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Free Plugin by zorgbargle v2.0.0

Widget Saver

Saves the current widget layout and allows the layout to be restored at a later date.

Widget Saver

The facts

Rating
4.2★ from 5
Active installs
90+
Price
Free
Last updated
22 Sep 2012
Added
Jul 2010
Requires WP
2.8
Tested up to
WP 3.4.2
Downloads
10,280

Our analysis

AI-assisted

Widget Saver is a WordPress plugin that enhances the widget configuration page by adding buttons for adding, saving, restoring, and deleting widget layouts. It allows you to create and manage multiple layouts for your widgets, making it easier to revert to previous arrangements or switch layouts when changing themes.

This plugin is particularly useful for users who frequently experiment with different widget arrangements or who switch between themes that have varying sidebar structures. By saving layouts, you can quickly restore your preferred widget setup without manually rearranging them each time.

Best for: This plugin suits WordPress users who regularly change widget layouts or themes.

What it does well

  • Adds functionality to manage multiple widget layouts
  • Allows easy restoration of previous widget arrangements
  • Facilitates switching between themes with different sidebar areas

Where it falls short

  • Last updated in September 2012, may not be compatible with newer WordPress versions
  • Limited user ratings and active installs suggest it may not be widely adopted

Verdict

Widget Saver provides a straightforward solution for managing widget layouts, but its age and limited adoption may raise concerns about compatibility and support.

From the developer

zorgbargle's own description of Widget Saver, lightly tidied.

A plugin that adds “Add”, “Save”, “Restore” and “Delete” buttons to the Widgets configuration page with the following
functionality:

  • Add: Adds a new named widget layout and saves the current widget layout against the new layout name.
  • Save: Saves the current widget layout against the selected layout name.
  • Restore: Restores the previously saved widget layout. If the theme name shown next to the layout name in the
    drop-down matches the current theme, widgets will be restored to the sidebar they were located in when the layout was
    saved.
  • Delete: Deletes the selected widget layout – does not modify the current layout of the widgets.

Note that the behaviour has changed from version 1 – widget layouts are not automatically restored when themes are
switched. Layout choice is now a manual step since it is possible to save multiple widget layouts for a given theme.
Once a theme has been activated, use the “Layouts” drop-down to select a previously saved layout that matches the
current theme.

The reset button has been removed as it was too easy to remove all widgets with one click.

Typical Usage

This plugin is useful for trying different widget layouts, making it easy to revert back to a previous layout if the
current layout is not working. It can also be useful when switching between themes. Different themes will offer different
sidebar areas, and often there is not a direct mapping from one theme’s sidebars to another. This plugin can be used
to save a widget layout for each theme. When the themes are switched, the appropriate widget layout can then be restored
saving the time it usually takes to drag each widget from an inactive sidebar into the correct sidebar.

A typical process would be as follows:

  1. Type your own layout name into the text field, and click “Add” to add and save the current widget layout. This name
    is now available in the “Layouts” drop-down.
  2. Rearrange the widgets, move them to different sidebars, or move them into the inactive widgets box.
  3. Type a new layout name, and click “Add” to add a second widget layout.
  4. Select the layout name you created in step 1 from the drop-down, and click “Restore”. Your widgets will be
    repositioned to match this layout.
  5. Select your layout name from step 3, and click “Restore”. Your widgets will now be repositioned to match your
    second layout.

Read the full description on the official page →

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