Jul/08

WP-CMS Post Control plugin

109 Comments · Posted by Jonny in WP-CMS WordPress Plugins

Please note

Homepage and comments have now been moved to the new plugin homepage over at:

http://wp-cms.com/our-wordpress-plugins/wp-cms-post-control-plugin/

post control plugin

109 comments

Pete Ashton’s Blog » WP-CMS Post Control plugin · July 26, 2008 at 2:00 pm

[...] WP-CMS Post Control plugin – Very useful looking plugin that removes unneeded features from the WordPress writing interface. Very useful for group blogs with novices I'd imagine. [...]
Pages tagged "cms" · July 27, 2008 at 12:10 am

[...] bookmarks tagged cms Post Control plugin saved by 3 others Y0UTUBEtheater bookmarked on 07/26/08 | [...]
Leonaut.com · July 28, 2008 at 3:13 pm

WP-CMS Post Control…

Post Control from WordPress CMS Modifications hides unwanted items on the write page and write post pages within WordPress, eg custom fields, trackbacks etc. This helps you use WordPress more like a CMS, alowing you to totally customise what you want a…
baron · July 28, 2008 at 5:32 pm

hi. Thanks for plugin

perfect.

Regards
Admin comment by Jonny · July 28, 2008 at 5:37 pm

My pleasure Baron – glad you find it useful!

I’m working on v0.4 – so keep an eye on your plugins page – it should auto show an update available now I have it within the WordPress official plugin repository.
Handig · July 30, 2008 at 11:01 pm

Very handy.

Heel handig als je wordpress inricht voor anderen.
Brady J. Frey · August 2, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Thanks Jonny for keeping this fresh – it’s great to see the strong development in wordpress as a powerful CMS! As a side note, wordpress.com sent me a heads up they’ve added it to their plugin repository – a few weeks later than I imagined:). I’ll send you an email so you can do what you wish with it!
Admin comment by Jonny · August 3, 2008 at 10:48 am

@ Brady – it was your solid work that built the foundation for this plugin – and for that we all thank you! The plugin repository can be a bit awkward to work with sometimes! I have of-course given you full credit (as promised!) – I hope you like what I have done with this plugin so far – there is more planned in the future!
enrico · August 4, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Hi there,

I installed the plugin according to faqs, set up the options but it won’t work. As soon as log out of my admin area and re-log in, the options below get resetted… and if I log in as a contributor, they are still there (not hidden). What’s wrong? I ev cleaned caches, temporary files, cookies nd sessions ( you never know),but it didn’t help… I have WP 2.6.

Thanks.
Admin comment by Jonny · August 4, 2008 at 5:51 pm

@enrico Humph – strange one. You seemed to have tried everything I might suggest – ie clearing cache – and my final question was are you using 2.6 – which you are?!

Not sure why this isn’t working – I have tested it on 4 completely different server setups and it has worked perfectly for me and my friends/associates.

The only thing I can think of is to delete the plugin and re-install again and let me know how you get on. In the meantime I will have a look over the code and see if there is anything that might be stopping this work.
enrico · August 5, 2008 at 3:51 pm

Sorry, I tried over and over again, reinstalled, but nothing. All the same as before. The only options that seem to work are the first and second block of options, but not the third one (with post and page options singularly). So far no clue…
Jonny · August 5, 2008 at 4:06 pm

@enrico – this has got me scratching my head why it doesn’t work for you! Thanks for letting me know about what you have tried – it’s useful for me to know.

Could I ask, are you using any other plugins like role manager or anything else that manages users? Also, are you using a different folder structure to the default WordPress folder structure at all?

I’m sorry this isn’t working for you – as I said I have extensively tested it on different platforms! There are a couple of things for me to look at that may be causing this – and if I find anything I’ll post a comment and plugin update!
enrico · August 7, 2008 at 6:02 am

Back. As for using Role player – yes, I am. I was using http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/mg-advancedoptions/ before installing yours…than I deleted it before installing your plugin. Maybe the database and options are still there but I don’t think it’s the case (you never know). About the structure, it’s all like the default of wordpress. I have no more ideas..
Admin comment by Jonny · August 8, 2008 at 10:13 am

@enrico – thanks for the information, it will help me eliminate a couple of things. The previous plugins used shouldn’t interfere, but some don’t clean-up after themselves properly and leave junk in your database. There certainly won’t be a clash in database options names (already checked that!), so I will take a look over the weekend into whats causing this.
How To Turn Off Post Revisions In Word Press 2.6 · August 15, 2008 at 10:55 pm

[...] and auto save features by editing the code in the wp-config.php file but its much easier to use the Post Control plugin which was recently released. All you have to do is install the plugin and visit the [...]
Kasia · August 19, 2008 at 6:11 am

Hi, I’ve just installed cloak and it doesn’t save the ticked options for me either. I click “save options”, the ticks remain but they disappear when I go to another menu option and then return to cloak.
Could this have anything to do with file permissions within the wordpress directory?

I’ve also tried the post control plugin and I get the same problem. It’s just not saving the options.
Admin comment by Jonny · August 19, 2008 at 10:31 am

@ Kasia – thanks for letting me know – good guess, but it will shouldn’t have anything to do with file permissions, all the options for the plugin are stored in the database.

Are you using WordPress 2.6 (or 2.6.1)? I presume you are using other plugins no problem? Do you have (or have used) anything like role manager plugin or similar?

I’d like to try and work out why this is not working for you – and am happy to work through the code but I’ll need a little more information to help me if you can provide it.

It is strange that it’s not working – I have tested this on various server environments and WordPress installations and it has worked perfectly.
Kasia · August 19, 2008 at 11:17 am

Hi, yeh I realised it’s just storing in the database. I’ve had file permission problems before so i’ve been sensitive in that respect.
I’ve just upgraded to 2.6.1 and I haven’t activated any other plugins.
The first two sections seem to work by the way, it’s just the ‘display options’ that aren’t working.
I can see it saving the array values in the database, but they’re not controlling what is displayed in the ‘write’ section.
thanks for the help in advance, what else do you need to know?
Michiel · August 19, 2008 at 6:02 pm

I’m having similar problems. using 2.6.1 fresh install, I haven’t activated any other plugins.
Ed · August 20, 2008 at 3:59 am

Jonny,
With the creation of this plugin, you have read my mind before I thought it. Just 2 days ago I knew I needed to find some way to hide a few of the confusing options, and most importantly to hide the templates as much of the design for my clients is built that way and they could totally crash their site…

I too am having the same difficulty as the others. The first 2 sections work, the final (and more desired) are not. I am using WP2.6 and the following plugins:
Akismet
All in One SEO Pack
Breadcrumb Navigation XT
Dashboard Editor
Exclude Pages from Navigation
FeedBurner FeedSmith
Get Recent Comments
GT Post Approval
Limit Posts
Maintenance Mode (disabled for testing your plugin)
No Self Pings
Redirection
Role Manager
Secure and Accessible PHP Contact Form
Simple Tags
Templatedia
WP Status Notifier

On another note, the settings of the 3rd level are slightly confusing…
“Admin users only get options selected below”… does that mean if I check a box ONLY ADMINS are supposed to see them, or if they are checked that USERS ONLY get those options? Since its not working either way, I can’t play with it to figure out what you mean.

I do hope you can figure out what is preventing this from operating. In the meantime, if you know a quick and easy mod I can make to the core file to prevent anyone not an admin from seeing the templates section, I would appreciate an email! LOL

Thanks,
Ed
PodPress band-aid wearing thin : NevilleHobson.com · September 2, 2008 at 8:56 am

[...] take care of the matter so PodPress will work. The one I’m using in this blog is the excellent WP-CMS Post Control plugin by Jonnya. It works [...]
Admin comment by Jonny · September 3, 2008 at 5:44 pm

There is a new version of this plugin (1.02) just made available, please let me know if you have any luck with it, it fixes a few coding bugs that have now been swatted!

The latest version is always available from the official WordPress plugin site at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-cms-post-control/

@Ed – It is best not to hack the core code, hopefully this update will get the plugin working for you and allow you to hide this option from your authors. As a quick fix I suggest you take a look at the files in w-admin directory if you really have to hack this out.
Russ Lipton · September 3, 2008 at 6:48 pm

Installed with 2.6.1 … doesn’t display the desired Write options (per Kasla, Michiel above …)
Admin comment by Jonny · September 3, 2008 at 8:11 pm

@Russ (or anyone else the plugin doesn’t work for) FIRSTLY, DOWNLOAD THE LATEST VERSION v1.02. If this still doesn’t work for you, you could help me out and download the Cloak plugin and trying it in your WordPress install. You can get it from http://bradyjfrey.com/blog/wordpress-plugin/cloak/ – this doesn’t cover all the functions of 2.6+ but if it works it means I have broken that section of the code!

I have tried this out on 4 different server platforms (including 1 Windows server) and it has worked perfectly in all server environments, so your help would be appreciated guys to help me eliminate what is causing this to not work for a handful of people.
James · September 4, 2008 at 1:25 am

Same here. The third part just doesn’t change anything. I’m on wp2.6.1 and your plugin 1.02 (latest one you uploaed on Sept. 3rd)

Also, like Ed pointed out, the admin see everything dropdown box is very confusing. I mean, like.. there’s only the real admin (me) and authors, editors and so forth.

I have created a user with an Author role, logged in and still see the confusing post options even though I disabled it.
Russ Lipton · September 4, 2008 at 6:35 am

I had uploaded 1.02.

Cloak works as advertised. Alas, Post Control still doesn’t work.

I notice that this choice always remains selected: “admin users see all normal post options” even when the other option is chosen. Is this helpful?
Admin comment by Jonny · September 4, 2008 at 5:26 pm

IMPORTANT v1.02 has some bugs in the code PLEASE UPDATE TO V1.03

The latest version is always available from the official WordPress plugin site at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-cms-post-control/

@James/Ed – after your feedback I have changed the text in the form fields and put in an explanation below the selection box to clarify exactly what this does – hope it helps! Basically, rather than globally controlling all users options, it allows you to decide if Admins should also be effected by the plugin options, or if they should see all normal WordPress options.

@Russ – Thanks for checking cloak out, it really is VERY helpful! One person said Cloak didn’t work for also so I thought the source of the problem might be there. This is strange, I have this plugin working on a testbed server and another unix server fine right this minute! Give the new version a go – also, do you have any role management type plugins – especially ‘Role Manager’?

I know this plugin works for most people that use it – I am having trouble working out what may be causing this. I may have to re-write some of the code to make this more compatible for everyone.
Russ Lipton · September 4, 2008 at 8:59 pm

Glad to report that 1.03 seems to work fine, though I haven’t fiddled with a few of the plugin’s features. Suppressing a variety of post ‘features’ responded as expected, just as it had in Cloak. Thanks for your prompt work on this useful plugin!
Russ Lipton · September 4, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Oh, and though I do use RoleManager in some settings, I do not use it for the weblog in question. RoleScoper is intriguing me mightily at the moment …
Admin comment by Jonny · September 5, 2008 at 8:30 am

@Russ – COOL! Glad to hear that v1.03 works for you!! Do you mind me asking whats modifications you made to the plugin – you are of-course allowed to hack it up to your hearts content, but you will have to re-apply those hacks when I launch a new version… is there anything useful that you want to share – I may even incorporate it into the next version (with credit!).
Russ Lipton · September 5, 2008 at 10:29 pm

I didn’t mean to suggest I had hacked it – not a bad idea, though . 1.03 just ‘worked’.
Craig · September 7, 2008 at 2:19 am

I had the same problem with this plug-in like some of the folks above. However, with version 1.11. The plug-in works beautifully. Excellent job Jonny!
Admin comment by Jonny · September 7, 2008 at 10:33 am

IMPORTANT v1.11 is a major upgrade – AND SHOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM A FEW PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE PLUGIN NOT WORKING! The latest version is always available from the official WordPress plugin site at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-cms-post-control/

@Craig – Glad to hear v1.11 is working for you!

@Russ – hack to your hearts content, really! I’d suggest you clearly comment the code, that way you can apply your hacks to future versions (REMEMBER TO BACK IT UP VIA FTP IF YOU USE THE WORDPRESS PLUGIN AUTO-UPDATE!!) and maybe choose to share them with me… I might even integrate it into the core code of the plugin!

For anyone that wants to know, I finally replicated the problem of the post control checkboxes not working on a friends WordPress install (v2.6) – there was a clash with a couple of global variables hanging around set by his themes option page. This could also be occur with plugin code. Generally, these shouldn’t be used by the developers (I have contacted them), but basically the variables of ‘options’ and ‘newoptions’ were being set elsewhere and where overiding these in the Post Control plugin.

I have now changed these to unique names and cleaned up some other bits of code, which should mean that I have finally rectified this issue – it had me scratching my head for a while I can tell you!
Kasia · September 12, 2008 at 5:00 am

Woo hoo! I’ve updated to version 1.11 and it works great. Nice one, thanks!
Mark · September 13, 2008 at 11:11 pm

Can I use your plugin to cloak By Role3? I’d like to change up the fields for Contributors, but not admins.
Mark · September 13, 2008 at 11:30 pm

Never mind on my last comment. I just installed it and it rocks! But I have an important suggestion: Rather than the option to let admins see all fields, how about letting us specify what the lowest level role would be to see all fields. For example, I’d like to let Editors and Admin see all the options, not just Admin. That would be pretty easy for you do introduce, I’d think. It would offer us much more flexibility.

Now, all I need to do to make WP really Contributor/Author-friendly would be to make it so that the user would only see their own posts (with a configuration option for Drafts and/or published posts) in the Manage Posts area, and to get rid of the Comments tab as well. Even all the stuff on the Dashboard is unnecessary. Really, all a contributing author needs is to be able to enter a postt, edit a draft post, tell the editor it’s ready for review, and that’s pretty much it. Anything else just people confused or gets them to monkeying around with things they don’t need to monkey around with. If anyone knows of anything that can do these things please let me know.
Mark Fleming · September 26, 2008 at 3:32 pm

Is there any way to hide the All-in-One SEO plugin fields in the Post Entry? I’ve got everything else I want hidden.
Alastair · September 28, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Hi Jonny,

Really useful plugin, thanks! Just a quick issue I spotted when trying it out:

In “function wpcms_post_control_ids()”

The line:

submitpost div.side-info’ => __(‘Post & Page: Editor sidebar shortcuts & \’Press This\’ feature’, ‘wpcms_post_control’)

Needs separating into one option for Pages and one for Posts, as for Pages it becomes “submitpage div.side-info”.

Regards,

Alastair
Admin comment by Jonny · September 29, 2008 at 12:59 pm

@Mark Its funny you mention user role management, this is something I do have planned for the plugin. I already have some of this complete in another plugin project and it will get incorporated into the next public release. I’d like to do more advanced user management (ie per user level visibility) but that is quite a bit more complex (and I don’t need it for any active projects!) so the advanced role management is not a priority at the moment.

@Mark Fleming I’m afraid the plugin is only designed to control core WordPress features, I can’t put in options for every plugin that inserts new controls into the write panel – even popular ones like All-In-One SEO, I could never keep up with the updates! I would suggest you take a look at the plugin and hack that part out if you don’t want it, or contact the original plugin author for guidance on this.

@Alastair Good spot, thanks!! I’ll incorporate this into the next version of the plugin!
Jens Wedin · October 2, 2008 at 7:26 pm

Hi
Would it be possible to have different settings for different roles? Nice plugin, I use it on one of my sites
Krissie · October 3, 2008 at 3:32 am

This is a really fantastic plugin – it’s helped me immensely.

Between this, Adminize, and Dashboard Editor, I’ve got the backend almost completely cleaned up.

I say almost, because after installing this plugin, I installed the Role Scoper plugin (it’s a must for me.) Unfortunately, the role scoper plugin adds three fields/options to the advanced section on the edit screen for posts and pages.

I see and understand what you have written above, but would it be possible to offer some one time only advice on roughly how to go about hacking the plugin to add some extra options to remove the offending items?

Kind regards,
Krissie xx
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Sosyal İm - Teknoloji haberleri » Wordpress’e 20 eklenti ile cms desteği » Blog Arşivi » Wordpress’e 20 eklenti ile cms desteği · October 8, 2008 at 10:59 am

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trendland · October 10, 2008 at 10:21 pm

Its a nice plugin, but is possible to have this kind of work offer to the readers, lets say they just upload a picture and a simple text, and post it. On the other side, the admin is able to accept or not the post then publish it… That would be great
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Alistair · October 20, 2008 at 2:51 am

Hi Jonny, just seen the new visuals for wordpress 2.7. Much nicer. Will your plugin work with the new 2.7 backend appearances?

Cheers,

Alistair
Admin comment by Jonny · October 20, 2008 at 12:56 pm

Big comment catchup – been too busy working to respond… but here goes!

@Jens – Role management is a potential for further development of this plugin, but don’t hold your breath!

@Krissie – I obviously can’t support every plugin that puts new fields and controls in to the write page/post area, but I can advise that you firstly need to identify if these new controls have custom CSS definitions. If so, you can simply add these new ones into the array in the plugin… if you can’t follow this please read up on CSS and PHP, sorry!

@ Trendland – That is beyond the scope of this plugin, sorry!! I’d suggest a good look around the WordPress plugin database – you may find what you are looking for there.

@ Alistair – Hopefully CSS definitions have been kept the same in WordPress 2.7, in which-case this plugin will work right away. If it doesn’t play nice with WordPress 2.7 it will be at the top of my list to update the plugin to 2.7 compatibility… and maybe even integrate a couple of new features at the same time!
Dragunoff · November 10, 2008 at 11:18 pm

Hello

That’s a neat little plugin! just what I’ve been looking for!

It does not work with Gengo (multilingual plugin) though. Because Gengo requires that plugin localization is fired up on the ‘init’ hook. So I made a little hotfix in order to use this plugin, here it is:

// wrap load_plugin_textdomain inside a custom function and safe check whether it exists function wpcms_post_control_load_textdomain() { if ( function_exists('load_plugin_textdomain') ) { load_plugin_textdomain('wpcms_post_control','wp-content/plugins'); } }
// Call the custom function on the 'init' hook add_action('init', 'wpcms_post_control_load_textdomain');