Setting up WordPress as a dictionary site
Updated on 12/05/2011
Check it out here:
Original Post:
Recently, I helped launch a website that served as a silly custom dictionary.
The concept was simple enough: create an online dictionary using only custom definitions. At first, I did some Google searches to see if there were any open-source dictionary apps. No such luck!
Then it occurred to me I should try WordPress. Searching the plugins, I realized that there was no dictionary plugin there either. That’s when I realized that I could set up WordPress itself to run the dictionary entirely.
Organization
I laid out a plan to make sure this would all run smoothly. I would use:
- Posts: for definition entries
- Custom Fields: to separate definitions, emphasis, etc. (made useful in combination with the “Get Custom Field Values” plugin)
- Categories: to create letter listing pages
- WP Post Sorting: a plugin to list entries in alphabetical order on letter listing pages
- Custom Template: to display the information correctly, in dictionary fashion instead of like a blog
Setting Up
Now that I had my game plan, it was time to prep. I installed WordPress, and set up my categories. I took advantage of nested categories in case I decide to run a blog simultaneously on the site. To do that, I created a “definitions” category, with nested categories running A-Z.
Next, I installed the WP Post Sorting plugin, and set it up so that under the A-Z categories, entries would be listed alphabetically instead of by the usual date order.
Then it was time to set up custom fields. I went over to create a new post. I put in the word to be defined as the title, and skipped the usual post box, scrolling down to the custom fields section. You can use whatever information you want but I created a different field for each of the following:
- Definition
- Emphasis
- Origin
- Type (noun/adjective/etc)
Finally, I went to set up the permalinks. You can set it up however you choose, but I used the following settings:
- Custom structure:
/define/%postname%
- Category base:
list
- Tag base:
tag
Creating a custom theme
Creating the theme is pretty simple, once you get the hang of it. If you don’t know how to build a theme, I suggest you learn how first.
I don’t care how you style it, but here are some tips to setting this up:
- Install Scott Reilly’s Get Custom Field Valuesplugin, it will make your life easier. Then, all you have to do to pull the custom field is something like the following (used within the loop):
php echo c2c_get_custom('definition', ''); ?> - Re-write the code that spits out posts. You’re not using the_content(), but we do want to show the definitions of our entries! My code looks like the following:
php the_title(); ?>
/
Origin:
This code should be used pretty much anywhere on the blog that would normally just display the posts.
- You’ll probably want to have a “Browse” option showing links for the A-Z categories somewhere. To do this, I simply used the following in header.php:
Browse: <ul><?php wp_list_categories('child_of=3&hide_empty=0&title_li='); ?></ul>Simply substitute the “3″ after child_of with whatever the category ID “Definitions” is on your setup of WordPress, and this will display a list of the A-Z links.
From there on out, you’re on your own! If you have any questions or tips of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments.
If you’re interested, you can check out the finished product at Pugtionary (the dictionary for pugs).
49 Responses to “Setting up WordPress as a dictionary site”
Leave a Reply
Dyan says: Very helpful post. Thank you. So you have to enter the individual entries manually, yes? I’m not clear on this. Let’s say you have 50 entries for letter A. You have to enter each one, right? Thanks.
-
Anne Dorko says:
Yes! Each entry is a separate, manual post. Make sure you put it under the correct letter category!
Hi Anne,
It`s a really creative implementation of WP. However, as I understood, you don`t really need the sorting plugin. You just have to use query_posts with orderyby parameter set to name in your main loop. =D
very good post but im trying to make it work, how did you set up the customs fields. (more detailed ) please!!!
Thanks for the idea. Will be working on your idea to create some multi-lingual dictionary..
ginny says: how did you fix it to allow people to submit posts themselves without registering?
-
That is simply a Contact7 form, I still have to manually add in suggestions as they are sent in!
Asocinfo says: Hi, great advice ! I looked at your theme and it is also very nice. Is it available for download anywhere?
Thanks,
Aso
-
Thank you! No it is not, but that is something I may consider, complete with 3.0 support… hmm. I’m glad you liked it! I’ll be sure to shoot you an email if/when I release it as a theme.
-
Anne, thank you very much! Very informative article, as I plan to start an online greek-turkish dictionary. I’m also interested in your theme, please let me know if you plan to release it.
-
I second that.. it’s so rare to have a dictionary theme for WP and you did an amazing job… btw, I love those pugs.. they are adorable
omg this is so useful, i run a blog which i long to turn into a dictionary, let me know when you decide to release your theme for download, or at least any basic theme you recommend as start off?
cheers
scarlet says: Anne, this themes look like a gem.
I wonder if it is available for public download.
You can also use the plugin “Explanatory Dictionary” for setting up WordPress as a dictionary site.
Toni says: Dear Anne,
very appreciated with your post. i’m in under project of making a dictionary site. can i buy your theme. thanks before
Hi anne, can you please help me to find a theme like your dictionary of pugtionary .. i really love that theme, and i would like to use it please.. 
please.. please.. i cant design a theme.. please…. if you would please send it to my email.. PLEASE………..
-
I have gotten a lot of requests for that theme, and when I get the time I will be releasing a Dictionary theme – I will definitely announce it so be sure to check back again in a few months.
artie says: THIS .. IS .. EXACTLY !!!!! … EXACTLY … what I am looking for …
wow ..
This is a wonderful post. I am searching for a starting point to start one site to our local language.
Thank you
Bage.
vanessa says: This is awesome info. I started putting together a dictionary-type thing that’s templated already. I’m just trying to figure out how you got the alpha categories to pop up with the entries automatically and not “archive for A-B” because that’s all I’m getting. Any hints would be super appreciated! Thanks for the post!
-
I’m not sure I follow your question? I haven’t touched this for a while now so I will have to dig into the code for anything specific.
is there any plugin avilable to make wordpress as dictionary , i tried alot and found ur post,thanks
proboi says: Please make this a theme that we could use, It is perfect for what I need.
I’ve got a db (Access/Excel) with an English-French dictionary that includes about 12000 words with sound bites; I’m looking for someone who could do just what this site is all about … turning it into a WP site. If anyone’s interested, PLEASE send me a message!! mark.levinson@mac.com
I’m using your code:
Browse:
On the Pugtionary site though, how did you get the A-Z list to sit horizontally?
Thanks!
V
-
Whups, that should say:
[code]Browse: <ul><?php wp_list_categories('child_of=3&hide_empty=0&title_li='); ?></ul>[/code]
-
That’s done with CSS!
One of the best writeups on this is from A List Apart: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/taminglists/
You’ll be most interested in the second half of the article.
SH says: Hey!
I love the pug site. And those instructions seem good, pretty new to WordPress though. Would love it if you released this theme free or commercially. Seems there is quite a lot of interest in it.
I would be interested in using this for a cosmetic related dictionary site. I have a handcoded one (php+xhtml+css) one but have been thinking about if iy could be done with WP. So much less hassle to have a pretty admin, allow commenting etc…
-
I am actually only a week or two away from releasing a WP Dictionary plugin and then a theme that will support the plugin.
…and then there will be even more themes coming out that support the plugin!
SH says: Wow, that is awesome! There really isn’t many other plugins if any – or themes – that are great for this kind of thing, not even commercially.
Kenneth Wills says: Anne, I really like the work you have done here. I am a Social Science writer and graduate student. I am putting together a project that could make use of a dictionary format. I am interested in either accessing your theme and plugin upon release, or preferably, directing you to build the infrastructure for the project. Thereafter, I will handle all the manual entries, which is rather extensive, about 1500 terms altogether of which some will read more like an encyclopedia article than terminology found in a dictionary. Can you send me an email to let me know if you are interested, what type of compensation you would ask and to discuss the project in more detail?
-
-
Anne,
Thank you for the response. That will work as well. Will you send an email when released?
-
Hey Anne,
I like what I see from the demo of your dictionary plugin, but I have one question. Is it search engine optimized? Thanks
-
Henry,
I’m not sure what you mean – the plugin will be as optimized as your theme and the rest of your WordPress site.
-
Anne,
So am guessing I’ll need an SEO theme for the dictionary plugin.
I have another question: You mention that you give access to free same version updates, and discounts on any future new versions of the plugin. Does this mean that if the current version is 1.0, and you release 1.1 a few months later, there is a fee to upgrade to the latest version?
Also, are there themes you would recommend along with your plugin?
-
Dot releases are free to update so anything 1.X is a free update. Once I make the switch to 2.X then that would be a paid update.
This plugin should work with any theme.
-
Ok, I know you put a lot of work in this plugin Anne, and I hope to see you continue developing and keep it updated. However, can you give me a tip on how much the paid updates will be? and the lifespan (duration) of such update(s). I can’t seem to find information about this anywhere.
Perhaps, I think you should properly inform people that you plan to charge for future updates of your plugin to keep it functional. Rather than people finding out at a later stage.
-
-
-
-
There’s a small demo back up.
There was a mistake while I was transferring accounts over during a domain registrar switch so I am working on rebuilding the demo.
-
Hey! I recently transferred some domain/server settings over, and I haven’t had the chance to fix all of the issues that resulted.
Fix in progress!
-
It should work like any regular Post or Page.
Shmii says: Nice to see the plugin is out! I think I might get it just to play with it around a little, at least. I already hand-coded a site and I’m more of a coder than WP user, but WP-engined site definitely has its perks. And this plugin seems great and price tag is decent. More importantly, there isn’t other plugins like this around!
Very helpful post. Thank you. So you have to enter the individual entries manually, yes? I’m not clear on this. Let’s say you have 50 entries for letter A. You have to enter each one, right? Thanks.
Yes! Each entry is a separate, manual post. Make sure you put it under the correct letter category!
Hi Anne,
It`s a really creative implementation of WP. However, as I understood, you don`t really need the sorting plugin. You just have to use query_posts with orderyby parameter set to name in your main loop. =D
very good post but im trying to make it work, how did you set up the customs fields. (more detailed ) please!!!
Thanks for the idea. Will be working on your idea to create some multi-lingual dictionary..
how did you fix it to allow people to submit posts themselves without registering?
That is simply a Contact7 form, I still have to manually add in suggestions as they are sent in!
Hi, great advice ! I looked at your theme and it is also very nice. Is it available for download anywhere?
Thanks,
Aso
Thank you! No it is not, but that is something I may consider, complete with 3.0 support… hmm. I’m glad you liked it! I’ll be sure to shoot you an email if/when I release it as a theme.
Anne, thank you very much! Very informative article, as I plan to start an online greek-turkish dictionary. I’m also interested in your theme, please let me know if you plan to release it.
I second that.. it’s so rare to have a dictionary theme for WP and you did an amazing job… btw, I love those pugs.. they are adorable
omg this is so useful, i run a blog which i long to turn into a dictionary, let me know when you decide to release your theme for download, or at least any basic theme you recommend as start off?
cheers
Anne, this themes look like a gem.
I wonder if it is available for public download.
You can also use the plugin “Explanatory Dictionary” for setting up WordPress as a dictionary site.
Dear Anne,
very appreciated with your post. i’m in under project of making a dictionary site. can i buy your theme. thanks before
I will be releasing a Dictionary theme in the next few months.
Hi anne, can you please help me to find a theme like your dictionary of pugtionary .. i really love that theme, and i would like to use it please..
please.. please.. i cant design a theme.. please…. if you would please send it to my email.. PLEASE………..
I have gotten a lot of requests for that theme, and when I get the time I will be releasing a Dictionary theme – I will definitely announce it so be sure to check back again in a few months.
THIS .. IS .. EXACTLY !!!!! … EXACTLY … what I am looking for …
wow ..
This is a wonderful post. I am searching for a starting point to start one site to our local language.
Thank you
Bage.
This is awesome info. I started putting together a dictionary-type thing that’s templated already. I’m just trying to figure out how you got the alpha categories to pop up with the entries automatically and not “archive for A-B” because that’s all I’m getting. Any hints would be super appreciated! Thanks for the post!
I’m not sure I follow your question? I haven’t touched this for a while now so I will have to dig into the code for anything specific.
is there any plugin avilable to make wordpress as dictionary , i tried alot and found ur post,thanks
pretty nice work love the idea going to try this method for my own theme
Hi Darko,
When are you releasing your dictionary theme?
Please make this a theme that we could use, It is perfect for what I need.
Short, sweet, to the point, FREE-exactly as infromaiton should be!
I’ve got a db (Access/Excel) with an English-French dictionary that includes about 12000 words with sound bites; I’m looking for someone who could do just what this site is all about … turning it into a WP site. If anyone’s interested, PLEASE send me a message!! mark.levinson@mac.com
I’m using your code:
Browse:
On the Pugtionary site though, how did you get the A-Z list to sit horizontally?
Thanks!
V
Whups, that should say:
[code]Browse: <ul><?php wp_list_categories('child_of=3&hide_empty=0&title_li='); ?></ul>[/code]
That’s done with CSS!
One of the best writeups on this is from A List Apart: http://www.alistapart.com/articles/taminglists/
You’ll be most interested in the second half of the article.
Hey!
I love the pug site. And those instructions seem good, pretty new to WordPress though. Would love it if you released this theme free or commercially. Seems there is quite a lot of interest in it.
I would be interested in using this for a cosmetic related dictionary site. I have a handcoded one (php+xhtml+css) one but have been thinking about if iy could be done with WP. So much less hassle to have a pretty admin, allow commenting etc…
I am actually only a week or two away from releasing a WP Dictionary plugin and then a theme that will support the plugin.
…and then there will be even more themes coming out that support the plugin!
Wow, that is awesome! There really isn’t many other plugins if any – or themes – that are great for this kind of thing, not even commercially.
Anne, I really like the work you have done here. I am a Social Science writer and graduate student. I am putting together a project that could make use of a dictionary format. I am interested in either accessing your theme and plugin upon release, or preferably, directing you to build the infrastructure for the project. Thereafter, I will handle all the manual entries, which is rather extensive, about 1500 terms altogether of which some will read more like an encyclopedia article than terminology found in a dictionary. Can you send me an email to let me know if you are interested, what type of compensation you would ask and to discuss the project in more detail?
Hello Kenneth,
I’ll let you know when the plugin and theme are released. Thanks!
Anne,
Thank you for the response. That will work as well. Will you send an email when released?
Hey Anne,
I like what I see from the demo of your dictionary plugin, but I have one question. Is it search engine optimized? Thanks
Henry,
I’m not sure what you mean – the plugin will be as optimized as your theme and the rest of your WordPress site.
Anne,
So am guessing I’ll need an SEO theme for the dictionary plugin.
I have another question: You mention that you give access to free same version updates, and discounts on any future new versions of the plugin. Does this mean that if the current version is 1.0, and you release 1.1 a few months later, there is a fee to upgrade to the latest version?
Also, are there themes you would recommend along with your plugin?
Dot releases are free to update so anything 1.X is a free update. Once I make the switch to 2.X then that would be a paid update.
This plugin should work with any theme.
Ok, I know you put a lot of work in this plugin Anne, and I hope to see you continue developing and keep it updated. However, can you give me a tip on how much the paid updates will be? and the lifespan (duration) of such update(s). I can’t seem to find information about this anywhere.
Perhaps, I think you should properly inform people that you plan to charge for future updates of your plugin to keep it functional. Rather than people finding out at a later stage.
http://dictionary.annedorko.com/ is not working. I get a 404.
would love to see and buy …
There’s a small demo back up.
There was a mistake while I was transferring accounts over during a domain registrar switch so I am working on rebuilding the demo.
The demo is down for the plugin. Could you please check?
Bage.
Hey! I recently transferred some domain/server settings over, and I haven’t had the chance to fix all of the issues that resulted.
Fix in progress!
plugin work with UTF 8 Characters?
It should work like any regular Post or Page.
Nice to see the plugin is out! I think I might get it just to play with it around a little, at least. I already hand-coded a site and I’m more of a coder than WP user, but WP-engined site definitely has its perks. And this plugin seems great and price tag is decent. More importantly, there isn’t other plugins like this around!