Wierd [slideshow] shortcode problem on OLD (2012) site

  • Unknown's avatar
    springfieldtaipeng · Member ·

    I need to update a site that was originally built in 2012. The site has 3 pages with animated slideshows. Each page has a shortcode [slideshow] . There are no parameters and no way that I can find to modify the slideshow. I’ve checked in the text editor too and there are no hidden parameters.

    I’ve tried using the ‘copy’ feature to duplicate the pages – but the copy ends up with a blank where the shortcode/slideshow should be. Also tried going back to the classic editor but that makes no difference.

    I’m aware of the current Gallery Block but it makes slideshows that are really clunky and ugly compared to what was built almost a decade ago!

    I’m guessing that the pages have some fancy javascript embedded in the database but sometime in the past decade the ability to edit it has been removed.
    I have 2 questions:
    1) Is there anyway in current wordpress.com to produce a slideshow that looks something like this one: https://springfieldtaipeng.wordpress.com/ground-floor/

    2) Can n anyone with a really long memory tell me when the [slideshow] shortcode was removed?

    The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

  • supernovia · Staff ·

    Hey there, I might know what the issue is but I’d need to see a link to the page you’re working with.

    The shortcode as you’ve got it configured, with just “slideshow”, automatically displays images attached to that post or page.

    If you’re copying a page, you get the shortcode, but you don’t get any attached images. You can confirm by editing the page and uploading a few images to it (you can delete them from the post itself if you’d like.)

    Want to try that? And if it doesn’t work, could you send a link to the page you’re working on?

  • Unknown's avatar
    springfieldtaipeng · Member ·

    Thanks for replying – I have progress! :)

    I made a new page, attached a some images and added the shortcode and the old-style slideshow appears :)
    [slideshow]

    Is there any way to use the other parameters that used to be available like setting the width, height, duration that i found in some old documentation?
    I tried stuff like this but it had no effect, or broke the shortcode.
    [slideshow w='200' h='300' duration='2500' id='123,124,222']

    And for anyone else looking to use this shortcode :
    To ‘attach’ an image to a page or post go to the control panel and click ‘WP-Admin’ at the bottom of the left hand menu column. In the WP Admin dashboard go to Media and then change the image display from Icons to Table latout. There’s a column ‘Uploaded to’ where you can attach each image to a page.

  • staff-mckluskey · Staff ·

    I’d recommend using our new Block Editor and adding a Slideshow Block instead, have a look here how it works:

    https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/slideshow-block/

  • Unknown's avatar
    springfieldtaipeng · Member ·

    Thanks for replying.

    The slideshow block seems to be the same as the Slideshow option inside the Gallery block that I mentioned in my original post. It works, but seems clunky.

    The transitions are abrupt, the captions aren’t centered and there’s no option for the black background etc.
    See this page for examples of the two slideshows.
    https://springfieldtaipeng.wordpress.com/exterior-test/
    The top is the old style that is on the site already and we want to replicate. The bottom is the new style.

    If there’s any documentation on the parameters for the old style I’d appreciate that :)

  • kokkieh · Staff ·

    The slideshow shortcode is very old, and hasn’t been used for quite some time now. It was replaced a few years ago by the gallery shortcode – you add a type attribute to that shortcode to create a slideshow.

    You can find the documentation here:

    https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/gallery-block/2/

    You’ll see in the notice at the top, this method only applies to the classic editor, but you should also be able to use that shortcode in the shortcode block in the block editor if you prefer.

  • Unknown's avatar
    springfieldtaipeng · Member ·

    Thanks for replying.
    It seems I’m getting the same answer : use the new Gallery/slideshow. I know how that works but it does not do what I need.

    I’m trying to replicate the look and feel of the old slideshows that already exist on the site and it seems that can only be done with the old [slideshow] shortcode.

    I got new information from Supernovia who said [slideshow] “automatically displays images attached to that post or page.” That let’s me put up a matching slideshow and choose the images for it.

    I would like to be able to manage the duration the images are displayed for, the speed of the transitions, and the colour of the background. I know that was possible with the old slideshow but I can’t find documentation.

    The new Block based slideshow does not seem to have these options yet. Perhaps in a later version of Gutenberg they will be added.

    I’m not going to mark this resolved just yet – I’m still hoping for a little more help ;)

  • staff-zinnia · Staff ·

    The options are laid out in the Block Tool Bar section of this page: https://wordpress.com/support/wordpress-editor/blocks/gallery-block/#manage-gallery-styles-individually

    Further customization wouldn’t be possible at this time. We are constantly improving the block editor and adding more features, though. The other option would be to upgrade to a business plan where you can use plugins to get the desired effect.

  • Unknown's avatar
    springfieldtaipeng · Member ·

    Ok, Marking this closed. Thanks for the help.

  • The topic ‘Wierd [slideshow] shortcode problem on OLD (2012) site’ is closed to new replies.