WordPress Guestbook Generator Plugin

I created a couple of posts that demonstrated how to make a WordPress Guestbook. Some of you might have found it a bit daunting, so here’s a plugin that will do everything for you!

Plugin Name: Guestbook Generator
Description: Generates a guestbook for WordPress blogs. Once activated, click on Options > Guestbook Generator.
Version: 0.8
Author: Andrew dela Serna
Notice: Compatible only with WordPress 2.1. Support for older versions will continue but updates/upgrades will be focused on the newest versions of WordPress. Scroll down to download Version 0.7 which is designed for Wordress 2.0.X.

Features:

1. No files to edit. Just upload the plugin, activate it then run the generator.
2. Guestbook template seamlessly integrates with your current theme.
3. When changing themes, simply run the generator to create the necessary files.
4. Like a true-blue guestbook, entries are arranged from newest to oldest.
5. Remember the time when guestbooks were the “in” thing? Hopefully this plugin will bring back the ol’ days. Hehe.

Installation:

1. Download the plugin from http://www.alleba.com/blog/wp-downloads/guestbook-generator.zip. If you don’t want paged comments, download this one instead.
2. Extract and upload the contents of the archive to ‘yourserver.com/wp-content/plugins/guestbook-generator/’
3. Login to your WordPress admin panel and browse to the Plugins section.
4. Activate the Guestbook Generator plugin.
5. Go to Options > Guestbook Generator to create your guestbook.
6. That’s it!

On a side note, if you already followed my instructions from my previous posts, you have to delete your current guestbook page and guestbook template files (guestbook.php, guestcomments.php) for the plugin to work. However, I suggest that you stick to your guestbook if you already have a lot of people who signed it. You may use this plugin if you’re switching themes.

I have tested Guestbook Generator on a lot of themes. Some still required a little tweaking especially on the wording. You might want to check out my reloaded instructions if you decide to edit the files in the Theme Editor.

Lastly, since this is the initial release, I would love to hear your comments, complaints or suggestions. Hope you like it.

Update: There is an issue with the guestbook not being found/viewable right after generating it. I’ll fix this tomorrow. In the meantime, you can edit the guestbook and save it. That should do the trick.

0.2 Update: The above issue has been resolved and so far the plugin works perfectly in all the blogs I tested it on.

0.3 Update: Cleaned up some coding.

0.4 Update: Added better error handling. Reversed the order of comments from newest to oldest (Thanks Ulaan B.)

0.5 Update: Even more error handling. Noted issues with the older Default theme and K2 theme.

0.6 Update: Corrected to avoid errors with K2 theme.

0.7 Update: Fixed some replacement mechanisms that will avoid errors with any theme.

0.8 Update: Solved compatibility issues with WordPress 2.1.

0.9 Update: Added paged comments functionality. Requires the Paged Comments plugin.

Version 0.7 for WordPress 2.0.x
For those experiencing problems with chmoding your theme folder, please download this version (WordPress 2.0.x)

329 comments

  1. I’ve tried several times to install this plugin and I keep getting the following error:

    Warning: require(lib/inc/author-info-panel.php) [function.require]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mounted-storage/home36a/sub004/sc28894-VVYV/www/forever/wp-content/themes/supermassive/guestbook.php on line 52

    Warning: require(lib/inc/author-info-panel.php) [function.require]: failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /mounted-storage/home36a/sub004/sc28894-VVYV/www/forever/wp-content/themes/supermassive/guestbook.php on line 52

    Fatal error: require() [function.require]: Failed opening required ‘lib/inc/author-info-panel.php’ (include_path=’.:/usr/share/php5/’) in /mounted-storage/home36a/sub004/sc28894-VVYV/www/forever/wp-content/themes/supermassive/guestbook.php on line 52

    What am I doing wro

  2. Hello,

    I have problem with this plugin, I was installed id, activated it, created it, but when open guestbook page “http://skolnicasopis.yc.cz/?page_id=14” I can´t see nothing 🙁

    Please, I would happy for all answers,

    Thanks.

  3. Hi,
    I have the plugin installed but how do I get it to appear/work on a page?
    I know it says options- guestbook generator but what do I on the the page for it to work?
    Thanks,
    Pa.

  4. this is what I get when I click on generate-
    Guestbook Generator
    Theme folder was not chmoded to 777!
    Guestbook Template Created!
    Guestbook Comments Template Created!
    Guestbook Page Created!
    Guestbook Template Successfully Assigned!
    View Your New Guestbook!
    but 404 page not found when I click on the link

  5. Guest books are indeed a blast from the past. I like the fact that it’s a WP and therefore super simple and intuitive to use. Thanks a ton.

  6. I already asked without having an answer.
    Could you please help me?

    I would like that all the comments are visible from the most recent one to the oldest.
    Instead of I have from the oldest to the most recent.

    Having not helps, I tried to modify your source code and in the guestbook.php as well as comments.php something like that, I added an DESC to the SELECT statement but there is not any effect.

    How do I have to do please?

  7. i am sorry to bother.. but where is the ‘option’ button?

    i have activate, but can not do step #5. Go to Options > Guestbook Generator to create your guestbook.

    please help.
    thank you

  8. Hello,

    I installed the plugin and it works fine!
    But I have one question: On the top of the page where i placed the guestbook (Gastenboek) there is e line with a link to other pages on my website. Is this a setting in the guestbook plugin? I don’t want that link there. How can I disable this?

    Sander

  9. hallo again, I could create i site called “guestbook” but where can people right something? thanks for your help. paola

  10. Hello Andrew,

    I installed your Guestbook generator plugin successfully a couple of years ago on another website. Now I am trying to add it to a new one. For this site I am using a Woo theme which has a stylesheet and a very adjustable Theme Options menu. I see that all the .php needed are in place, but no guestbook form appears on the page. Can you help me make it work?

  11. How do I do do show guestbook (comments) entry??? See my page. Show the form of comments, but dont show approved comments… Another question… How do I remove author of post on guestbook page? I’m sorry by my poor english. Thank you!

  12. Hi there
    I really love your plugin it’s def. one of the best guestbook plugins for wordpress.

    Still I have a problem and as i saw a few others do also.

    I installed and everything works BUT the comments are not displayed. The form ist there but none of the comments are shown. could you maybe tell me what i have to modify so that it works?

    I use WP 3.2
    Thanks in advance

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