This version includes the new [HMT ads] button in the visual editor which is used for placing ads directly within the content of individual pages and posts.

Important information about this release can be found in the HeatMap Insider Forum.

This is point release so it refines and rolls in some existing 4.0.3 mods, adds a few usability refinements, and addresses some bug fixes.

Auto Excerpt Length

This automatically creates a text excerpt from each post for blog posts on the home page, archives, tags, categories and search listings. It will show a featured image with the auto excerpt if one is specified, and you can also specify a custom ‘read more’ link using the ‘more-text’ custom field.

Featured Images Options

Each one of the dropdowns in the featured images options section now has an ‘OFF’ setting. This is useful for autoblog software like wp-robot, which automatically pulls in featured images, but sometimes has images embedded in the posts themselves.

Auto Intro Page Template

A page template is now available which detects the first paragraph of your page and then places the widget positions [Content Item] Left, [Content Item] Right and [Content Item] Above, below that first paragraph. You’ll still need Nathan Rices single post template plugin if you want to do this with posts (for now).

Featured page id

The featured page can now store numeric page id’s or page slugs. Page slugs will be useful when used in conjunction with the soon to now beta released import/export plugin for heatmap.

Dashboard

I have added a Heatmap theme news box to the dashboard, and modified the one on the options page too. You will also see the mini-map of heatmap theme positions has returned and there is a link to the full version if you click on it.

Hide Posts and Sidebar on Home Page option

This option has now been split into two options:

• Hide posts on Home Page
• Hide Sidebar on Home page

This just makes the home page a bit more flexible. If you have used this option previously, then just check that everything is still looking as you would like when you upgrade – if needs be reselect these options to get your home page looking as it should.

You can download the latest version in the HeatMap Insider Forum or from the Download link on this page (member access)

If you’ve created the perfect HeatMap Theme setup and now you want to duplicate it to other HeatMap Theme Pro v4 blogs then you are now in luck.

The HMT Import / Export plugin is here (beta version!)

In the near future I see lots of potential for this plugin. In the near future when the plugin becomes an official stable release I will be creating some ‘Quick Setup’ files to use with this plugin so that you can instantly configure your HeatMap Theme blog in various different set up styles.

I also see the possibility that members could share their own cool quick setups with other members in the future.

What exactly does the HMT Import/Export Plugin do?

This plugin allows you to export and import the following:

HeatMap Quick Setup

* You will probably use this feature the most. Exports and Imports all your heatmap theme settings including HeatMap Theme Options, Ads, and Widget Settings. If you quickly want to move all your Heatmap theme settings from one wordpress installation to another then this is the export/import for you.

Options Only

Exports and imports the settings of your heatmap options page only.

Ads Only

Exports the settings of your heatmap ads page only.

Widgets Only

Just exports the position and settings of your widgets.

What this plugin does not do…

HMT Import/Export does not export or import your posts, pages or WordPress Settings.

WordPress has its own import/export plugin which does a fine job of handling your pages, posts, menu settings, custom fields etc.

This plugin is specifically for importing and exporting HeatMap Theme Pro v4 settings.

To Download the Plugin

• Login to the forum
• Go to the beta test forum

Yup, quietness in this case is not an indicator of inactivity. In fact it means a flurry of activity as I work on a new point update for HeatMap Theme Pro, and set the groundwork for the next major update.

HMT Pro 4.0.5 beta is now available

HeatMap Test Pilots start your engines! The latest beta is now available in the HeatMap Insider Beta Test Forum. Of course I already have it running on my own blogs (I wouldn’t want you to run anything that I wasn’t running myself! ).

Whats New in 4.0.5?

This is point release so it mainly rolls in bug fixes, refines and rolls in some existing 4.0.3 mods and adds a few usability refinements, and things that were generally bugging me.

Auto Excerpt Length

This automatically creates a text excerpt from each post for blog posts on the home page, archives, tags, categories and search listings. It will show a featured image with the auto excerpt if one is specified, and you can also specify a custom ‘read more’ link using the ‘more-text’ custom field.

Featured Images Options

Each one of the dropdowns in the featured images options section now has an ‘OFF’ setting. This is useful for autoblog software like wp-robot, which automatically pulls in featured images, but sometimes has images embedded in the posts themselves.

Auto Intro Page Template

A page template is now available which detects the first paragraph of your page and then places the widget positions [Content Item] Left, [Content Item] Right and [Content Item] Above, below that first paragraph. You’ll still need Nathan Rices single post template plugin if you want to do this with posts (for now).

Featured page id

The featured page can now store numeric page id’s or page slugs – page slugs will be useful when used in conjunction with the soon to now beta released import/export plugin for heatmap.

Dashboard

I have added a Heatmap theme news box to the dashboard, and modified the one on the options page too. You will also see the mini-map of heatmap theme positions has returned and there is a link to the full version if you click on it.

Hide Posts and Sidebar on Home Page option

This option has now been split into two options:

• Hide posts on Home Page
• Hide Sidebar on Home page

This just makes the home page a bit more flexible. If you have used this option previously, then just check that everything is still looking as you would like when you upgrade – if needs be reselect these options to get your home page looking as it should.

To Download the latest beta

• Login to the forum
• Go to the beta test forum

The Child Themes (now known as PRO SKINS) have also been upgraded, and there’s some lovely new ones too! (24 skins in total)

I’ve been having a lot of fun myself giving HeatMapTheme.com a makeover with Pro v4. As you can see HeatMap may be great as an ads theme, but it also makes a great all round theme too!

Its an exciting journey for HeatMap Theme right now. If you’ve been thinking about hopping onboard with HeatMap Theme I encourage you to do so today.

Heatmap 3.0.5a is now the official new stable release, and fully supports the excting new WordPress Menu Manager, that now ships with WordPress 3.

This is great news for everyone who has yearned for more control over exactly what pages, categories and links are shown on the Heatmap Drop Down menus.

So if you have a yearning for more control (muhaha!) and you are still rocking the free download HeatMap Version 2.5.4 then its time to head over to the HeatMap Theme Store and get yourself a membership.

Custom drop down menu power can now be yours!

WordPress 3.0 is nearly here, so its time to have another look at the new menu manager, and integrate that lovely new feature fully into the HeatMap Theme drop down menus.

Version 3.0.5a beta allows both the pages nav bar and the categories nav bar to be fully customised using the new WordPress 3.0 menu manager. You can still use the old menu system too if you prefer your drop down menus to be automatically generated.

So, WordPress 3.0 beta testers start your engines! Custom WordPress dropdown menus are here!

As ever, the beta is available from the Heatmap Insider Beta Downloads area.

I was so excited to try out the new WordPress 3.0 menu manager, that I decided to get a bit ahead of the game and implement the new feature on the latest HeatMap Ads Theme beta.  You’ll need to be running a WordPress 3.0 Beta test server in order to have a play with it. WordPress 2.9 users will just have to wait a little longer

Whats new?

There’s a new addition to the HeatMap Theme options page which allows you to switch on support for the new menu manager (thus ensuring that the new menus are backward compatible with the ones you already have). At this time the menu manager only works for the Pages Nav Bar.

The new beta is available in the HeatMap Insider Forum Beta Downloads area.

HeatMap Theme version 3.0.3 has just landed in the Insider Forum Downloads area

This release brings a couple of extra useful goodies which HeatMapsters have been asking for in the shape of two new page/post templates which allow you to…

• Switch off the ads and/or auto thumbnails images when using the WordPress Gallery feature in pages or posts

• Turn off the auto thumbnail images when you are manually inserting images into pages or posts

These nifty little templates help to keep your blog formatting stay just as lovely as it should whenever you are using images in your pages and posts.

HeatMap Theme has just celebrated its 250th member, so if you are using the free download version, loving your HeatMap Theme and would like to take advantage of the latest and greatest theme updates direct from HeatMapster HQ then we invite you to jump aboard and join our happy band!

HeatMap Theme 3.0.2 has now been released and comes with 2 new features…

Post Thumbnails

StuartWider.com gets the Thumbnail Feature makeover!

Its now super easy to add thumbnails and images to your posts and pages using the Post Thumbnails feature. Just set the thumbnail image in your WordPress Post Editor and the image will automatically be sized and included in your Recent Posts Plus sidebar Widget, pages or posts. You can also choose to automatically align these images left or right from the HeatMap Theme options page (this is feature only available in 3.0.2).

You can see this feature in full effect on stuartwider.com.

Hide either post details or the comments count (or both!)

Some Heatmapsters wanted more from the Hide Post Details Feature that was introduced in 3.0.1 and now you’ve got it. You now have the option to hide the post details (eg categories, tags, date, author etc) but still have the comment count showing!

Again you can see this in full effect on stuartwider.com. Note the neat looking comment count where normally the full post details would appear on the home page under each post.

Bugs Eradicated

Child Themes now correctly pull their favicon from the child theme itself.

Compatability

Please make sure you are running WordPress version 2.9 and upwards.

Support and Extra Goodies

The supported version of HeatMap Theme version 3.0.2 is available from the HeatMap Insider Forum.

Visit the HeatMap Theme Store