Wordpress shortcode isn't working. Building a theme. Anyone help?

I have made it work but sure it can't be write because I don't have to do it on the default themes.

I have written into the template file for the page I want the content to run on

<?php echo do_shortcode("[the_shortcode]"); ?>

To me, this seems completely wrong because I'm writing this into the actual template code rather then just popping it into a post or page through the admin area.

However, if it works and nobody can tell me otherwise, I'll have to run with it.

Hey Matthew Campbell - I'm assuming you saw this post on enabling short codes over on Stack Overflow. Was it helpful?

[[ed. note]] - converted html to markdown so the forum properly formatted the link

Hey Zac Gordon , I hadn't seen that no but still leaves me wandering on if there is a global function that could go in functions.php that enables shortcodes in posts contents across the site? I don't know a whole lot about filters at the moment, don't remember them being covered in your videos, which are awesome by the way!

From that post you linked, I seem to kind of be doing that already by putting the shortcode in the template files where I want the relevant content. Eg. forms for front end posting etc.

Only issue is that what if the user once the site is handed over wants to the change the plugin that's being used. I know this shouldn't be the case because they shouldn't be fiddling with the theme but if they did want to.

Also, there's going to be a load of widowed code if the plugin is deactivated.

Still lots of questions for me.

Zac Gordon again. I'm not thinking like a WordPresser should am I? I should run a loop on ALL pages and the post should be the shortcode that links to the relevant plugin.

So would this written on each template where I want shortcodes to work be good practice?

<?php the_post(); ?>

    <?php the_content(); ?>

You would run the loop on all pages and add the short code to the pages from the admin area where you want them. Make sense?

Hey Zac Gordon. I think I got it now for main content shortcodes. Run a loop on the page I want to use shortcodes calling the_content and then the shortcodes work.

Issue I've come across you might be able to help me with is:

Got a widget from a plugin that uses [gallery] in the sidebar. No matter what, I can't get it to work.

I've done the whole filters thing in functions.php, but still no joy.

Apologies for writing like a rookie and being too technical with my terminology but it's late here in the UK.

Hi Matthew,

What is the plugin you're referring to? How are you trying to implement it in the sidebar? By using a text widget and adding in the shortcode?

Oh good!