ejm

That seems so code heavy! Is there really no way to just exclude one? Or could I do something like this?

<?php wp_get_links('1,2,3,5,6,7', 'name'); // show alphabetically, include all but category 4 ?>

Excuse me for replying to myself…

Finally!!! I applied rembem’s solution outlined at http://wordpress.org/support/topic/52819

This is the code that I have placed on my sidebar that excludes category 4 from showing up in the recent posts list:

<li id="recent_posts"><h2><?php _e('recent posts '); ?></h2>
<ul>
<?php $temp_query = $wp_query; query_posts('&cat=-4'); //ejm exclude category 4 ?>
<?php while (have_posts()) { the_post(); ?>
<li><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to &ldquo;<?php the_title(); ?>&rdquo;"><?php the_title(); ?></a></li>
<?php } $wp_query = $temp_query; ?>
</ul>
</li>

with the added advantage that I no longer have to use the recent-posts plugin.

Thanks all for your patience. And many thanks to rembem for outlining the solution that worked for me too.

Let me preface that I’m never thrilled to just apply code without really knowing what it means. But I’ve just now tried your coding, Otto42, and got a major error message.

WordPress database error: [You have an error in your SQL syntax. Check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '<= '' AND (post_status = 'publish') AND wp_posts.ID = wp_post2c]
SELECT DISTINCT * FROM wp_posts, wp_post2catWHERE post_date <= '' AND (post_status = 'publish') AND wp_posts.ID = wp_post2cat.post_id AND wp_post2cat.category_id !=4GROUP BY wp_posts.ID ORDER BY post_date DESC LIMIT HOW_MANY_POSTS_YOU_WANT

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in ../wp-content/themes/ejm/sidebar.php on line 37

I have just checked and these are the versions I am running.
PHP version: 4.3.11
MySQL version: 4.0.26

It looks like I’ll have to do some more staring at various pages.

Even more than I did before, I wholeheartedly agree with Stahn, who wrote, “It would have been SO MUCH easier if get_archives had an option to exclude categories…” in the Exclude Category from Recent Posts in sidebar thread.

You’re most welcome, Ciryaquen. I’m glad it works now.

Excuse me for replying to myself…

I have FINALLY got the event calendar to work. It turns out that one must “publish” the post so that it will appear on the calendar.

Suggested rewording for the end of “== How to make an Event Post ==” that may save other literal people like me from a world of grief:
………………………………………………
: set the date and time of your event and click <del>’Save'</del> ‘Publish‘.
:……………………………………………………….