Widgetized header yet?
 

I want to use the Sponsors Slideshow Widget, http://kolja.galerie-neander.de/plug...ideshow-widget, in the header in place of a tweak to the header code to show a rotating banner. I'm using this widget in the right sidebar now, and it's fabulous.

Will the header area be widgetized in the next version? Will it accept regular widgets like this one?

Yes, you'll be able to add own widget areas similar to how the header area is configured now

%logo%
%widgets(..extra info, i.e. how many cells...)%

Great! What's the ETA on that version?

I hope to release it within "days". There was no development the last 10 days, I'll proceed tomorrow

No development in the last 10 days??? Flynn, don't you know we expect you to work 24/7 on this??

;)

Hi Paulae,
I tried to activate the widget, but received the following disappointing message:
Fatal error: Class 'WP_Widget' not found in /usr/home/ws/pressmed/www.elektroretailmagazine.nl/www/wp-content/plugins/sponsors-slideshow-widget/sponsors-slideshow-widget.php on line 27
Any idea how to fix this? The widget seems to be just what I'm looking for and I'd really like to use it.

I've had error messages similar to that when my site wasn't using PHP 5, or when I tried to install a non-upgraded plugin on a Wordpress 2.8 site. The site where I'm using this plugin is still at WP 2.7.1 and Atahualpa 3.2.

You can see the Sponsor Slideshow in action at http://www.larchmontgazette.com. The third and fourth ad boxes in the right sidebar are done with the plugin. Nice fade, not jerky. The upper two ads are for advertisers who pay more to have their own slots, no rotation. One is just a plain linked image, and the other is done with another plugin that allows me to assign a different real estate ad each day of the month, linked to that particular real estate agent's featured ad. Pretty nifty.

The Sponsors Slideshow Widget REQUIRES WordPress 2.8 or higher. WP-Widget is new with WP 2.8

Hmmm. Well, the version I'm using works fine with WP 2.7.1.

I'm not clear on the connection with WP-Widget. I don't have that installed. Maybe he does, and there is a conflict?

Ok, I'll remove the WP-Widget & see what happens

Nope, doesn't help. Guess I'll just have to upgrade soon.

I see the version being promoted on the WP.org site is 1.7, and I'm using 1.6.1. You could try that:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/...dget/download/

Thanks Paulae. That did the trick. :) Now figuring out how get it to work.

It's really simple once you understand the concept. You create a new category in the Links area. I called it ads. Then Ad New, put in the URL you want to click through to, choose the category, description for hover, if desired, then down in Advanced, put the URL of the image. I made a new folder in root (not in the Wordpress directory) and put all the ads in there via FTP. Then Save/Add Link. Do this for each image you want to include in the slideshow.

Now when you add the Sponsors Slideshow widget to a sidebar, you'll see the link category you created in the drop-down list. Just choose that, fill in the size of the images (I think they should all be the same), timing, type of fade effect (plain fade works best, I think), and order. I chose random. Save that, and you're all set. You can have multiple instances of the widget.

I'm going to try this tomorrow, but I know this is going to work. Thanks a million, Paulae! Do you know if this also works for Flash (.swf) content?

No, I don't know about putting Flash content in there. If it works, let us know.

Flynn, as and FYI, I am really looking forward to this feature. I'm planning on installing the Search Unleashed plugin ... but ... I'd really love to have it in the header area to replace the default search box. :)