I disagree; I see no reason that we should be unable to establish guidelines regarding content creation by Themes.<div><br></div><div>The purpose of Themes is to *present* content. *Creation* of content is not a legitimate purpose for a publicly distributed Theme. On the other hand, one legitimate purpose of a Plugin very well may be to *create* content. Such use of a Plugin isn&#39;t &quot;lock-in&quot; in the same way that similar content-creation in a Theme would be &quot;lock-in&quot;, because the user can switch among all Themes that properly *present* the content *created* by the Plugin.<div>
<br></div><div>This discussion correlates quite closely to our earlier discussions regarding custom post types in Themes. IIRC, the general outcome of that discussion is that, as a general rule, CPTs are Plugin Territory, but exceptions could be made where appropriate. It makes sense to me to approach shortcodes in the same way.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Chip<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 5:51 PM, Emil Uzelac <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:emil@themeid.com">emil@themeid.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<font color="#333333"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">I understand that, but we can&#39;t really dictate shortcode integration nor usage by users can we? Potential problem could be even if you&#39;re using this as the plugin, same lock-in effect. Sure they can delete the plugin, however user can switch the Theme as well. This is the area where it&#39;s up to authors to integrate and for users to use. And us to check if they&#39;re properly done. No more, no less :)</font></font></font><div class="HOEnZb">
<div class="h5"><div>

<font color="#333333"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br></font></font></font><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 5:27 PM, Justin Tadlock <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:justin@justintadlock.com" target="_blank">justin@justintadlock.com</a>&gt;</span> wrote:<br>


<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
  
    
  
  <div bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
    Remember that shortcodes are sometimes added for reasons other than
    being placed in post content.  It&#39;s when the shortcode&#39;s purpose is
    to be placed in post content that it becomes problematic, causing
    the lock-in effect.<br>
    <br>
    For example, most of my themes have some simple shortcodes for
    outputting footer credit/copyright related stuff in a theme setting. 
    One for getting the current year is actually one of them.<div><div><br>
    <br>
    On 2/16/2012 5:15 PM, Emil Uzelac wrote:
    <blockquote type="cite"><font color="#333333"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Agreed with the Chip on a
            plugin territory, however if the shortcodes are properly
            implemented it should not be holding down the approval. I
            would not fail a Theme for shortcode usage, if everything
            else including this checks out.</font></font></font>
      <div>
        <font color="#333333"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br>
            </font></font></font></div>
      <div><font color="#333333"><font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Emil<br>
            </font></font></font><br>
        <div class="gmail_quote">
          On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 4:35 PM, Chip Bennett <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:chip@chipbennett.net" target="_blank">chip@chipbennett.net</a>&gt;</span>
          wrote:<br>
          <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
            As with (almost) every guideline: exceptions are allowed, on
            a case-by-case basis.  So, it&#39;s certainly up for discussion.
            :)<span><font color="#888888">
                <div><br>
                </div>
              </font></span>
            <div><span><font color="#888888">Chip</font></span>
              <div>
                <div><br>
                  <br>
                  <div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 4:31
                    PM, Mario Peshev <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:mario@peshev.net" target="_blank">mario@peshev.net</a>&gt;</span>
                    wrote:<br>
                    <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Does
                      it apply for very serious and powerful themes
                      (like lite version of premium themes that ask for
                      submission in WPORG repo)?
                      <div>
                        <br>
                        I have a similar case right now, very powerful
                        portfolio theme with a custom post type that
                        asks for permission. Does it stand a chance?<span><font color="#888888"><br clear="all">
                            <br>
                            Mario Peshev<br>
                            Training and Consulting Services @ DevriX<br>
                            <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeshev" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeshev</a><br>
                            <a href="http://devrix.com" target="_blank">http://devrix.com</a><br>
                            <a href="http://peshev.net/blog" target="_blank">http://peshev.net/blog</a></font></span>
                        <div>
                          <div><br>
                            <br>
                            <br>
                            <br>
                            <div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb 17,
                              2012 at 12:29 AM, George Mamadashvili <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:georgemamadashvili@gmail.com" target="_blank">georgemamadashvili@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span>
                              wrote:<br>
                              <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
                                I&#39;m 100% agree with that, but can we
                                not-approves theme by this resolution?
                                and suggest author to remove them for
                                the next release? 
                                <div>
                                  <div><br>
                                    <br>
                                    <div class="gmail_quote">On Fri, Feb
                                      17, 2012 at 2:14 AM, Chip Bennett
                                      <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:chip@chipbennett.net" target="_blank">chip@chipbennett.net</a>&gt;</span>
                                      wrote:<br>
                                      <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">Such
                                        shortcodes are Plugin territory.
                                        They create content, and
                                        represent a means of Theme
                                        lock-in.
                                        <div><br>
                                        </div>
                                        <div>
                                          Chip<br>
                                          <br>
                                          <div class="gmail_quote">
                                            <div>On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at
                                              4:11 PM, George
                                              Mamadashvili <span dir="ltr">&lt;<a href="mailto:georgemamadashvili@gmail.com" target="_blank">georgemamadashvili@gmail.com</a>&gt;</span>
                                              wrote:<br>
                                            </div>
                                            <blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
                                              <div>Do we have any rules
                                                about using shortcodes
                                                in theme? This theme
                                                registers 19, they&#39;ve
                                                shortcode for every
                                                simple thing like - get
                                                current year.
                                                <br>
                                              </div>
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