[wp-trac] [WordPress Trac] #19912: Add Widget Groups and Locations

[WordPress Trac]

#19912: Add Widget Groups and Locations
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 Reporter:  koopersmith      |      Owner:
     Type:  feature request  |     Status:  new
 Priority:  normal           |  Milestone:  3.4
Component:  General          |    Version:  3.3.1
 Severity:  normal           |   Keywords:
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 Currently, if a widget cannot be properly matched to a sidebar when
 switching themes, it is moved to the "Inactive widgets" section (debated
 for quite a while here: #17979).

 With the addition of the planned appearance improvements, it would be nice
 if we could let the user manipulate widgets as a group. Instead of trying
 to be too clever, we can let the user review where the widgets are
 positioned in their theme.

 Conceptually, this is very similar to how nav menu locations currently
 operate. Menu items are grouped in menus (created by the user), which can
 be assigned to menu locations (created by the theme). Likewise, widgets
 would be organized into groups (created by the user), and could be
 assigned to widget locations (created by the theme). Currently, "widget
 areas" are on double-duty — they act as both "widget groups" and "widget
 locations".

 I think the first step is to add the concept of "widget groups" into the
 current API and turn the existing "widget areas" into locations mapped to
 these groups.

 If we're looking to compartmentalize the patches, these initial changes
 could initially be added without modifying the widgets UI. Instead, we
 could temporarily link a widget group to a widget area behind the scenes.
 That said, the benefits could only be fully realized with a few tweaks to
 the widgets UI.

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Ticket URL: <http://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/19912>
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