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1. Zentode
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   I would like to have a "switch" in my template file that "reports" whether a widget exists in a dynamic sidebar so I can include an alternate sidebar file if no widgets have been assigned.

   Basically, if there were no widgets dragged over in the Appearance / Widgets area, my alternate sidebar file will be used.

   In this section of my template:

   <?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('left-side-widgets') ) : ?>

   I would like to add something like:

   <?php elseif no widgets : ?>
   <?php /* include alternate sidebar file in dynamic sidebar */ ?>
   <?php endif; ?>`

   How can I create that "switch"?

   Is it possible? Yes. By me, no... I tried. :-/

   How do I create that query to the db to return the "switch"?

   Additionally, how about also returning how many widgets were dragged over there?

   And world peace.

   I can use:
   file_get_contents($someurl);
   to grab the file if I must.

   Thanks for any help...

2. doodlebee
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   A working example of *exactly* what you're looking for is included in the default theme's sidebar.php file.

   <?php if ( !function_exists('dynamic_sidebar') || !dynamic_sidebar('left-side-widgets') ) : ?>
   
   put your default "show this stuff if no widgets are activated" stuff here
   
   <?php endif; ?>

   No, I see you've named a sidebar widget section - so if you want stuff to show up on all other pages that *aren't* using "left-side-widgets" then just edit that a bit:

   <?php if( !dynamic_sidebar('left-side-widgets') ) { ?>
    put the stuff for a sidebar if the page isn't using the left side widgets
   <?php } else { ?>
   
   display the default stuff that shows if you're on a page that uses left-sidebar-widgets, but no widgets are pulled in yet
   
   <?php } ?>

3. Zentode
   Member
   Posted 2 years ago #

   Thank you,

   I ended up using the "If no left side widgets, display "this"" approach you pointed out.

   <?php if( !dynamic_sidebar('left-side-widgets') ) : ?>
   Show this file if no widgets
   <?php endif; ?>

   is what I ended up with.

   I must now attempt to query how many widgets, (the wp rss feed widgets specifically) are being displayed and their settings.
   I will do some reading here on the best way to query the db from a template file.

   Thanks again..

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