordPress library? With WordPress 6.7, you won’t have to do that anymore. Now, simply drag the HEIC file into your media library or directly into a page or post without using the image block. It will automatically be converted to a JPEG file.

WordPress

Manage, secure & optimize the WordPress database

KABIR / November 9, 2024

The WordPress database is the heart of a WordPress website and stores all content. Therefore, the connection between WordPress and the database is established directly during installation. In this article, we will inform you about the most important tips on administration, data security, optimization and performance! Requirements for WordPress & a WordPress database To run a WordPress website, you need a web hosting plan with sufficient web space and access to a database. Therefore, a database is included in special WordPress web hosting offers . Web space and database are usually stored on the same server and the connection is made during installation by entering the database name and password. Note : Depending on the hosting plan you choose, you may need to create the database yourself before installing WordPress, or the hosting provider may do the task for you and provide you with the login information. WordPress typically uses the MySQL database management system. This is an established and mature open source software. An alternative is MariaDB with similar functionality and syntax. The functions of a WordPress database Apart from WordPress and plugin files and media, WordPress stores all other website information in the database. This includes post and page content, revisions, meta information, and plugin settings, among others. Every time someone visits the website, WordPress loads the content from the database and sends it to the browser. If, for example, a visitor to the website registers, the user data is stored in encrypted form in the database. When a user logs in, the login data is then compared with the entry in the database. 10% discount on all DF products Database access with phpMyAdmin The image shows the user interface of the phpMyAdmin tool, which you can use to view and edit the contents of a MySQL database. The database content is divided into tables with columns and fields. The content is accessed using a tool such as phpMyAdmin. There is a demo version on the provider’s website so that you can try out the functions . However, changes to entries directly in the tool should be made with great caution, as incorrect entries can have serious consequences for the functionality of the website. Viewing, editing and updating content is done using SQL commands. If you are interested, you can learn more about the basics of MySQL and SQL fundamentals . Note for web developers : When writing WordPress code, direct SQL queries are not recommended. Instead, you should use the WPDB class for interactions with the database. The global object $wpdb is provided for this purpose, and the wpdb class is located in the wp-includes/wp-db.php folder. You can find more information about the wpdb class on the official website . Overview of the standard tables of a WordPress database A WordPress database uses a prefix for table names, usually “_wp”. The table names therefore begin with the prefix, followed by the actual name. The important standard tables include the following: WordPress Database Tips: Backups and Optimizations Since database problems often result in a website being partially or completely unavailable, regular backups are essential. create backups Professional hosting providers such as DomainFactory create daily database backups for security reasons. You can also back up the data yourself with just a few clicks, for example with the popular plug-in UpdraftPlus . You should not save the backup on the server, but locally on your computer and in the cloud. Optimize WordPress database for faster loading times Over time, the database grows and can contain thousands of entries, many of which may be out of date. This slows down the loading time of a WordPress website. For example, WordPress saves a post revision in the database every time a post is changed. This quickly creates hundreds or thousands of revisions, unnecessarily bloating the database. In addition to out of date revisions, unnecessary information includes SPAM comments, transients and information about plugins that are no longer used. Extensions such as WP-Optimize or WP Rocket are useful for cleaning up a WordPress database . Both also offer many other options for improving page loading speed. Remember to always create a backup before making any changes to the database! Tip : You can limit the number of revisions saved to avoid unnecessary database bloat. You can add the line ” define(‘WP_POST_REVISIONS’,5); ” to the wp-config.php file to limit the number per post to five – or enter a different number. Enable caching for fewer database accesses Website caching reduces database accesses and thus improves page loading speed. The extensions WP-Optimize and WP Rocket also integrate caching methods. Other plugins include LiteSpeed Cache and W3 Total Cache . Managing WordPress Database – Conclusion With the tips mentioned, you can edit, clean up, optimize and secure your WordPress database. Implement the recommendations so that your website loads as quickly as possible and doesn’t carry any ballast around with it. Cover image: Image by FreePhotosART on Pixabay 10% discount on all DF products

WordPress

Image Upload in WordPress: How to Fix the Problems

KABIR / November 8, 2024

Are you having problems uploading images in WordPress? In this post, we will provide you with solutions for the most common reasons. Troubleshooting image upload issues If an image upload is not possible, this is usually due to one of the following reasons: Solution 1: Increase the maximum file size for an image upload WordPress and the server settings define how large a file can be for upload – the server setting corresponds to the upper limit. Such an upper limit is standard and is particularly useful for websites where other users can also upload files. The WordPress default is 32 MB. This is usually enough for images, but may not be enough for photographers who want to upload uncompressed images in RAW format. Figure 1: Check the maximum file size for uploads You can check the current limit in the WordPress dashboard by clicking on “Media library” (Figure 1). Figure 2: The server setting specifies the upper limit. You can see the configured limit of the server under “Tools > Website Health” under the “Server” tab. The setting is located in the php.ini file, which customers of entry-level hosting plans often do not have access to. Figure 3: The server-side limit is set in the php.ini file. However , customers of professional WordPress hosting packages or with a virtual server can usually edit the file and adjust the limit themselves or request an increase from the provider. Look for the entry “upload_max_filesize” in the file and also for the entry for “post_max_filesize” and adjust the storage limit to, for example, 128 MB. The second value determines the maximum size of all files that can be sent via the POST method. “post_max_filesize” should therefore not be smaller than “upload_max_filesize”. 10% discount on all DF products Solution 2: Increase the execution time An execution time that is too short can lead to problems uploading images, especially with slow internet connections and a high memory limit. A higher memory limit should therefore also be accompanied by a higher execution time. The entry is also located in the php.ini file under “max_execution_time”. As a result, the process does not terminate prematurely due to a timeout. For example, if you enter “max_execution_time = 180”, the limit for the maximum execution time is three minutes. Solution 3: Expand the list of allowed file formats By default, WordPress allows the following file types for images: In addition, you can upload videos, documents and audio files. If you have problems uploading images, it may be that someone has restricted the allowed file formats or you want to upload an unusual file format. With a plugin like WP Extra File Types, you can expand the list of allowed file types. Solution 4: Buy more web space Another possibility for problems with uploading images is insufficient web space if the hosting package only includes a few gigabytes of storage. Check the available space in the hosting administration area. The solution is to buy more storage space or switch to a plan with more storage volume. Solution 5: Change the directory permission Figure 4: Check the write permissions in the upload directory In the WordPress standard settings, the access rights to the upload directory are set correctly. However, it is possible that someone has changed the directory rights so that uploading images is no longer possible. To check, open the directory of the WordPress installation on the server using an FTP program such as FileZilla and in the “wp-content” directory, right-click on “uploads” and in the context menu on “file attributes”. Enter the value 755 as shown in the figure. Solution 6: Change the file name Another cause of problems with uploading or displaying images can be related to the file name. If the file name contains special characters, spaces or umlauts, the upload may fail or not all browsers may support the display. The best practice is therefore to write the file names in lowercase and not to use spaces, special characters or umlauts. Tip : For search engine optimization (SEO), keep file names short and descriptive. Solution 7: Check and correct the upload folder Was the upload folder changed manually in the wp-config.php file and you no longer see uploaded images in the media library? Then the upload folder assignment may be incorrect – this can happen especially after a domain move . To check the configuration, click on “Settings > Media” in the WordPress dashboard. With standard settings, you will only see the checkbox “Organize my uploads in month and year-based folders” under the heading “Upload files”. If the upload folder was changed manually, you will see the change in the entry “Save uploads in the following folder”. Then use an FTP program such as FileZilla to make sure that the specified folder exists on the server and that users have the necessary permissions as described in solution 5. Fixing image upload problems in WordPress – Summary Problems uploading images in WordPress can have various causes, which can be resolved with the solutions presented. With a professional WordPress hosting plan, you can prevent server-side problems such as insufficient storage space and severely limited file sizes. Cover motif: Photo by rivage on Unsplash 10% discount on all DF products

WordPress

Customize WordPress dashboard – we show you how

KABIR / November 7, 2024

WordPress is suitable for all types of websites – from small blogs to large online shops. After installation, however, the WordPress dashboard in the administration area looks the same for all users. For quick access to important functions and a personalized interface, you can customize the WordPress dashboard and the login area. We’ll show you how it works. The Benefits of a Custom WordPress Dashboard Adjust view using onboard tools The image shows how to customize the view of the WordPress dashboard. The WordPress dashboard is the central overview area for managing a website and is accessed by default in the browser bar via: my-url.com/wp-admin . Users can use the dashboard to create new pages and posts, change the design and add plugins, among other things. Tip : It is recommended to change the default URL for backend access to reduce hacker attacks. This can be done with a plugin like WPS Hide Login . In the first step, you can click on “Customize view” in the top right of the WordPress dashboard to show or hide screen elements as required. Many plugins offer overviews that you can activate or deactivate here, as in Figure 1 for plugins such as WPForms, Elementor and Yoast. The following applies: the more elements you can see, the slower the backend loads.gins bieten Übersichten an, die Sie hier aktivieren oder deaktivieren können, wie zum Beispiel in Abbildung 1 für Plugins wie WPForms, Elementor und Yoast. Dabei gilt: Je mehr Elemente zu sehen sind, desto langsamer lädt das Backend. 10% discount on all DF products Choose a 2-year term now! Customize the entire backend with White Label CMS Plugin Customize Your WordPress Login Page [HOW TO] #tutorial For more configuration options of the WordPress dashboard, there are various plugins to choose from. A popular extension is the free White Label CMS Plugin . It offers a range of features that allow you to personalize the login page and WordPress dashboard for yourself and for customers. Among other things, you can: On the login page, for example, you can add your logo or that of your client and insert CSS code for a personalized design. This is useful for all websites where customers can log in with a username and password. Access is via “Settings > White Label CMS” in the backend. Customization also makes a good impression when you set up a WordPress website for a client and then hand it over. The entire backend then looks less generic and instead like a tailor-made solution. A practical and important function is the ability to hide menu items in the dashboard. This makes it easy to specify which menu items are visible to which people with access to the backend. This gives you the opportunity to decide which changes and settings a specific user has. At the same time, this function can be used to create order if the website uses a lot of plugins. Alternative : A well-reviewed all-in-one alternative is the Ultimate Dashboard extension . The free plugin allows you to create your own widgets for a customized customer dashboard, customize the login area, change the login URL, and add CSS code to the dashboard, among other things. The paid Pro version additionally offers multisite support, the ability to remove third-party dashboard widgets, and advanced login features. Additional extensions to customize the WordPress dashboard In addition to the all-in-one solution presented, there are a number of other plugins that can be used to customize the login area and the WordPress dashboard. Edit menu items with Admin Menu Editor The Admin Menu Editor extension allows you to customize the menu items in the WordPress dashboard. With the Admin Menu Editor extension , you can, among other things, change the names of menu items, add icons, change the order via drag-and-drop and adjust the access permissions according to the user roles (admin, editor, subscriber, etc.). Optimize lists of pages and posts The Admin Columns plugin displays useful additional information in the post and page lists. You can use the onboard tools to adjust the basic information that is shown in the lists of pages and posts. To do this, click on “Adjust view” in the top right of the page or post view and, for example, show or hide the author and the assigned category for the posts. For more detailed information, the lists of the created pages and posts can be optimized for your own needs using the Admin Columns plugin . The extension offers more than 70 optional pieces of information to choose from. For example, you can also display the page or post image and the number of words in the list. Customize only the login page The WordPress login page should be customized for an attractive design. With the Custom Login Page Customizer extension from Colorlib, you have the practical option of changing the look of the login page directly via the WordPress Customizer. This allows you to quickly and easily adapt the logo, background color, background image, font color and many other parameters to your wishes and see the changes made in real time. Alternative : Another popular option is Hardeep Asrani’s Custom Login Page Customizer , which allows you to customize the login area to match the rest of your website design. Customize WordPress Dashboard – Conclusion For your own website, you can use DomainFactory’s secure WordPress hosting . To customize the login and administration area with the WordPress dashboard, the plugins presented offer a range of practical options. Take a look at the features in detail and try out the possibilities. Cover image: Image by StockSnap on Pixabay

Elementor, WordPress

Nilo Velez: Making, nurturing, and capturing memories

KABIR / November 4, 2024

With over two decades of experience in creating websites, WordPress has become an integral part of Nilo Velez’s professional and personal life. Originally from Madrid but now based in Seville, Nilo’s deep involvement in the Spanish WordPress community reflects his passion for the platform. Proudly sponsored by Hostinger, he actively contributes to several teams, including Polyglots, Photos, Community, and TV. While many contributors focus on just one or two teams, Nilo’s journey proves that it’s possible and even beneficial to contribute to multiple teams at once. Keep reading to learn more about how Nilo makes meaningful contributions to different areas of the WordPress ecosystem. The creative equilibrium A seasoned web developer, Nilo has carved a niche for himself in the world of digital creation. His skills go beyond website development – he’s also into multimedia development, which shows his versatility. He’s always working on his craft, training himself in system administration, media integration, design, and video editing. It’s clear he’s committed to staying on top of his game. Outside of the digital world, Nilo finds solace and inspiration in creating things with his hands. Whether it’s tinkering with 3D printing, electronics, woodworking, or a combination of them all, Nilo finds the change of pace refreshing. “Growing up, I was taught that it’s always better to fix things than to throw them away, and to make things rather than buy them,” he explains. It’s a philosophy that aligns well with Nilo’s creative pursuits. It turns out Nilo’s passion for building things in the physical world also inspired his first digital creation. Nilo was an avid kite builder and flier, so in 1998, he created his first website, Kite Plan Base. It started as a directory for online kite plans published by other amateur builders. “I drew much inspiration from directories like DMOZ and Yahoo!,” Nilo reminisces. “Early on, I realized that many amateur websites tend to disappear without warning, so I began making backups of the plans I listed.” Although not really updated these days, this online archive remains the largest kite plan directory in the world and has contributed significantly to the kite-building community. Journey of passion and dedication In Nilo’s early days as a web developer, he had some experience with various content management systems. But when he discovered WordPress, he was instantly drawn to its simplicity, flexibility, and self-hosted nature. “WordPress immediately resonated with my maker instincts,” he says. This love for WordPress grew into a passion for giving back. A defining moment came around 2005-2009. Nilo attended and volunteered at Evento Blog España (EBE), a prominent blog-related event in Spain. When the same organizers announced a WordCamp in Seville, he jumped at the chance to be involved. This decision, as Nilo puts it, “opened up a whole new world” and is one of the best decisions in his life. From then on, Nilo became increasingly involved in WordPress-related activities. He began helping out on forums and meetups, participating in WordCamps, and serving as a general translation editor (GTE) for the Spanish locale (es_ES). Beyond contributing to the Make WordPress project, Nilo understands fellow WordPress users’ pain points and takes action to address them. He created Machete, a plugin offering lightweight tools for everyday WordPress tasks, such as site optimization, analytics, and WooCommerce utilities. Initially developed to clean up pre-built websites at a web agency, Machete has become a valuable resource with over 7,000 active installations. For Nilo, the true power of WordPress lies not just in the code, but in the people who contribute to the project. His involvement with the community has deepened his understanding and appreciation for this collaborative project. “The community has this unique magic: the more you give, the more you receive,” he says. A team player across the board Nilo actively contributes to several teams, each offering a unique and fulfilling experience. “When you get involved with the WordPress community, you meet people from many different teams, and you might end up contributing to several of them. But there’s always one team that feels like ‘your team,’” Nilo explains. “For me, that team is Polyglots.” It was Nilo’s first point of entry into the open-source community. He has devoted countless hours to it since then, helping ensure a great WordPress experience for Spanish users. “Polyglots translates plugins, themes, and core projects, making them accessible to everyone. This relates strongly to WordPress’ mission of democratizing publishing and promoting open-source freedoms,” he says, emphasizing the team’s impact. Nilo recalls that his first contribution to the Polyglots team was during the first WordPress Global Translation Day in 2016. Luis Rull, one of the es_ES Global Translation Editors, brought him into the team. While Nilo had already made small contributions to the WordPress community, he regards this event as his true starting point as a contributor. Beyond Polyglots, Nilo contributes to the Photos, Community, and TV teams. The Photos team’s mission resonates with him – creating a directory of free CC0-licensed images embodies the open-source spirit. The Community team, responsible for organizing events, fuels Nilo’s passion for connection. “Volunteering, organizing, and mentoring at WordCamps is my happy place,” he shares. His signature at these events? Capturing memories as ‘the man with the big camera,’ a role that has opened doors and forged connections. Finally, TV, WordPress’ video archive, allows Nilo to contribute to preserving WordPress history and sharing knowledge. Each team has its own challenges, but there’s a common thread: a need for more contributors. It’s an ongoing struggle to attract new members to contribute to the open-source project, replace those who leave, and maintain engagement. “Many people aren’t aware of the massive workforce needed to keep the WordPress community thriving,” Nilo says. “Meanwhile, those who want to help usually have limited time to do so, as they need to earn a living, so they are unsure how to contribute.” Fortunately, initiatives like Five For the Future and the Contributor Mentorship Program offer solutions. The Five For the Future program offers company sponsorship of contributors, while the latter pairs seasoned mentors with new contributors. “Personally, I wouldn’t be able to dedicate so many hours to the WordPress community without Hostinger’s sponsorship,” Nilo remarks. He has participated in all

Best 5 hot changes coming to WordPress 6.7

Manage, secure & optimize the WordPress database

Image Upload in WordPress: How to Fix the Problems

Customize WordPress dashboard – we show you how

Nilo Velez: Making, nurturing, and capturing memories

We are the official Affiliate Partner of those companies

Products

Features

Get Started

About