How To Restrict Usernames In WordPress

It's really hard to run a WordPress blog, with BuddyPress and public registration. I'll post several article about managing your WordPress and BuddyPress users on BWidgets. Today, we'll kick off this series with a very basic tutorial.

In this tutorial, we'll learn about how to restrict usernames from your WordPress, so people may not use when registering for your site. By default, WordPress allow users to pick any username they choose as long as it isn't an already existing account and it doesn't include invalid characters.

Scott Reilly created a great plugin to restrict some usernames so they may not pick it. It's very important to restrict several usernames, including contact, admin, feedback, user, moderator, and more.

When attempting to register with a restricted username, vistors will see an error notice that says: ERROR: This username is invalid. Please enter a valid username.

How To Install And Use Restrict Usernames:

• Click here and download this plugin. Visit your WordPress' plugin page and install this plugin.

• You can also install this plugin from your WP's plugin directory.

• After installing, activate the plugin through the 'Plugins' admin menu in WordPress.

• Go to the Users -> Name Restrictions admin settings page (which you can also get to via the Settings link next to the plugin on the Manage Plugins page) and specify username restrictions.

That's IT! You can put your responses, problems and requests in the comment section below... :)

Adding reCAPTCHA To BuddyPress Registration

We all hate spam and spammer way too much. They always annoy us everywhere on internet, our blogs, comments, Facebook, Twitter, forums, and everywhere. It's a great idea to prevent some of these spammers by using a CAPTCHA. It's impossible for them to pass a CAPTCHA, since they're just a spam bot without any brain.

Google's reCAPTCHA is a great way to knock these spammers out. Over 200,000 sites use reCAPTCHA, including household names like Facebook, Ticketmaster, Twitter and Craigslist. I have added a reCAPTCHA on my BuddyPress' registration at this link. It also looks good and professional. It's easy to add reCAPTCHA to your BuddyPress' registration page, you just need to read this tutorial carefully. Here we go:

Installing BuddyPress reCAPTCHA:

First we must install BuddyPress reCAPTCHA on our WordPress. You can download this by clicking here.

• Click here and download this plugin. Visit your WordPress' plugin page and install this plugin.

• You can also install this plugin from your WP's plugin directory.

• After installing, just click on active.

Finish with this part. Now, first we'll create our reCAPTCHA keys then we'll add our key to this plugin. This doesn't have a user panel, so we have to do it manually. Let's start our second step:

Getting Our reCAPTCHA Keys:

Now we need two reCAPTCHA keys from their website - first is public key, and second is a private key. Here is how to get both of these:

• Visit this link and login with your Google Account.

• Following form will appear, fill this form with your website url and click on Create Key:

• Now after clicking on Create Key,  you'll get both keys - public key, and the private key. Now copy these codes into a notepad document, and check next step:

Adding reCAPTCHA Keys To BuddyPress:

It's final step, and it's not that hard.You must edit the 'bp-recaptcha.php' file to make your settings.

• Visit your WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Edit Plugins

• Choose BuddyPress reCAPTCHA plugin

• Now choose bp-recaptcha.php file

• In bp-recaptcha.php add your your public key and private key in following spaces:

• Click on Update/Save and That's IT!

Don't forget to leave your responses. Also guys, you can check full personal blog at this link.

How To File A DMCA Complaint Against WordPress.com Blog

It's really sucks when someone is copying your content without giving you credits of your work, even more if he copied full article, even your images.

A WordPress.com blog, http://www.rnhckr.wordpress.com , was coping our article, without giving me credits for my original work. So I went to his website and comment on copied post to give me credits of my work. That kiddo edited my comment to:

Thanks! I'm copying this article.

I was really mad when I saw that he edited my comment. So, I filed a DMCA complain against his WordPress.com blog. As you can see, his blog is no more.

You can also file DMCA complain against a WordPress.com blog if he's violating your copyrights. It's easy and very effective.

If you believe that someone is infringes one or more of WordPress' TOS, then you can file a DMCA complain against them to get it removed of the web. First, you should to contact that person to remove your content, but if he's still not removing, then filing a DMCA is a great idea.

How To File A DMCA Against WordPress.com Blog:

Before starting it, here is a quote from WordPress.com about DMCA complains:

If an Infringement Notice is valid, we are required by law to respond to it by disabling access to the allegedly infringing content. If you are a WordPress.com user and access to portions of your blog have been disabled for this reason, we will notify you. You then have the option to send us a written counter-notice (a Counter-Notice) stating why your content does not infringe copyrights and asking for access to be reinstated. 

To file a DMCA against WordPress.com blog, you must fill WordPress' online DMCA form, which is available at this link. It's pretty simple. Below are some info about form's filed, and what to fill.

• First Name(required): Fill your first name.

• Last Name(required): Fill your last/second name.

• Company Name: Name of your company or simply put your blog's name.

• Address Line 1(required): Just put your address in this filed.

• Address Line 2: Put your second address, if there is any.

• City(required): Simply put your city's name. I'm from Kanpur :p

• State/Region/Province(required): Put your state/region/province's name in this field.

• Zip/Postal Code(required): Put your Zip or Postal address. You must know your Zip code.

• Country(required): Enter your country's name.

• Telephone Number(required): Put your telephone number in this field. Don't worry girls, they won't call you.

• Email Address(required): Put your primary email in this field.

• Copyright holder you represent (if other than yourself): Name of the copyright holder you represent, if it's not your own content.

• Location of copyrighted work (where your original material is located)(required): Put links to your own original article of your blog, where the original articles are located.

• Please describe the copyrighted work so that it may be easily identified(required): Give a brief description of your copyrighted work and the copied content. Like you can write, "this article is written and copyrighted by me, and this or that blog copied it without my permissions." Don't forget to be nice.

• Location (URL) of the unauthorized material on a WordPress.com site (NOT simply the primary URL of the site - example.wordpress.com; you must provide the full and exact permalink of the post, page, or image where the content appears, one per line) (required): Put links of the copied work. Don't forget to enter the direct link of that copied content and describe it. Don't forget to mention, if that blog is copying from other blogs or is violating other TOS.

• If the infringement described above is represented by a third-party link to a downloadable file (e.g. http://rapidshare.com/files/...), please provide the URL of the file (one per line): Only if that link is represented by a third-party link to a downloadable file. It's not required.

• Two Check Boxes: Now check both of these checkboxes.

• Signed on this date of (today's date, MM/DD/YYYY)(required): Today's date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

• Signature (your digital signature is legally binding)(required): Your digital signature, which is your full name.

After filling above fields, just click on Submit button!!

You'll soon receive an email from WordPress team about this complain. I just received following emails in about 12 hours:

Hi,

Thank you for your report. The website in question has been suspended for violating our Terms of Service.

Thanks,

Phil
WordPress.com | Automattic Inc.

Hope this information will help you. If you're going to copy this or any other articles, then don't forget to credit us for our content, If you believe that we're violating your copyrights, then don't forget to contact us :)

Adding Google Custom Search Engine To Blogger

Every website and blog must have a search bar to make it easy for visitors to search something. Even our site has a small, but stylish search bar in top. It's a must have stuff for all bloggers and webmasters. You can try it, and you'll find out that our search bar is linked with Google's custom search engine.

Replacing your boring search engine with a custom Google search engine is an awesome idea. You can also turn your old search to Google CSE, but we'll discuss that stuff later. Plus, you can also earn money with your Google CSE, but we'll also discuss it later.

It's time for you to learn how to create your own custom Google search engine, which is 100% embeddable and customization. As I noted before, you can check a live demo in our blog's right top bar, or by clicking here.

Creating A Google CSE:

Creating your own Google custom search engine is quite easy, you just need to type some basic information about your search preference and that's it. Here we go:

• Visit Google Custom Search

• Click on Add button and a form will appear

Now it's time to fill a simple form, with one on text field, and other options. As you can see in below picture, steps are just too easy.

• In first field, enter your blog/site's URL, you can enter more than one URLs (one URL per field)

• In second option, choose your preferred language (English if you're using Adsense)

• In third field, you can edit your search engine's name, which is optional and is only visible to you

• Finally, click on that Create button to finish your setup

Yea!! We're almost done with this section of this post. After clicking on Create button, following page will appear:

• Just click on Get code to get your CSE's code. Also that Google Bot looks freakin' awesome!!

As you can see in above image, just copy that highlighted code, cuz we'll add that code in your blog. You can try different types of Google CSE forms and style by customizing it. Time for next step!

Adding Google CSE To Blogger:

Now you can add that Google CSE code to wherever you wanna display your search engine. You can also try it on a html document. But we'll add it to our blog. Here you go:

• Go To Blogger> Layout > Add A Gadget > HTML/JavaScript

• Paste your Google CSE form and save your widget.

That's IT

Customizing:

Now you can also customize this widget. There are two ways to customize it, first one is by Google CSE's option, and second way is with some CSS and HTML. In this post, we'll only discuss about first method.

Visit Google CSE > Select your custom search engine > Click on Look and feel option in right sidebar
Now in look and feel tab, you'll see lots of option to customize your search engine, like Layout, themes, customize, and thumbnails, as you see in below images.

You can try to customize your search with every option, without using any CSS. It's pretty simple. Also, don't forget to experiment with layout option, as it's a very great way to customize your search's layout. More tutorials and article about Google CSE are coming soon :)

Adding Google Adsense Ads Into MobilePress

In past, I wrote an article about creating a mobile version of your WordPress site with MobilePress plugin. You can also earn some money with your MobilePress site by using Google Adsense or other mobile advertisement platforms, but lots of users get confused about how to add their advert code into their MobilePress template.

To be honest, it's pretty simple, but still not for first time. I'm also using Adsense on my site's mobile version at this link. Adsense mobile ads are only visible from mobile phones, not on your computer. Let's get started...

Create Adsense Mobile Ads Unit:

Your default Adsense ads are not perfect for your MobilePress powered site. You must create a mobile ads unit on your Adsense account. It's pretty simple...

• 1. Login to your Adsense account > Click on My Ads tab
• 2. Now in My Ads tab, click on Mobile content tab
• 3. Now clck on New ad unit button

• 4. Fill the following form with your ad preference and click on Save and get code:

• 5. Copy your mobile ad code, and paste it into a blank notepad document

• 6. Paste generated ad code into a notepad document and name it adsense.php
• 7. Select All Files as file type
• 8. Click on Save button to save adsense.php

The same thing goes for inmobi, buzzcity, admob and others, just copy the code to a notepad and save. Now we'll add this adsense.php file into your MobilePress theme.

Adding Ads Into MobilePress Theme:

Now you need to visit your ftp client or file manager. I'm using GoDaddy, and here is a preview of my file manager:

• Upload this to public_html or webroot (based on your file manager)

• Go to /public_html/wp-content/plugins/mobilepress/system/themes/default or /public_html/wp-content/mobilepress/themes/themename for custom theme.

• Now if you want to place an advert at the top, you’ll have to edit header.php and insert the ad where you want it to display with following php:

<div class="aduity"><?php include('adsense.php'); ?></div>

• If you need to show the ad unit at the footer, edit footer.php and paste that same code on the very first line or your preferred position..

That's it guys. Same work goes for all other mobile advert platforms. Don't ad more than three Adsense ads in your site. If you need any help, then don't forget to leave a comment.

Easiest Way To Change WordPress Username

Update

There's one more way, which is way more easier and without a plugin, you can check it by clicking here.

Original Post:

Earlier this hour, I was reading an article on WPBeginner about changing your WordPress username using phpmyAdmin. It's a very great article, but it's not really a easy way. I like to take easy-way-out when it comes to change something on my site.

Come On, we're using WordPress, he got thousands of plugins to use them. So I'm here to discuss a really easy and one-minute way to change any WordPress username of your site. You must be site admin to use this way. You can check a screen shot of how to change username, in image above.

Ghost1227 created Username Changer, which is a really great plugin to change any username of your site. Username Changer is a simple plugin which allows administrators to change usernames of users on their sites. Admins can also change their own username.

How To Install Username Changer:

• Click here and download this plugin. Visit your WordPress' plugin page and install this plugin.

• You can also install this plugin from your WP's plugin directory.

• After installing, just click on active.

• Now visit this plugin's settings page (in user menu) and easily choose your desire username.

That's so damn easy! For any help or issues, please post your query in the comment section below...

Three Stylish Customized Blogger Contact Forms

Yesterday, I posted a couple of articles about Blogger's new contact form widgets. First, I showed you how to add this widget to your Blog's sidebar, then I showed you how to add this form to a specific page of your blog.

It's time for me to share three stylish customized designs for Blogger's new contact form widget. All three designs are coded with some really simple CSS, and they look really great on your blog's sidebar and pages.

First, I'll showcase three stylish designs with their CSS, then I'll show how to add them on your blog.

Design #1:

/*---- Custom Blogger Contact Form Style By BWidgets.com -----*/

#ContactForm1_contact-form-name, #ContactForm1_contact-form-email, #ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message {
padding: 9px;
border: solid 1px #E5E5E5;
outline: 0;
font: normal 13px/100% Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif;
background: #FFFFFF;
background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left 25, from(#FFFFFF), color-stop(4%, #EEEEEE), to(#FFFFFF));
background: -moz-linear-gradient(top, #FFFFFF, #EEEEEE 1px, #FFFFFF 25px);
box-shadow: rgba(0,0,0, 0.1) 0px 0px 8px;
-moz-box-shadow: rgba(0,0,0, 0.1) 0px 0px 8px;
-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0,0,0, 0.1) 0px 0px 8px;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message {
width: 245px;
height: 150px;
line-height: 150%;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-submit:hover, textarea:hover,
#ContactForm1_contact-form-submit:focus, textarea:focus {
border-color: #C9C9C9;
-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 0px 8px;
-moz-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.15) 0px 0px 8px;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-submit{
width: auto;
padding: 9px 15px;
background: #617798;
border: 0;
font-size: 14px;
color: #FFFFFF;
height:40px;
-moz-border-radius: 5px;
-webkit-border-radius: 5px;
}

Design #2:

/*---- Custom Blogger Contact Form Style By BWidgets.com -----*/

#ContactForm1_contact-form-name {
background: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HpAaUCELV4K1-7UCQ99iut8yGa4FWQqg0o0rvFy1V8oigUlb1M1hmQfHy6NucIioVp1bKrkkeCASvBPso0OaFtCZwb3ZYpQmDb2n7496SULzX1SRMyC-WNQOMoMhplo882X6MnPdtAI/s1600/form_name.gif") no-repeat scroll 5px 50% rgb(255, 255, 255);
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-email {
background: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8stcNavSUoBqa4LbJ4IehqTQeMHV0OCGKDdwydT6mcXss8MDOtFHJP_tLmYS23kM7NxA7Ujx2BOY6PRSRi9YkKqxWij13sDB_bWL9H-niqt0ya00VYsq_tqSq4ov6qVdq2HTbhxTM3F0/s1600/form_email.gif") no-repeat scroll 5px 50% rgb(255, 255, 255);
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message {
background: url("https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHVDUB3LPRdSw2-jYwvT1cBiIEjmYq9N71BQFMMk2lj0UoPUHOR_6ZLqWgUBcNVWtSTUK7EDd3iOgI-3nj8ylkt9hRgRw3uE_RSa11F5SJRba-k0jkkFBgwcEZTE1SHIcBcdbw6D-SK_A/s1600/form_note.gif") no-repeat scroll 5px 6px rgb(255, 255, 255);
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-name,#ContactForm1_contact-form-email, #ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message {
margin: 0px;
width: 250px;
border: 1px solid rgb(221, 221, 221);
padding: 3px 5px 3px 25px;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-submit {
margin-top: 5px;
padding: 5px;
width: 100px;
background-color: rgb(225, 77, 77);
background-image:none;
border: 1px solid rgb(57, 21, 21);
border-radius: 5px 5px 5px 5px;
color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
text-align: center;
font-weight: bold;
line-height: 48px;
text-transform: uppercase;
text-shadow: 0px 1px 0px rgb(0, 0, 0);
}

Design #3:

/*---- Custom Blogger Contact Form Style By BWidgets.com -----*/

#ContactForm1_contact-form-name,#ContactForm1_contact-form-email {
border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
border: 1px solid rgb(186, 186, 186);
padding: 4px 6px 6px 5px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
outline: 0px none;
margin-right: 32px;
min-height: 32px;
position: relative;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
line-height: normal;
font-size: 100%;
margin: 0px;
vertical-align: baseline;
font-family: sans-serif;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message {
border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);
padding-right: 5px;
min-height: 100px;
width:265px;
border: 1px solid rgb(186, 186, 186);
padding: 4px 6px 6px 5px;
background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
outline: 0px none;
margin-right: 32px;
min-height: 32px;
position: relative;
-moz-box-sizing: border-box;
overflow: auto;
vertical-align: top;
font-size: 100%;
margin: 0px;
vertical-align: baseline;
font-family: sans-serif;
}

#ContactForm1_contact-form-submit {
background-image:none;
background-color: rgb(0, 130, 135);
color: rgb(255, 255, 255);
font-family: 'Segoe UI','Open Sans',Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;
font-weight: 400;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 20px;
vertical-align: middle !important;
min-width: 90px;
min-height: 32px;
height: 32px;
border: 1px solid transparent;
color: white;
margin-right: 10px;
margin-top: 10px;
display: inline-block;
text-align: center;
cursor: pointer;
padding: 4px 10px;
position: relative;
outline: medium none;
border-radius: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}

How To Add Custom Style To Contact Form:

Adding these custom CSS codes into your blog is pretty simple. Some of you are just going to leave this part, since they know how easy it really is. For those who don't know, here you go:

• Go To Blogger > Template > Edit HTML

• Search for ]]></b:skin>:

• Add your favorite form's CSS above ]]></b:skin>

• Save your template...That's IT!

That was pretty easy! If you're using one of these styles, then please let me know you favorite for future styles. You guys are free to share these styles with your friends and fans, just don't forget to give us credits for our hard work. You can also share your custom styles in the comment section below...

Solution Of bbPress Error: You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page

Earlier today, I tried to delete a forum from my bbPress, and before I could do so, it showed me following error with a white screen (maybe some grey too):

You do not have sufficient permissions to access this page

I was bit confused over this issues, so I tried to login again to my account. I'm not sure why this error is appearing. However, looks like a developer mode plugin is causing this error, atleast on my WP. I finally found a great and easy solution for this crazy error.

First of all, you can't blame Justin Bieber for this error, since he has nothing to do with your WordPress.

Solution:

First make sure that you are the current admin of your WP (not developer or anything). If it's still not working then try following:

Visit your WP plugin install page and install User Role Editor or you can download it by clicking here. Install and activate this plugin into your WordPress.

Now visit this plugin's settings page (in user menu) and click on reset button to reset all user's capabilities to default. Don't worry, you will not lose any user data. Now visit bbPress and get started with your forum.

Let me know if it worked for you, as this worked for me and lot of other users.

Adding Blogger Contact Form Into Static Page

Earlier today, I posted an article about Blogger's official Contact Form gadget at this link. This contact form is amazingly customizable. You can also add this form into your blog's static page or post with some simple steps. It's a great way to get rid of some extra forms in your drive. You can check this Contact Form in action by clicking here.

I'm going to finish this tutorial really quick, since I'm posting it second time. First post was not save due to an error. It was a huge post, so I'm not going to write it again :'(

Add Contact Form To Your Blog:

You can add this contact form into your blog's sidebar by reading this tutorial. Note: You must have this gadget on your sidebar to add this to your static page.

Hiding Contact Form From Your Sidebar:

Now you must hide this gadget from your site, so it'll only be available on your site's contact page. Here we go:

• Go To Blogger > Template > Edit HTML

• Search and paste this code just about ]]></b:skin>:

#ContactForm1{
display: none ! important;
}

Save your template. Now time for final step:

Adding Contact Form To A Static Page:

I'm going to finish this real quick, here we go:

• Go To Blogger > Posts

• Click on New Page and select Blank Page

• Now in your blank page, click on HTML option to switch to html editor mode

• Now paste following code and publish or update your page:

<form name='contact-form'>
<p></p>
Name<br />
<input class='contact-form-name' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-name' name='name' size='30' value='' type='text' />
<p></p>
Email
<span style='font-weight: bolder;'>*</span><br />
<input class='contact-form-email' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-email' name='email' size='30' value='' type='text' />
<p></p>
Message<span style='font-weight: bolder;'>*</span><br />
<textarea class='contact-form-email-message' cols='25' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-email-message' name='email-message' rows='5'></textarea>
<p></p>
<input class='contact-form-button contact-form-button-submit' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-submit' value='Send' type='button' />
<p></p>
<div style='text-align: center; max-width: 222px; width: 100%'>
<p class='contact-form-error-message' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-error-message'></p>
<p class='contact-form-success-message' id='ContactForm1_contact-form-success-message'></p>
</div>
</form>

That's it! Don't forget to comment. You all are free to share this post on your blog, but don't forget to give us credits for out work.

Adding Contact Form Widget To Blogger

Blogger has launched a new amazing contact form widget for all of us. I'm using Google Drive contact form to receive all messages, but I'll use this widget soon on my blog. It's a great and must use widget for all blogs.

This widget was first discovered in Blogger's stylesheet by our friend at Stylify Your Blog. This new gadget release comes with the recent updates announced Google I/O 2013 and it looks like Blogger is still a integral part of the Google's Product line.

Features Of Blogger Contact Form:

• Stylish AJAX form with Google UI.
• Sending simple text messages.
• Custom CSS supported. 
• Message will be delivered right into your inbox.
• No need of any third-party service.
• Plain text messages without any attachments.

Adding Contact Form To Blogger:

• Go To Blogger > Layout > Add A Gadget > More Gadgets

• Choose Contact Form gadget

Give it a suitable name, and click on save to add this gadget. That's IT!!!

This widget is awesome. However, Google Docs form has more features - like, drop down list, additional fields, select field, more.

In future, I'll tell you how to use this widget on your pages, and also how to customize this widget with some magical CSS.