Apply different themes to different categories with WordPress Themed Categories Plugin

By • January 11, 2008 • 15 Comments

I’ve never come across a situation where I would need this feature, but I’d like to have this on record in case it ever comes up. Mike has developed a WordPress plugin, Themed Categories that allows the user to select different uploaded themes for different categories. According to the comments, his version doesn’t work with WordPress version 2.3, so someone named Kalle made the necessary changes and the modified plugin can be downloaded here (direct link to zip download).

WordPress Themed Categories Plugin
WordPress Themed Categories Plugin for 2.3 (direct link to zip download)

Author:

Andrew

I have done pretty much that with my personal blog. The photoblog uses a different layout ad different css.

It is still the same theme, but that plugin might have been so much easier than the various css tinkering I did.
Miriam Schwab

Hi Andrew – your blog looks great, but I think that what you’ve done is given different categories different style sheets. I think that this plugin allows you to use a completely different theme for different categories, which is more than making subtle changes to the appearance. Everything can be different there.

But yes, as you said, using a plugin is way easier than hacking.
Kalle

Hi there,
here is Kalle speaking 😉 You may want to have a look at Hoeradvent to see it in action. Just click on Archiv 2006 and the theme switches to the one of last year.
Have fun with it!
Kalle
Miriam Schwab

Hi Kalle – that is very cool. It’s a nice touch, having each year’s archive display that year’s theme. Thanks!
FarGalaxy

It does not work in WP 2.3.2 🙁
What is wrong – plugin or my hands?
Karl-Heinz

I didn’t try it with version 2.3.2. but with 2.3.1 (german). When there is some spare time I am going to have a look on 2.3.2 next weeks and come back here later. Hang on …
Justin

Any word on getting it working with 2.3.3? This plugin looks great and I would like to start using it.
Miriam Schwab

Justin – did you try it with 2.3.3? If not, it might work.
Karl-Heinz

Hi there again,
if there will be any time next weeks, I will try it with the current version. Sorry for being late folks! So long.
Kalle
Far Galaxy

In Karl-Heinz we trust! 😉
Justin

Ok, it worked with a category on 2.3.3 but when I clicked on a post it reverted to the original theme. Anyway to make the posts stick to the category theme? Thanks!
Miriam Schwab

Justin – this is probably linked to the fact that category-specific templates just apply to the category page, and not to individual posts from that category. I think you may have to create a unique template file for the single pages of that category. Check out this previous post for information on how to do that.
Karl-Heinz

Hi there again,
just now I found some time having a look on it. Because, there is WP 2.3.3 out now, I did’t have a look an 2.3.2 but only on 2.3.3 (german). It works fine and I canno0t see any problems.
According to Justin’s posting … this might occur, if You have assigned more than one category to the post. I tried this but I can’t confirm this situation, sorry. Everything works fine. Maybe this is an "unwanted feature" whe You combine some other plugins with this one, cause the SQL gets modified by the others 🙁 Would You please be so kind as to post Your list of plugins You use? So, someone can try that out.
Thank so far,
Kalle
Karl-Heinz

I am working on a new version to support WP 3.0. But it seems to get a harder work for some reason. Coming back when I could finish it …
Thomas Pedersen

I’ve been looking for something like this where I could use different themes for some pages or Categories.
It would be great if something like that would work for wordpress 3.+

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