Cannot use ampersand in custom sidebar name

Posted in: Newspaper
Post count: 4
nigelbb
#43392
Mar 31, 2015 at 8:06 pm

It’s taken me hours to figure this out as I couldn’t understand why I encountered this problem with some custom sidebars but not others. I finally figured it out so thought that I would post to help anyone else who encounters this problem.

I created a custom sidebar. Then on the widget page I dragged any widget into the sidebar & saved it. The page with the custom sidebar displays on the website OK. However if I leave the widget page then return to it the contents of the custom sidebar have disappeared.

I eventually realised that the problem only occurred with sidebar names that include an ampersand so for example
‘Towns & Villages’ loses the sidebar contents but ‘Towns and Villages’ does not.

Maybe this is documented somewhere but if it isn’t it should be to prevent user frustration.

Post count: 9544
simchris
#43397
Mar 31, 2015 at 9:21 pm

Common issue with WordPress and HTML entities as “&” is not a normal character on the web.

So, you often have to escape that as ‘ & or if this stupid thing auto corrects here, it’s & amp; with no spaces).

  • This reply was modified 11 years by simchris.
Post count: 7909
Alin [tagDiv]
#43439
Apr 1, 2015 at 10:49 am

Hi,

Thanks Chris!
Like Chris suggested if you use html in sidebar name you may have this issue. The sidebar name is visible only in backend so I do not think it will be a big problem if you do not use html characters, off course it is frustrating to disappear the content(widgets).

Thanks that you brought this into attention, it may help some other users if facing this issue!

Post count: 4
nigelbb
#43440
Apr 1, 2015 at 10:55 am

I am not using HTML in a sidebar name. I am just using the same name as the title of the sidebar.

I have been using WordPress for many years & never encountered a similar problem with any other theme.

This is a bug in the Newsmag theme & should be documented or better still fixed.

Post count: 6600
Lucian
#43493
Apr 1, 2015 at 5:47 pm

Hi,

I’ll add this on our issues list and and try to remediate it in next theme versions.
Sorry for the inconvenience!

Thanks for the message!

Post count: 8
sehnot
#45946
Apr 22, 2015 at 3:53 pm

Having the same issue, how can I rename the custom sidebar or (if not possible) delete it?

Post count: 7909
Alin [tagDiv]
#45957
Apr 22, 2015 at 4:29 pm

Hi,

Unfortunately sidebar cannot be renamed, but you can delete it: http://screencast.com/t/gDWEPXHoj
But first you can create another custom sidebar and move your widgets into it so you will not lose them.

Thanks!

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