Update: My plugin is now available for download at the WP Plugin Directory.
Long, long ago, back in the day, I touched off a bit of a meme when I placed a screenplay progress meter in my sidebar. Everyone had to have one, and the Internet beat a path to my blog looking for the code. Back then, it was all HTML and CSS. The source code had to be edited everytime I wrote a few pages and wanted to update my progress. That was especially a pain when I was on Blogger.
Blogging software has come a long way since then, and WordPress in particular has become both incredibly robust and much more user-friendly. Thanks to WordPress’s Widget API, I’ve now been able to do what there was little hope of me doing a few years ago — I’ve transformed my screenplay progress meter into a plug-in widget for WordPress users.
Introducing Dave’s Whizmatic Widgulating Calibrational ScribometerTM (it’s pronounced scri-BOM-eter). All you have to do is install and activate the plug-in (whizmatic!), drop the widget into your sidebar (widgulate!), fill in a few simple options at the widget control panel (calibrate!), and abrakadoodle: your very own ScribometerTM screenplay progress meter is now yours to display and you didn’t have to touch a single line of code.
That is, when I get around to releasing it. If you can’t wait, you can email me for the alpha release. Otherwise, wait a bit until I get something I can reasonably call “documentation” done. Then it’s all yours for the taking.[1]
- Um, donations accepted, of course. [↩]
I'm surprised it took you this long. What's do you think is the ETA?
I just got approved to have my plug-in hosted on WordPress's repository. I'm almost done writing the documentation. I also need to decide if and how to provide support and a few other logistics. I'll probably have it up by this weekend.
Right now, the Scribometer widget in very rudimentary shape. It's totally stable (as far as I can see — it's not very complicated), but currently it's very narrowly defined. You get exactly one progress bar that assumes you are writing a screenplay and measuring your progress in pages. You get to insert your own title and change the colors, but that's it.
Later I hope to permit multiple progress meters that measure anything you want.
But one step at a time.
Now if I could only create a widget to write my screenplay for me . . .
YAY, a WordPress plugin for writers! I'm not a screenwriter, but I have several fiction projects on the go. Thanks for making this public.
The next release will allow you to track words instead of pages, or whatever unit of measure you want.
Love the plugin! I've sent you a donation in hopes that you will continue to develop it. :-)
Some tweaks I'd love to see when/if you get time:
- Being able to create more than one progress bar within the same widget (not sure if this is possible)
- Having the "xx of xx pages/words complete" line directly after the preceding text, so it doesn't take up so much room in the widget. Or maybe having a choice of display options?
- Have the "Powered by" line directly after the preceding text, so it doesn't take up so much room in the widget (discouraging people from displaying it). Or maybe having a choice of display options?
Hopefully more people will donate so it will provide more motivation for you to continue to develop this plugin, which is highly useful to writers!
Thanks, David.
Debbie, your donation is greatly appreciated!
A multiple progress bar option is my next priority, after a maintenance update to bring everything up to speed with the new release of WordPress.
My goal ultimately is to give users complete control of how their progress meters are displayed without anyone having to edit or write code. So the rest of your suggestions will eventually be addressed as well.
In the interim, perhaps I can create an option for "compact mode" to display a progress meter with minimal real estate.
Thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions! There's more to come.
Like units of caffeine so I know if I'm in danger of having a heart attack?
I'd measure my script in number of cans of Cherry Coke Zero consumed, but I don't really want to know.
David, great idea. Good work, thx. Greating from Poland ;)
Is there any way to have this display more than one project?
Thanks,
The next update will allow you to have multiple scribometers in your sidebar. You will need to be running WP 2.8 for that to work.
I'm hoping to get that out this weekend.
Will there be an update to add multiple spec scripts?
The very next update will allow multiple projects to be displayed. I'm trying to get that release out within the next two weeks — sorry for the delay, I'm sort of learning as I go and the new WP release has a whole new widget API. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.
I'm impressed. It's rare that I see a plugin that's specifically tailored for writers (who make really long posts and several drafts). If you can make one that would show several posts at once, that would be awesome indeed!
Dave, Awesome job. I love your scribdo mo mano awesome meter. I am also looking forward to the release for multiple projects.
Also, is there a way to put it as a widget – or simply show up on a page? If your swamped, don't worry about responding. Just really wanted to give you a thanks and a thumbs up.
Cheers!–sherryayn
Thanks WfH and Sherryayn. I haven't been able to devote time to this project as I'd like, but I'm hoping to get back to it now that my spec is done. Multiple projects will be a feature in the very next release.
The scribometer is a widget and is designed to live in sidebars. I'm not planning on a version to show up in posts or pages at this time. I wouldn't rule it out — it just depends on how my programming skills grow!
Dave, I wanted to say that I LOVE your plugin!! I've been using it on several blogs for some time now. I was hoping you might be able to tell me whether there might be a quick and easy tweek the code so that two widgets will appear on the sidebar? I'd like to track two projects. I know you're working on multiple project capability, which will be awesome.
Also, just wanted to say that I found your amazing plugin by way of Debbie Ohi's site. Excellent, excellent work! Thank you so much!!
Love, love, love the plugin! My two cents for a future release: Add a width property in case folks have a use for a vertical bar (say, a cute visual way to post monitored stream flows).