Wish List Project

This is a response for item #23 from The To-Do Group Research Project.

Awhile ago I started using the Citrus Scraps template.  I noticed that there was text that showed up indicating that related posts should be showing up. Being new I just figured that once I had enough related posts they’d just magically appear. 

Well, nothing happened.  Then Wendy’s Wish List project came to fruition.  I put on my wish list that I wished my related posts would show up, as if wishing would make it come true.  It wasn’t until I saw her final project list that I learned it was a PLUGIN that I needed.  An A-HA moment!

And thus began my adventure in getting my ‘Related Posts’ feature to work.  Obviously I am a ‘newbie’ and will be writing this post for others who may be at my level.  Please forgive me if you are well into the advanced stages of this thing we call blogging!

First off I want to start at the adventure’s end. 

In the end I found a Plugin that worked for me right away.  So if you are not interested in knowing what the longer drawn out process taught me then just go here and get the thing loaded! (A new version is available too!)

The Adventure 

1. I clicked the link Wendy provided in list and downloaded the Plugin
2. I unzipped the file and used my FTP Manager (Unlimited FTP - I use Bluehost) to upload the file to the wp-content_plugins file
3. When it showed up in wordpress on the plugins list (check and double check where you are uploading to!) I activated it.
4. Nothing happened!  I started troubleshooting.
5. I stared at the code and figured out there was somehting about custom fields I needed to address
6. I played around with adding keywords (this was a first for me and something very valuable to figure out!)- still nothing showed up for related posts
7. Then I looked at the code within my own template and found it referenced a ‘realted posts’ function
8. hmmmm…I went back to the Citrus Scraps linkand they had a different plug-in for this so I downloaded that and followed the installation info
9. I was not one of the lucky ones that had the tables automatically update and had to follow a step that started by saying “Don’t worry its not hard”.  Yeah right:) It still did not work due to unavoidable errors and my inability to navigate my phpMySQLadmin! YUK/HUH??!!
10. I wrote to the writer of that plug in - I’m still waiting for response
11. I filled out a support ticket with Bluehost but did not think they’d get back to me in time to submit by Wendy’s deadline.  SO….
12. I Googled and found without much searching….drum roll please……Aizatto

The Aizatto’s Related Post Plugin is great for newbies because you do not have to modify template files and for me it worked as soon as I actived it under the ‘Plugins’ tab.

Things Learned

• What that Custom Fields Area is at the bottom when I’m writing posts - Very valuable!  Although my understanding is that the Aizatto plugin wrote around the need to fill these in.
• How to upload and activate a Plugin - FUN &  EASY (when they work right away:))
• Do not give up - keep searching for another answer - its out there!
• If you stare at code long enough it speaks to you & some day I’ll actually know it!