Which WP post excerpt plugin to use?

8 replies
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So I'm searching for a WP plugin I can use to create excerpts of my posts instead of full text. Preferable would be one that allows me some flexibility as how many words I can use.

-Steve
#excerpt #plugin #post
  • Profile picture of the author Karen Blundell
    you don't really need a plugin...just use the more tag
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  • Profile picture of the author marieleo
    The more tag seems like a quick solution. You might also consider these two plugins:
    Yet Another Related Posts Plugin
    and
    Wordpress Popular Posts
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  • Profile picture of the author iBBnet
    I use one called the excerpt... You can control how you want things cut off.
    It's used in my blog
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    Bryan
    After5PC.net
    Freelance Web Development
    and Graphic Design Services
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  • Profile picture of the author steelhead
    Thanks to all who responded. I saw that tag and tried it but it did not perform as expected in the draft preview.

    I'm guessing that I actually have to publish the post yes, no?

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author iBBnet
      Originally Posted by steelhead View Post

      Thanks to all who responded. I saw that tag and tried it but it did not perform as expected in the draft preview.

      I'm guessing that I actually have to publish the post yes, no?

      Steve
      If you were referring to my response... yes, you'll have to publish it.
      The PREVIEW on Wordpress only lets you see the actual post itself (not how it will look like on your blog's homepage)
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      Bryan
      After5PC.net
      Freelance Web Development
      and Graphic Design Services
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  • You should use 'All in One SEO Pack' I think that among other things I think it is the plugin that will let you specify the exact content of your excerpts for your posts. It is the SEO plugin that I use for my site at wirelessreps.com and it works perfectly for that.
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Just a clarification about "excerpt" and "more".

    They are not the same - and you should understand the difference between them when using your WP blog.

    On multipost view templates (index.php, archives.php etc.) i.e. where many posts of yours are listed - as opposed to single post view=one post with its comments - there could be 2 different template tags to display the full or partial content of your post:

    1. the_content

    2. the_excerpt

    If it is the_content -> you can use the "more" quicktag/button when writing your post and cut your post wherever you want. As a result you will have a 'read more...' or similar link, for example, on your main/home page. You can even customize it.

    If the_excerpt tag is used in your theme's file, then again there are 2 different ways (with plugins, 3) to deal with it.

    a) you write the post, publish - and on the home page you will have the first 55 words of your post with a [...] at the end. Readers need to click on your post title to go to the single post view. By default WP strips your HTML tags from the excerpts!!!

    b) if during the post-writing you put anything in the Excerpt field below the post field - that's what will displayed on your home/main page by the_excerpt tag. It could be totally different than your post's text!

    c) there are several plugins that will: set the number of words in your excerpts; add the read more link/button to the excerpt; define which HTML tags to preserve even in the excerpts... etc.

    Have fun
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    • Profile picture of the author steelhead
      Istvan,
      Thank you for the enlightening directions.
      I think the "more" is likely what I should use for my purposes. Si, I will give it a try straight way.

      I did try the "more" tag and also had the "excerpt" field filled. Neither one seemed to work. The post in it's entirety was published.

      I can't imagine that I have a theme problem in that I'm using the default.

      -Steve
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