things by Tomasz Dobrzyński

web developer / Łódź, Poland

It’s a plugin which shows real time information how many users are currently reading post/page. Cool gadget to make your WordPress site more unique, right?

To be simple - for everyone. Once you install Online Counter and go to settings page you will find out that’s true. Online Readers is a highly configurable product but with very simple configuration panel. You can find there simple wizard which will help you to make plugin work depending on your knowledge of IT stuff. Thanks technology experience grouping you will see on screen only these options that fit to your needs. It doesn’t take a genius to make counter work but if you feel more advanced user you can use simple shortcodes and PHP functions.

• select counter location
  choose predefined options from configuration page (“after title”, “before content” and other), or use more sophisticated techniques like placing shortcode in single posts or inserting PHP code directly to your template
  
• define places where it should be visible
  post, page, category, and other custom taxonomies - Online Counter knows how to handle them all.
  
• define what to display
  use singular and plural form to show information in particular languages - there is support for WPML/qTranslate multilanguage plugins.
  
• make it more beautiful
  center, bold, make it bigger, more transparent… there are plenty of options. Thanks inline styles and class name field you can develop counter however you want.
  

Shortcodes and snippets:

• [online_readers_html] / <?php online_readers_text( $argument ); ?> - generates template counter using template and appearance settings, so it will generate complex box that you may display in specific place.
• [online_readers_raw] / <?php online_readers_raw( $argument ); ?> - generates number only. If you’d like to do something special (eg. use only in one post or wrap using special attributes, this short code is definitely for you).

$argument boolean value is optional and defined whether output should be returned to variable (true) or printed (false, default value).

Why don't you take a look at Online Readers documentation. If you are still hesitating whether install Online Counter or not email me. If you think you will need programmer hand to make it work, contact me too. Don't forget to check out my other plugins like Gonzales or Silent Update - I think you may be interested in them. Meanwhile...