add_filter('gform_pre_render', 'walker_do_shortcode_gform_description', 10, 2);

function do_shortcode_gform_description(&$item, $key) {
	$item = do_shortcode($item);
}

function walker_do_shortcode_gform_description($form, $ajax) {

	$form['description'] = do_shortcode($form['description']);
	array_walk_recursive($form['fields'], 'do_shortcode_gform_description');

	return $form;
}

I found people are coming to this site (to an unrelated article) looking for a way to merge settings into an array.

You’re looking for wp_parse_args()

The main function for WordPress to do this is wp_parse_args(). You likely want this function.

Learn more about wp_parse_args()

Also consider shortcode_atts()

This is used for parsing shortcode options. It only supports defined arguments.

Learn more about shortcode_atts()

I just visited Mitt Romney’s website for the first time and noticed right away that his site looked cheap because his button images had been so compressed for load time.

For comparison, here are some similar boxes on BarackObama.com

Look for yourself

I don’t think the affect of the bad quality comes across in these pictures. I encourage you to compare and contrast.

• MittRomney.com
• BarackObama.com

I have previously written on how to determine if a widget is active. This is helpful for widgets, but not for plugins.

WordPress has a couple of different functions that help you determine plugin status. They are both located in wp-includes/plugin.php

• validate_plugin() spits out an error if the plugin file does not  exist or has an invalid header. This lets you know that the file is there.
• is_plugin_inactive() lets you know if the plugin is not active (using the is_plugin_active() function)

A function to get plugin status

Using these two functions, I put together a one-size-fits-all function get_plugin_status().

The function returns 1 if the plugin is active; 2 if the plugin is inactive; 0 if the plugin is not installed.

/**
 * Check the status of a plugin.
 *
 * @param string $plugin Base plugin path from plugins directory.
 * @return int 1 if active; 2 if inactive; 0 if not installed
 */
function get_plugin_status($location = '') {

	$errors = validate_plugin($location);

	// Plugin is found
	if(!is_wp_error($errors)) {
		if(is_plugin_inactive($location)) {
			return 2;
		}
		return 1;
	}
	else {
		return false;
	}
}

Usage example

$status = get_plugin_status('akismet/akismet.php');
switch($status) {
	case 1: echo 'Akismet is active.'; break;
	case 2: echo 'Akismet is installed but inactive.'; break;
	case 0: echo 'Akismet is not installed or active.'; break;
}

My Three WordPress + Coda Tips

1. Install WordPress Syntax mode for Panic Coda

As a WordPress developer, I use lots of WordPress functions. This will allow you to auto-complete WordPress functions. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include function parameter hints, but that’s what tip #3 is for.

2. Replace your WordPress Syntax mode colors

I didn’t like the color set it came with, so I exported my colors:

1. Go to Preferences > Colors
2. Select the color set you like in the “Language” window (I exported PHP-HTML)
3. Click the “Export” tab
4. Edit the .seestyle file in a text editor
5. Find and replace PHP-HTML with PHP-HTML-WP
6. Save the file
7. In Coda, click the Import button and select the .seestyle file
8. Voila: your colors are now what you’re used to.

3. Configure a WordPress Codex book in Coda

Coda comes built-in with six reference “books”; web-based documentation pages for HTML, Javascript, PHP, and CSS.

There was an awesome shortcut in Coda I didn’t know about: Command + Double-click on a function name to open a Coda Book describing that function.

How to configure a WordPress book

1. Press Command-6 (or go to View > Mode > Books)
2. Click the + button in the bottom-left of the window
3. Use the following settings:
   • Book Title: WordPress
   • Book URL: http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/
   • Cover Image: Optional. DRÄ Studio has an article with tons of more book options and a nice WordPress cover image to use.
   • Use for Mode: PHP-HTML or PHP-HTML-WP, depending on whether you installed the Syntax Mode in Step 1
   • Search URL: http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/*
4. Click OK

Now, when you have auto-completed functions and you forget what parameters the function takes, you can Command+Double-click the function name and be taken directly to the WordPress Codex page relating to it!

reveal.js

Today, for the first time, I was actually taken aback by the amount of visual crap on Google results.

IDX+ is a project I’ve been working on for months. It was born came out of necessity: a client told me “there is no perfect solution for WordPress real estate websites.” After looking into it, I realized he was right.

IDX+ is the solution to your real estate website’s problems.

The current previous state of WordPress real estate plugins

Realtors who want great SEO, complete IDX results, and customization have been in a tough spot: you either had to:

• list listings individually;
• have all the IDX results on a subdomain;
• or pay tens of thousands of dollars to develop a leased website, then pay through the teeth for minor changes to wording or for features like related properties.

Subdomains divide website value, and adding listings individually is often against MLS regulations and isn’t feasible for a large brokerage. Paying tens of

As a result, real estate agents and brokers had to have two websites: one site to get traffic, and the other site to convert the lead.

The best available real estate plugin is great…

The best WordPress plugin for getting site traffic is the dsIDXpress plugin by Diverse Solutions. It offers fully indexable IDX content, great URL re-writing, Google Maps integration, lead forms, and more.

Diverse Solutions got it mostly right–for getting indexed by search engines. dsIDXpress is an SEO powerhouse, but it’s not a one-stop-shop.

…but not perfect.

Your site can get tons of traffic with dsIDXpress — and now there’s a way to convert the traffic into leads.

dsIDXpress downsides:

• No user registration
• No saved searches / favorite listings
• Lots of user dead-ends (for example: once listings expire, they’re gone, leaving 404 error pages)
• Not customizable

IDX+ = the best WordPress IDX solution.

IDX+ builds on top of dsIDXpress to create an amazing platform

dsIDXpress is the foundation for IDX+ and is required to use the plugin. IDX+ plus dsIDXpress makes an amazing package.

IDX+ adds tons of features, including:

• Beautiful user registration – either forced or optional
• User/lead data – including every listing a user views, all searches performed, saved favorites, saved searches, last login, number of logins, and more.
• Favorite Listings & Saved Searches
• Totally customizable SEO title tags for listings or search results
• SEO-friendly redirects for expired listings (redirect to the listing’s city or ZIP with a message to the user)
• Hundreds of customizations – either “install and forget it,” or tweak the settings.
• Related Properties – even choose the search radius and +/- price spreads!
• Related Articles - You’ve blogged a ton; start reaping the benefits.
• Completely template-based: customize the HTML, PHP, CSS to your heart’s delight!
• Developer-friendly: WordPress actions and filters abound.

There are hundreds of features for one flat price – the beta version of the plugin is $599. All purchases of the beta will have free upgrades and support for one year.

Buy the plugin today – beta pricing of $599

Learn more on IDXPlus.net

I have put the BoulderSEO.com domain up for auction: with the upcoming release of the top-secret WordPress real estate plugin, I have chosen to sell this prime property.

The BoulderSEO.com auction will be ending in 18 hours, so if you’re into Colorado, Denver, Loveland, or Boulder SEO (you get the idea!), check out this auction.

You will instantly rank well with this great domain.

Currently priced at only $660 – it’s a great deal! With literally no work done on the site since April, 2009, I still get 1-2 leads/month from this site. This domain will pay for itself in a month.

Go to the auction.

WordPress + Real Estate + User Data + SEO

In the past, I’ve written posts about how to optimize your WordPress real estate website for SEO and I’ve created a Trulia plugin for WordPress.

This WordPress real estate plugin changes the game of what you can do with your WordPress website — and for how much money. No longer do you need to pay tens of thousands of dollars for an indexed IDX solution.

Next week I will release a beta version, so stay tuned for the formal announcement.