Setting up WordPress as a Dictionary Site
Updated on 10/29/2012
The WordPress Dictionary Plugin is available and on sale right now.
The WordPress Dictionary Theme (a.k.a. Anatomy theme) is alive and on sale right now. View the demo or find the sale on the Dictionary Plugin landing page — just click “Get The Plugin Now” to see it.
Original Tutorial Post from October 8th, 2009:
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).
I want a plugin! I want the theme!
Code is messy and dirty. The above solution was my first version of how to create a dictionary using WordPress. I have since revised and improved my methods.
If you’re not a developer, or don’t want to reinvent the wheel…
The WordPress Dictionary Plugin is available and on sale right now.
The WordPress Dictionary Theme (a.k.a. Anatomy theme) is alive and on sale right now. View the demo or find the sale on the Dictionary Plugin landing page — just click “Get The Plugin Now” to see it.
Make a better site with Anatomy.
Most themes want you to focus on all of the fancy design options they offer and the distracting shiny gadgets you can play with.
I designed a beautiful, responsive theme that doesn't waste your time with meaningless options. Anatomy is designed to help you focus on what's important: Engaging your readers.
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.
Hello again Henry!
There’s no information about this anywhere because I have no idea. I could see this plugin being as much as $50 when it’s all said and done – but I really have no idea. It has a life of its own and I make updates as they are requested, necessary or otherwise just make sense.
The more that the plugin grows and the more hours I spend on it, the more I will increase the price.
If the plugin reaches a point where I think a remake as a Version 2 makes sense, I will do that and sell the repackaged plugin as a new thing.
My goal is to always provide a plugin that offers exactly what people need, and offer support and service that makes buying the plugin worth it. I do not have any plans other than letting what people need and can afford guide my decisions for updates in the future.
Old versions will never become “broken” through any design of mine, although I may stop officially supporting them – but even in that case I’d rather make sure that those who have purchased my plugin at any stage are satisfied.
I hope that this satisfies your curiosity in these regards, but please let me know if you have any further concerns.
Thanks for taking your time to explain that Anne. As you already know, am openly asking this questions to satisfy my curiosity.
I was looking at your Pugtionary.com website, and I notice that there’s a feature to contribute data to the site, meanwhile the demo at http://dictionary.annedorko.com/ does not have that feature any where. Does this feature come with the plugin? or its only added to the theme you created?
Roughly two months ago, you mentioned in one of your comments that you are “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!”
I do not create themes, but buy ready-made themes – and have been looking around for a compatible theme to use along with your dictionary plugin with no real luck.
If I use available WP themes out there to install your dictionary plugin, will it have the functionality of a search bar at the top, followed by an alphabet browse navigation underneath just like in Pugtionary.com site? Will all WP themes have the simple “contribute” interface just like in Pugtionary.com?
If other WP themes cannot do this things, then I think the release of your anticipated dictionary theme is way overdue. How far with the theme?
Additionally, am curious how your theme will react to spammers, the need for Captchas, or any anti-spam feature to make contributions worthwhile.
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!
Hi Anne. Intrigued by the plugin, and wondering if a crowdsourced-type implementation (a la urbandictionary.com) is possible with current or future releases. Perhaps something that could utilize comments instead of posts as submissions, with a thumbs up/down for voting system. Cheers.
This is definitely an interesting idea. I doubt that I would implement this full-featured into the current version (1.0+) but it may be something I consider for version 2 or perhaps just an entirely different variation of the plugin.
Hello, I bought the plugin but I can not make the list of AZ. I need the theme you said. Do you have the theme?
Hello! I do not have the theme available. You will need to use custom CSS to display the list correctly.
Hello Anne!
I was looking for a plugin like this! I really want a plugin for dictionary that uses Custom Post Types in its structure. But, to be complete (and I will buy this one), it needs to highlight, by underline or bold, the defined words automatically in the regular post content. When the mouse hovers the highlighted word, a little ballon, with de definition appears. (like in the old Explanatory Dictionary). It will be perfect!
This is an intensive thing to implement, but is on the list of highly requested features.
I can’t promise a release date for this, but it will come out eventually!
Hello, Anne!
Recently I bought the WordPress Dictionary Plugin and I’m extremely happy to have it working on the latest WP release. Thanks for the great job!
About 15 years I worked on a comprehensive history of Bulgaria, constructed as a dictionary, and this is what will make possible to publish my work for all interested in the subject, not only my students.
Unfortunately, there are many related terms inside the book, and I want to make internal links to the respective words. I wrote these terms as WordPress tags (my intention was to use something like the Simple Tags plugin to create auto links), but the tags don’t appear in the New Entry page (I don’t want to use the Related Entry field as there will too much of them). How can I use my tags for autolinking?
Thanks in advance!
Luca
Is this plug-in updated through WordPress 3.4.1?
Will WP 3.5 be prepared for in advance if needed?
When WP updates are rolled out, if an issue develops, are fixes made within a few days… or longer?
I am required to update WP within days of new releases and would have to have my glossary back up quickly as well if the update created an issue.
Thanks
This plugin is always being tested on the most recent version. I can never make promises about 100% future compatibility, but I do my best to keep things running smoothly.
I usually am able to address serious bugs within 48 hours.
If you keep regular backups of your database, you should be fine as far as previously create Entries are concerned.
I was searching for this and finally i find it here. Really thanks a lot for sharing.