Updating Blogrolls on WordPress 2.6

Sometimes updates like this make me suspect that if it’s me being dumb, or new solutions have become too convoluted.  Older versions of WordPress by default have a simple menu option of ‘blogrolls’ where you show off your links, and the changes are reflected one you hit the ‘save’ button. Very simple and slick.

But since version 2.5, ‘Widgets’ are introduced, and the original ‘blogroll’ menu button is gone. In general I like the new admin interface, but it is almost a nightmare to find out where to change/update, or hide/show your blogrolls. Given my frustration I decided to share the new changes.

The main difference is, updated blogrolls in 2.6 has become a two-steps, separate process.

1. Go to ‘Manage’ -> ‘Links’:

Make sure you click on the number on the right hand side instead of the word ‘Blogroll’ itself, since it will take you to changing your definition of ‘Blogroll’ (such as renaming, adding description) instead of the links themself.  Update your blogroll links from there, you can also rename ‘blogroll’ to anything and define different catagories here.

2. Then navigate to ‘Design’ -> ‘Widget’

Make sure ‘Links’ is one widget that you have enabled, and ‘Save Changes’.  This step is to ensure your sidebar shows ‘links’ (aka ‘blogrolls’).  Yes, confusing, I know…

Ta! Can’t believe it took me 45 minutes to figure this out, but a general search shows that quite a lot of people share the same frustration.  I still love you though, WordPress.