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Tutorials, Code Snippets and Examples

Today we wrapped up several key enhancements to our WordPress Menu Manager plug-in that should assist in the implementation and use of the plug-in by non-technical blog users. Many times we have faced tech support issues related to the complexity of making the menu creator work in a vast assortment of WordPress themes by entry level users (those we consider non programmers or designers per se). Although the WP Menu Creator was built initially to assist theme designers, developers and other WordPress professionals in providing exceptional menu control features, individual blogger(s) have demonstrated a substantial interest in implementing this tool in their own sites. From a users perspective given the knowledge they have, it was thought for sure our coders had crossed every “T” and dotted every “i” in making the plug-in easy to use by our target audience. With this new release I think we safely come to such a conclusion which I’ll articulate as I go on.

After hours of tech support, emails, blog posts and discussions, it became clear we really need to include new features in the plug-in to help maximize or should I say broaden the scope of end user friendliness. WordPress, as you may very well know, is the most popular and widely supported blogging solution available anywhere in the world even when compared to popular full blown CMS solutions. Part of its popularity is the ease in which it can be implemented and used by literally any site owner regardless of experience or expertise. When we built this plug-in, we knew that a blog owner would benefit substantially if given the ability to control not only the scope and structure of their navigation elements but the order and frequency in which those elements show on the blog is a feature that can not be understated on any level. With the Menu Creator, blogger(s) have the power to create, organize, and then implement one of the most powerful characteristics of good web design which is to provide “Guided Navigation”. (More on Guided Navigation Later).

This update answers what we came to understand and learn as “still slipping by” for effective implementation by all users. With version 1.0.7 we have implemented new features that provide the menu user with an inventory of code snippets and menu examples, latest updates and news for integration with themes, quick drop in snippets and even video tutorials all accessible from within the WP Menu Creator admin screen. In this release we have also added the Yahoo AJAX Library which will be featured in all our future plugins.