If you are seeing this problem, to work-around it, simply turn on the custom CSS option and change the following line:

.azindex .head {font-weight:bold;}

to

.azindex .head {font-weight:bold; float:left;}

Once I have read through all the comments to see what other issues people are having I’ll probably upload a new (minor) version of AZIndex with this fix, and any other minor bug fixes that might be necessary.

Finally, I am aware that WordPress 3.0 is just around the corner. I haven’t tested AZIndex on it yet, but I guess that with any major version change there is an increased risk of plugin breakage. I will be testing AZIndex before the 3.0 is official, but if anyone has already tried the plugin on the 3.0 beta code, it would be great to have some feedback.

With more than a little horror, I see that’s been over a year since I last posted on this blog (in truth, since I last visited it, even).  And even without looking at all the comments, I have little doubt that my absence has left some of you in the lurch somewhat.  I must apologize for that — particularly for doing it without any warning.  I do tend to blow hot and cold on things, and when I blow cold, it sometimes gets really cold and I find that it’s just easier to ignore everything altogether.

However, I am determined to get back in the saddle and put in some more work on AZIndex, but please don’t expect everything to start humming along all at once.  I am in the process of moving to a new web host (one where there is much less risk of my blogs being taken off-line for using too much CPU even though I hadn’t touched the blogs in months!) and it will take me some time to get reacquainted with the AZIndex code — I just hope I left enough comments in there for me to figure it out again. I will also take the time to go through the comments and contact people who left them, if necessary.  I also have a couple of other projects on the go, so I won’t be able to commit to an awful lot of hours on AZIndex in one go.

Anyway, I’m back, and the blog is back, and hopefully a new version of AZIndex will be back within the next month or so.

One thing that’s been gnawing at me is the usability of the settings page for AZIndex.  The way I originally coded it allowed me to add new settings very easily, but now there are so many options that it’s not always easy to find the right one, especially when related options appear in different parts of the page.  Since there will only be more options added in the future, I thought it was high time to overhaul the look and feel of the settings page.

So the next version of AZIndex (0.8.2) will feature a redesigned settings page to address these problems.  While the overall look and feel of the settings will be familiar, I have made use of the JQuery Javascript library (as used in other WordPress admin pages) to rearrange the settings and split them into several tabbed pages.  This means, for example, that all the CSS styling options will appear on one tabbed page, and the language options will appear on another.   It also means that when you turn on, say, the multipage option, the text box for entering the number of items per page will appear right underneath instead of all the way at the bottom of the settings page where people can miss it.

One cool feature of the new settings page is that if you don’t like options split into the tabbed pages, then you can turn off the tabs and go back to a single page.  Another nice feature is that there will be two “Save” buttons — “Save & Exit” which works like the old “Save” button and exits the settings page, and a new “Save” button which keeps you at the settings page (at the same tab) which is very useful when you making a lot of tweaks to the options (especially the custom CSS) for your index.

There will not be much new function in this version of AZIndex (there are enough code changes already), but there will be a new option to omit the embedded CSS stylesheet from the index page.  This will allow you to add the index styling to your theme’s stylesheet instead, as some people would prefer.  I may also add an option to add the index CSS to the page header (instead of in the body).  If you select this option the stylesheet will be added to all pages in your blog, since I don’t believe there is a way to tell which pages will contain an index shortcode at the time the header is being assembled.

Anyway, the new version is still at least a week away.  I will make a more formal annoucement in a few days once all the code has been written.  In the meantime, feel free to comment on what I’ve said here, especially if you have any suggestions relating to the AZIndex plugin settings page.

Hence AZIndex 0.8.1 has arrived.  The new azindex_display_item filter is documented here and I have created a cute little thumbnail index here to show the sort of thing you can do with it.

If you do manage to create an interesting-looking index using any of the new filters, come back here and let us know about it!

I have opened comments on the page, in case you feel the need to explain your votes (or perhaps suggest a modification to the polls themselves).

The site is organized into several sections to help you navigate your way to the information you’re looking for:

• First, there’s the new AZIndex Blog, where you are now.  I will be posting updates, announcements, and hints and tips about AZIndex here, along with other items of interest to WordPress bloggers.  I already have a few very useful hints and tips waiting in the wings.  Just click on the site’s title at the top of the page to get back here at any time.
• Next there is the main AZIndex section which provides you with an overview of the plugin and what it can do, and where you subscribe to the email announcements list, or report feedback on your experiences, good or bad, with the plugin.
• There is the Gallery, containing various live examples the types of index you can create with AZIndex.
• Then, if you are just getting started with AZIndex, you can let the Tutorial help you up and running.  Every page has another live example of an index created by the plugin.
• But if you are an experienced user and want to dive right in, go ahead.  You can always consult the Reference Section if you get stuck, or want to learn all about the more advanced features AZIndex has to offer.

If you want to keep up with all the latest developments with the plugin, feel free to subscribe to the RSS feeds (top right) or the Announcements mailing list.  Otherwise, have a look around.  If you have any suggestions on how to make the site better, just let me know on the feedback page or via email.

The site and the plug are both works in progress.  I will continue to update the site as the plugin evolves and as time allows.

Finally, if you have made AZIndex an integral part of your blog, and especially if you are blogging for profit or as part of your employment, please consider clicking on the Donate button on the right of this page and expressing your support and appreciation for the many hours of work that have gone into creating this plugin.