Rough Groove

Wordpress 2.7 is a beauty

I just downloaded the new Wordpress 2.7 and installed it on all my local installs comprising six blogs and when I checked the dashboard area, wow, it is well organized, clean and beautiful.

I didn’t encounter any problems with upgrading the older versions and followed the following steps:

• backup all Wordpress data including the database
• deactivate all plugins
• erase all Wordpress files except the wp-content folder and wp-config.php file
• type in <your blog>/wp-admin/upgrade.php and press Enter
• just click on the buttons that will come up and you’re all set.

After, go back to your dashboard, navigate to your plugins and activate. That’s it. Simple. Compare the old (top) and the new (below) and see for yourself.

The navigation panel has been revamped and relocated at the left. You can minimize this to display just the icons or include the text. At the upper right corner, you have the option to customize the displayed panels by clicking on the Screen Options and check or uncheck the boxes.

I explored around and found some new features:

• rearrange the dashboard panels by drag and drop
• nested comments –> reply to individual comments
• threaded comments –> display in multiple pages (however, when I tried this one, it didn’t work)
• make a sticky – a post that will be displayed as the first post regardless of date and time (found at the Publish panel in new or edit posts, under Visibility)
• the media library now shows unattached or orphan items
• search and install from the Wordpress Plugin Directory right at the plugins panel and you can even install it from that site. Or upload a zipped plugin file and install it
• download new wordpress versions or reinstall automatically existing ones

This really is a major upgrade and I’m quite excited to roll it out online next week