How to Use Custom Plugins in Wordpress Themes

Wordpress plugins expand and extend basic Wordpress features. Plugins are small pieces of PHP code that can perform many different functions, such as adding a spam filter or tracking your Web traffic. You can add your own custom plugins to a theme by uploading and activating them on your specific Wordpress installation. Some plugins require further customization to work with the theme, such as code tags within the theme files.

Things You'll Need

• FTP program

Instructions

1. Log in to your Wordpress site. Open up your FTP program. Upload your custom plugin files to the folder "plugins" folder under "wp-content."

2. Close your FTP program ,then click "Plugins," then the sub-menu item "Plugins."

3. Click "Activate" on your custom plugin.

4. Click "Appearance" and "Themes" if you need to add any code tags to your theme to make your custom plugin work. The exact theme file that you need to edit for your plugin depends on the type of plugin, although typically you'll add it to the home, sidebar or single post pages. Save your changes once you have completed them.

References

• Wordpress: Managing Plugins
• Wordpress: Administration Screens