Unwelcome changes to links/blogroll in 2.1

I also wonder about the changed label and functionality!

Functionality?

Not only are all my link categories screwed up, but also the POST categories are. They are all put together under the manage > categories tab. I can’t figure out the reason behind the change. If I could, I would understand.

I dislike the blogroll (I use Blogroll for blog links) and would like the links back. Is there a work around?

The overall change is fine for me, but as far as I can tell there is reduced functionality. Pre-2.1 the Links panel had controls like Limiting how many entries were shown and also how the entries were Sorted.

In the new 2.1 Blogroll panel it seems like these features do not exist. I really liked the way this worked before and that there was a GUI to do it because I’d rather not have to manually use get_links.

Someone else’s version of logic is at work here. This makes no sense to me to have a combined links/posts category system.

This is a backward step that assumes too much, and is a loss of flexibility and maintenance.

I can only assume (hopefully to be proven wrong with an amazing explanation) that it’s to ease DB issues.

If the overall goal was to try and promote an overarching system of tags that applies to both links and posts (which, I agree, assumes too much on the behalf of wp users), I don’t understand why the “blogroll” is still managed separately. It seems like a step halfway to make the category management all in one place, but not the ability to add links.
I tried to go with the spirit of change and combine some of my category tags just for the hell of it, but I couldn’t find an easy way to do it – I ended up with duplicate tags in the Manage/Cats section, instead of a combined listing that counted both the posts and links with said tag. I.E., two listings for the tag “computers,” one row for links, one row for posts. What was the point?
I really miss being able to select a bunch of links and select the category they should all be moved to from the drop-down menu at the bottom of the page. I can’t figure out how to do batch edits for links or posts now.
And I’m in total agreement about the use of the word “blogroll.”

I also dislike the word “Blogroll” since I use the Links section for all sorts of things. “Bookmarks” would be a better word there, given the internal changes.

However, I do like the combined category system. It makes more overall sense to me. I’m not certain that the implementation is the best, however. There’s still a separation between “post” and “link” categories that doesn’t need to be there, IMO.

For example, why do my “post” categories not show up on my Add Links screen? Doesn’t make any sense. I should be able to add links to those as well. When I add a new empty category, it shows up in both Write Posts and Add Links, until I do one or the other, and then it becomes a Link or Post Only category. I think that this may be an unintended glitch from looking through the code, but nevertheless it does make it more confusing.

Otto42, i agree with you.

If that’s the way it’s gonna be, then each category could have the option “post only/links only/both” when editing it.

The implementation/ease of use of the new Links—er, Blogroll—feature (particularly with regard to customizing the output/appearance for one’s own site) really leaves quite a bit to be desired. The use, and formatting, of links is a major feature on many users’ sites, and such a dramatic, non-user-friendly switch is, in my opinion, extremely jarring. Very surprised it was executed in this fashion.

Sorry, I just created a separate thread about this very issue. I guess I must have skipped an update, but I agree with everyone above. I want the links management to go back under the “Manage” tab and give us back the ability to limit the number of links that are displayed in each link category. And yeah, 86 the stupid “blogroll” tag.

In the meantime, I’m not sure what to do… my blog is now ten times longer from top to bottom than it was yesterday because every one of my links is now visible. I hope someone can come up with a plugin to give us this very valuable feature back until the WP developers realize they shouldn’t have removed it.

Talk about not making any sense…

kopper
GaragePunk.com

kopper: Actually, it makes perfect sense in the long view. Sorry, but this most likely ain’t coming back.

Eventually there will be better support and WordPress will be better off for the change.