How to make a function plugable

[drmike]

Greets:

Is there any method of using a plugin to override a function call? (ie make it plugable?)

I'm trying to redo the function call get_the_author_url() and repoint it to the author's profile page located elsewhere.  Do I just use it in a plugin or should I just edit the core file?

I'm leaning towards just editing the core file but that means having yet another file not be replacable during upgrade time.

thanks,
-drmike

[Andrew]

Unless 'get_the_author_url' is wrapped with function_exists in the core you'll probably have to make a hack.

To my knowledge you can't have a function take precedent over another identical function. Anyone?

Thanks,
Andrew

[Luke]

It would depend on when that function is loaded. If a plugin could be loaded before that function, then you could wrap the original one in a check for function_exists.

OTOH, if that function has a filter/action hook, you can do anything with it.

[drmike]

OK, that makes sense.  The function does not have a function_exists wraped around it so it looks like my only option is a hack.  That's what I was thinking but just wanted to make sure.

thanks,
-drmike

[Luke]

It doesn't have a filter with it? I was thinking it did for some reason.

[drmike]

It doesn't have a filter with it? I was thinking it did for some reason.

It does I believe but it's just for the test of the link I believe.

I'll look at it again on Monday.  Only 4 hour library time today and tomorrow due to the colleges being out.  i may get email done.

Let me throw this out though for a second opinion.  I'm thinking about linking the author name for posts to a profile page off of the main blog.  (Like how wp.com does categories but for author names.)

And then have the profile pages list the user's blogs, recent posts, comments and the like.  Like a myspace profile page.

yes?  no?  Opinions?

thanks

[Andrea_R]

Kinda workin' on something like that myself. One for regular WP via hacked plugins and at some point one for MU via a client request.

[drmike]

I'm wondering if a link leading away from the blog would be an issue.  It is when categories is used.  I'm wondering if it would be in this case since we're going from something that the author had written to something else by the author (ie their profile page) instead of something sitewide like wp does categories.

[Luke]

Been working on something similar to this myself as well.

Although not doing so from the users blog, but only through sitewide stuff.

For the other, I'm modifying the page rendered within the blog to do the same thing. Only difference is that it would be on the actual blog, and not through sitewide stuff.

[Andrea_R]

Um yeah. Just make it a profile Page, with maybe a special page template or sumpthin'.