How to Get a WYSIWYG Editor for Post and Page Titles in WordPress
As a WordPress user or developer, you may have encountered the need to have a WYSIWYG (What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get) editor for post and page titles. While WordPress doesn't natively provide this feature, there's a solution that can be implemented, even though it's an old question.
In this article, we'll explore the steps to add a WYSIWYG editor for post and page titles in WordPress.
Why a WYSIWYG Editor for Titles?
The default WordPress title input field is a simple text input, which may not always be sufficient for users who need more advanced formatting options. A WYSIWYG editor can be particularly useful in the following scenarios:
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Formatting Titles: Some users may want to apply bold, italic, or other formatting styles to their post or page titles, which can be achieved with a WYSIWYG editor.
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Embedding Media: Users may want to include images, videos, or other media within their post or page titles, which is not possible with the default text input field.
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Multilingual Titles: For websites with content in multiple languages, a WYSIWYG editor can provide better support for different character sets and scripts.
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Improved Accessibility: A WYSIWYG editor can make it easier for users with disabilities to format their titles and ensure they are accessible to all visitors.
By adding a WYSIWYG editor for post and page titles, you can provide a more flexible and powerful titling experience for your WordPress users.
Implementing the WYSIWYG Editor Solution
To implement the WYSIWYG editor for post and page titles in WordPress, follow these steps:
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Backup Your WordPress Site: Before making any changes to your WordPress files, it's essential to create a backup of your website to ensure you can revert the changes if needed.
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Locate the Relevant File: Navigate to the wp-admin/edit-form-advanced.php
file in your WordPress installation.
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Find the Title Input: In the edit-form-advanced.php
file, locate the title input field. It should look similar to the following:
<label class="screen-reader-text" id="title-prompt-text" for="title"><?php echo $title_placeholder; ?></label>
<input type="text" name="post_title" size="30" value="<?php echo esc_attr($post->post_title); ?>" id="title" spellcheck="true" autocomplete="off" />
- Update the Title Input: Replace the default title input with the following code:
<label class="screen-reader-text" id="title-prompt-text" for="title"><?php
echo $title_placeholder; ?></label>
<?php wp_editor( $post->post_title, 'post_title', array(
'_content_editor_dfw' => $_content_editor_dfw,
'drag_drop_upload' => true,
'tabfocus_elements' => 'title-html,save-post',
'editor_height' => 20,
'media_buttons' => false,
'tinymce' => array(
'resize' => false,
'toolbar1' => 'bold,italic,strikethrough,forecolor,',
'toolbar2' => '',
'toolbar3' => '',
'toolbar4' => '',
'wp_autoresize_on' => false,
'add_unload_trigger' => false,
'wp_keep_scroll_position' => ! $is_IE,
),
) ); ?>
This code replaces the default title input with a WordPress editor, providing a WYSIWYG interface for users to format their post and page titles.
- Test the Changes: After making the changes, save the
edit-form-advanced.php
file and test the new WYSIWYG title editor on your WordPress site. Verify that you can format the title text and that the changes are reflected in the frontend.
It's important to note that directly modifying core WordPress files is generally not recommended, as it can lead to compatibility issues and make your site more difficult to maintain. Instead, consider creating a custom plugin or a child theme to implement this solution, which will ensure your changes are preserved during WordPress updates.
Considerations and Limitations
While the solution provided here can be effective, it's important to be aware of a few considerations and limitations:
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Core File Modification: As mentioned earlier, updating core WordPress files is generally not a best practice. This solution may work for you, but it's essential to have a plan in place to maintain and update your site in the future.
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Compatibility: The solution has been tested with WordPress 4.9.1, but it may not work with newer versions of WordPress. It's important to test the changes thoroughly on a development or staging environment before deploying them to a production site.
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Performance Impact: Adding a WYSIWYG editor to the title field may have a slight performance impact on your WordPress site, as it loads additional JavaScript and CSS files. Consider optimizing your site's performance to mitigate any potential issues.
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Accessibility: While the WYSIWYG editor can improve accessibility for some users, it's essential to ensure that the final implementation meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) standards.
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Alternate Solutions: If you're not comfortable modifying core WordPress files, there are other solutions available, such as using a plugin or developing a custom solution that doesn't require direct file modifications.
Remember, the solution provided in this article is just one way to add a WYSIWYG editor for post and page titles in WordPress. It's important to evaluate the pros and cons and choose the approach that best fits your specific needs and requirements.
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