WordPress Theme Options Overload? A Judgment Call
Lately, while I’ve been busy coding themes for WPBundle, I’ve had to make a few judgment calls. One of the main ones for me is how I wanted to handle the “Theme Options” people have come to know, and quite frankly, expect.
Every theme these days has theme options, and there are a ton of guides on creating theme options. So now instead of it being about actually having the Options page, it’s turned into how many options can you squeeze into your theme.
A Growing Problem
But I see a problem with this. Not only are people resorting to creating custom pages so they can have 10+ tabs on the single page just so they can fit all the options, but they are creating redundant options. Sometimes I think Theme Developers are completely forgetting how huge the Plugin Directory on WordPress is. So when you are creating your theme, is there really a need to have an option to put “Stat Tracking” code? If the user actually wants that option, they can do a quick Plugin search and find over 300 stat plugins.
Making the Most of the Basics.
The point I am trying to make is, why confuse people? By creating these “custom” option pages, not only can you end up confusing the user by giving them a completely different environment, but you end up overwhelming them with options they may have no clue about. So instead of cluttering up the options that really need to be easily changed, with something that has been done hundreds of times in a Plugin, just give them the basics.
I think if someone is really interested in customizing their theme, they will probably already have some knowledge on how to do it. Or just let them ask in the Support forums; that’s what they are for right?
One of the theme’s I’m working on right now only has two options on the Theme Options page (which could really even be one.) So instead of spending an hour rummaging through 100+ different inputs, checkboxes, dropdowns, they can start adding their content almost instantly.
Less is more.
Written by Spencer on May 30, 2010
I’m speaking at WordCamp Chicago next weekend and I’m actually touching on this topic during my presentation about theme standardization.
I’m curious if you would like you to help me put together some notes on the advantages of moving theme options into a plugin that theme authors would be encouraged to use. Feel free to email me if interested; I’d obviously share credit with you on the presentation, as well. Thank you in advance.
Music to my ears, Spencer. Music to my ears! That’s all I’m gonna say…
@Jason – Wow fantastic. I’ll have a word with Spencer and see if he’d be able to take you up on that offer. Thanks, and best of luck with the talk.
I’ve been customizing the Thesis theme recently on a client project and I agree there are way too many options.
I prefer the ThemeHybrid philosophy, just the bare minimum.
[...] A good call to re-think what needs to be in a theme’s options: So instead of cluttering up the options that really need to be easily changed, with something that has been done hundreds of times in a Plugin, just give them the basics. Links 31 May 2010 0 [...]
I agree that some theme options panels are full of items that could be done easily with a plugin, or by hand in the code, but as far as stat tracking goes, to me it seems like making the theme a one-stop-shop would require it to have a box to add your stat tracking code in, this way the end user doesn’t have to go searching for something as simple as a google analytics stat tracking plugin.
Maybe putting these “misc options” on their own page would help to cut down on the clutter, but I believe items like an option to add tracking codes is one that should be included.
i’ve thought about something related to this issue too. some of them even kept on forgetting that the built in options are already there by WP, and shouldn’t be redundant with the theme options.
@Mike,
From WordPress.org, a theme “can provide much more control over the look and presentation of the material on your website.” So to me something like stat tracking doesn’t have anything to do with the look or the feel of the site. But it certainly seems like a “tools to extend the functionality of WordPress,” or a Plugin.
I’m not really too hung up on just the stat tracking, but the over-use of theme options in general. With Child Themes, you can make updates to the design that won’t be affected with future them updates, as well as add code to add extra functionality to WordPress.
Of course there is the argument that all these options help people who aren’t so savvy with the web, but like I said, there are always other ways of helping that population of people.
@Spencer,
I know what you’re saying about how a lot of theme options panels have items in it which are default with WordPress, or part of a huge plugin like “All In One SEO”, where the theme options panel tries too hard to do things that a plugin like that does much better (in my opinion).
For those non-technical people, I still believe that certain items like stat tracking, ad placements and others are nice to have built into the theme options panel – in good taste and in moderation.
I’ve been rebuilding my theme’s options panels and have definitely trimmed it down a bit and removed some of the items that don’t seem like they need to be there. Stat tracking made it to the next version though
Such interesting read and information, thanks for sharing this post. I will check back to read your other new posts.
Totally agree with your opinions. I’ve created a theme for one of my clients not very long time ago, that’s when I knew how to create theme options page. I wondered which options should be included, and I chose a lot of them. But I didn’t satisfied with this theme. Because it makes my client hard to change something in options page (you know, some plugins have the same functionality, but they can do better), and all my code is hard-coded for the theme. So, agree with you: doing the basics is the right choice.
A very interesting thought, good article.
Liam,
Very happy you posted this, I couldn’t agree with you more… Theme Options just adds more fuel for the fire. To much options is not always a good thing. When looking at Theme Options it feels like it doesn’t belong.
WordPress is a simple tool, and by adding Theme Options just adds complexity.
[...] the rest here: Function Web Design & Development Blog – » WordPress Theme Options … Comments [...]
Simple is always good. I think whether it’s a theme or plugin or template or whatever, the semantics and technical setup does not matter as much as plain simple good design. Good design puts the options people want and need right out there and not necessarily in the form of a “main menu.” People, I think, need to not think so hard about design but maybe take it down a few notches. So thank you for promoting the minimalism, I agree totally.
IMO, what makes Theme Options too overload is caused by the UI, not particularly the number of options provided
The one thing Theme Developers should stop doing is having Theme Options UI in their own design/style. I’d suggest every Theme Developers use WP admin design style so every UI in the options page will remain consistent and intuitive.
Absolutely agree. Less is definitely more. I’ve found that a lot of my clients are turned away by the complexity of other themes because of the extensive and complex theme options page(s) that they advertise. This tends to scare potential clients away, thinking that they must be experts in order to use the theme.
What most clients really want are out-of-the-box themes that they can get up and running easily. Look at the WordPress install itself. It’s like 2 steps, and takes about 30 seconds.
[...] version 1.1 was just released, featured a revamped theme options page. The article is entitled WordPress Theme Options Overload? A Judgement Call and it brings up an interesting topic, once again, in the “less is more” [...]
@Iwani—exactly. The options that will be included in WPBundle use the
add_meta_boxcode created by WordPress. So not only does it match exactly with WordPress now, but it will always look like WordPress even if they completely change the GUI.What most clients really want are out-of-the-box themes that they can get up and running easily. Look at the WordPress install itself. It’s like 2 steps, and takes about 30 seconds.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Thanks for posting.
I agree. Good discussion.
Good idea I do agree to that .
really very good articles
I am with you on this one – nobody needs all those redundancies, which in my case make me wonder which setting will “win”.
Good thing would be to help out with some recommendations what kind of plugins would work best for the relevant theme and needed functionality.
Br, Andreas
Completely agree! Great post!
Some themes just have way too many options and I def agree it can take the focus off of some great plugins out there.
nice thinking thank you for sharing
Great Post . . Keep up the good work
Thanks
I think developers just need to stick to the basics, mostly when it comes down to sizing and color options. Very true there is a plugin for almost everything out there now so many of the options really don’t need to be there.
i guess wordpress is not overload yet, is still the best blog platform around
[...] I agree with everything on this page, especially the minimization of theme options. I’m really excited to see people calming down about the whole theme-option bonanza, and realizing that a lot of stuff can be done naively or through an existing plugin. Goes a long well with what I wrote on Function. [...]
I really agree with you. Sometimes it take forever for the options page just to load because it’s so incredibly huge.
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Your service like Word Press Bundle Design’s is really good for the end users who want to have a proper design in minutes.. Nice one
I would prefer an overloaded options panel to installing a ton of plugins any day. If you cache your pages it doesn’t matter if there are a ton of functions in the back-end of you theme in terms of site speed. Whereas installing a ton of plugins ads more css/jquery files, which will slow down your site, make your code look messy and possibly conflict with your theme.
Yes, some developers are going crazy with the options, but I think some customers really enjoy having so many options as they themselves are not a web developer.
Personally, I keep it simple so whenever I make something for myself I would prefer to have at least less then 5 plugins installed and definitely ZERO theme options as I can edit anything manually.
I’ve signed up to receive updates from WPBundle – but what I am really interested in knowing if whether you will have an affiliate system or not and how good will it be. There are hundreds of different premium WP theme sites, but I am expecting something awesome from you – with a good 35% + affiliate commission system, which definitely does not use e-junkie.
i really like that stuff
Thanks for this article. Also wpbundle.com is great
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Very interesting post and thank you for sharing.
Interesting post. WordPress Bundle seems a good choice.
I agree that simple is better. But you can always make it look like a music program
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Great post!
[...] full post on Function Web Design & Development Blog – Share News Call, Judgment, Options, Overload, Theme, WordPress [...]
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Seems very interesting.
The annoying options to me are the SEO ones and similar custom options not directly related to the design of the theme. A lot of times custom options cause problems.
Thanks for this great post.yes i agree with you some theme options panels are full of items that could be done easily with a plugin.I’ve been customizing the Thesis theme recently on a client project.
Yeah, this post pretty much nails it! Couldn’t agree more, there is such a thing as too many options!
Great post, Options can sometimes cause too much maintenance issues too
thanskyou
This is a massive bundle, theme options do often get over done!
Thanks nice article, I agree keep it simple and effective.
thank u. keep it up.
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Great article, judgement must sometimes override all the extras which can sometimes hurt a project. LT
seems so interesting.
Keep working on it
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True… I try not to saturate my website using so many plugins
Temalr is always needed, thanks
Thanks nice article, I agree keep it simple and effective…
Simple is the way to go. I have a client that fell in love with one of the themes with 10,000 options, and just had to have it. She tried configuring all the options, and ended up screaming help me! and even with my experience with wordpress and wordpress themes, it took me nearly an hour to figure out what all the options actually did and and more time to make the changes she wanted. Now, if she wants to change the colors of the links, I get an email with the color code and where she wants it and I have to go in and change it.
WordPress has always been about simplicity and ease of use, and themes are now starting to go overboard and at least in the case of my client, it has her gun-shy of changing anything for fear she will mess it up as she did in the beginning.
Great article about Word Press.
This is a great post and you make an excellent point. I think the reason for so many tabs and options comes as a result of the larger theme marketplaces, where developers create themes with more options because those who buy themes aren’t aware of how many plugins there are out there or how flexible WordPress really is. As a result developers give consumers what sells, e.g themes with lots of bells and whistles, most of which will never even be used.
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I really agree with you. Sometimes it take forever for the options page just to load because it’s so incredibly huge.
Nice article thank you
I agree. Good discussion.
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Best not confuse the user.
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But it certainly seems like a “tools to extend the functionality of WordPress,” or a Plugin womens nike free 7.0 iii. So to me something like stat tracking doesn’t have anything to do with the look or the feel of the site.
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Well said!
I think the primary options should be for the logo image and css options. (Color themes, backgrounds, etc..)
You hit the nail on the head mentioning how many plugins are in the registry.
One more thing that is sort of irritating, to me anyways….
Themes that require a plugin to function completely. I think if a theme developer is going to go bonkers on an options page, they might as well hard code what ever functions they want to have in the theme without the need to install a plugin.
Overall, I love the direction that themes and wordpress in general has taken in the last year or so.
I’ve never thought on these points. I am glad that you have drawn our attention towards it.
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I agree with you totally~ KISS always my principle when it comes to the design, a great wordpress theme is beautiful, but still easy to setup, not whole bunch function, fancy stuff, but behind it is hard coding and tons js and query. We suppose to people’s life easier.
Thanks for sharing, I agree there are way too many options. Keep up the good work spencer .
Thanks
Really glad you wrote about this. We spend almost as much time simplifying admin areas as we do installing security. Many theme creators have gone overboard with options. You said it best, “less is more.”
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Ive been working with thesis theme quite a lot lately and this article hit home!!!
thesis theme (from web designer point of view): Options overload.
thesis theme (from client point of view): Options overload.
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But often dont is easy to find jazzy themes at a fair price and if we haven´t knowledge to design our themes we havent other option
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For those non-technical people, I still believe that certain items like stat tracking, ad placements and others are nice to have built into the theme options panel – in good taste and in moderation. Thanks for this information.
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Thanks for writing about this. I’ve been using Flutter, but it makes me nervous every time an upgrade of WordPress comes out. I’ll try using your code on a future project.
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