Add a Field to Your Wordpress Comments
I recently embarked on some PHP and MySQL programming this past week to create part of my site SprintRants.com. I am using Wordpress’s comments template to allow people to leave rants on a single page set up to do just that. The only trouble was that I wanted to enable my users of the page to title their posts to allow visitors to the site an easier time navigating what each rant was about.
To do this I need to figure out a way to add a field to my comments form (easy) and also to my MySQL database (hard). I have no experience up to this point with MySQL and very little with php so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I searched around the Wordpress forums as well as Googled the heck out of it. After searching and searching I found a thread over at the Wordpress Support page that pointed me in the right direction to add a field to MySQl and my comments template. Coldforged over there had a great post which started me going. It wasn’t super detailed but let me know which php files to mess with. From there I spent a few long hours reading through the existing code in the files and trying to determine what I needed to add.
After about 5 hours I finally figured it out and was able to add a title to not only my add comments template but also to the plugin that I am using provided by Raoul called Simple Recent Comments.
Within this post I tried to detail what I did within each PHP file as best I could. I hope it helps you out and I hope this is really easy for someone who hasn’t had any php or MySQL programming in their past.
WARNING: Just remember to save backups to all the files you have been messing with.
Adding your field to MySQL database
This is probably going to be different for everyone’s hosting company. I personally use NetFirms and when I go to my database manager in site tools, choose the correct database (the number of which can be found in the wp-config.php file in the root folder (by root folder I mean the first folder of your blog that has other files and folders, like wp-admin in it) of the wordpress blog folder you are adjusting the comments for), I have an option called phpMy Admin. Clicking on this takes me to the MySQL administration page where I can make adjustments to the database. I get to the administration portion for wp_comments and find where it will allow me to add a new field. Add your field and add the correct labels and data type, just remember that you need to write down the name with the capitalization correct to use in the php files we are going to adjust.
I added the field comment_title to the database and that will be used as an example for the rest of this tutorial.
Add code to wp-comments-post.php
wp-comments-post.php is in the root folder of your Wordpress blog folder. I believe this is the file that is called to post comments on your blog retrieving the info from your MySQL database. What you need to do is add some code to the following lines where I have added the code in italics. I also noted what the line was but it might be different for you.
Starts on line 19:
$comment_author = trim($_POST['author']);
$comment_author_email = trim($_POST['email']);
$comment_author_url = trim($_POST['url']);
$comment_content = trim($_POST['comment']);
$comment_title = trim($_POST['title']);
Starts on line 48:
$commentdata = compact(’comment_post_ID’, ‘comment_author’, ‘comment_author_email’, ‘comment_author_url’, ‘comment_title’, ‘comment_content’, ‘comment_type’, ‘user_ID’);
Next add code to functions-post.php
I next, following coldforged suggestion path added some code to functions-post.php which was in the wp-includes folder. Again I’m not too sure what this function does but I’m guessing it posts things to the MySQL database? Whatever it does, additions are noted the same as above.
Starts on line 455:
function wp_new_comment( $commentdata, $spam = false ) {
global $wpdb;
$commentdata = apply_filters(’preprocess_comment’, $commentdata);
extract($commentdata);
$comment_post_ID = (int) $comment_post_ID;
$user_id = apply_filters(’pre_user_id’, $user_ID);
$author = apply_filters(’pre_comment_author_name’, $comment_author);
$email = apply_filters(’pre_comment_author_email’, $comment_author_email);
$url = apply_filters(’pre_comment_author_url’, $comment_author_url);
$comment = apply_filters(’pre_comment_content’, $comment_content);
$comment = apply_filters(’post_comment_text’, $comment); // Deprecated
$comment = apply_filters(’comment_content_presave’, $comment); // Deprecated
$title = apply_filters(’pre_comment_title’, $comment_title);
Starts on line 514:
Note that the location of these two additions must be the same in the two lists. I put mine second. The value has to match the place holder in the database or else you’ll have some jumpled information. Notice it inserts the value from $title into the MySQL database spot your created at comment_title in the first step.
$result = $wpdb->query(”INSERT INTO $wpdb->comments
(comment_post_ID, comment_title, comment_author, comment_author_email, comment_author_url, comment_author_IP, comment_date, comment_date_gmt, comment_content, comment_approved, comment_agent, comment_type, user_id)
VALUES
(’$comment_post_ID’, ‘$title’, ‘$author’, ‘$email’, ‘$url’, ‘$user_ip’, ‘$now’, ‘$now_gmt’, ‘$comment’, ‘$approved’, ‘$user_agent’, ‘$comment_type’, ‘$user_id’) “);
Now mess with comment-functions.php
This was the one that took me the most time to figure our where to add the code. I finally had a gadunken and figured out that I needed to add a function. Cool:) The comment-functions.php is in the wp-includes file as well. This file I believe is where you draw the comments from when you post the comments?
Starts on line, well I think you can add this anywhere past line 133, just add them in the middle of the already there “get_comment” functions. I am not sure if this function format will work for every field you want to add to the comments section as some of the “get” functions are different. Play around with the format until you get one that works for you if this format doesn’t.
function get_comment_title() {
global $comment;
$title= $comment->comment_title;
return apply_filters(’get_comment_title’, $title);
}
function comment_title() {
$title = apply_filters(’comment_title’, get_comment_title() );
echo $title;
}
Now add the appropriate code to your Comments.php file in your themes templates
Now I can get to my templates through my regular wordpress login and not have to deal with an ftp client. I assume you can as well. The final things you have to add are this.
If you want the new field to post within the comments display after the comment has been written and within wherever you post comments, be it a page or post you have to add code to the foreach comments loop. I added it as the title but just through in the code wherever to get the effect you want.
< ?php foreach ($comments as $comment) : ?>
<li id=”comment-< ?php comment_ID() ?>“>
<h3>< ?php comment_title() ?></h3>
< ?php comment_text() ?>
<cite>< ?php comment_type(__(’Comment’), __(’Trackback’), __(’Pingback’)); ?> < ?php _e(’by’); ?> < ?php comment_author_link() ?> — < ?php comment_date() ?> @ <a href=”#comment-<?php comment_ID() ?>”>< ?php comment_time() ?></a> < ?php edit_comment_link(__(”Edit This”), ‘ |’); ?></cite>
</li>
You need to get the input from the user which is done in the form section like this. You’ll see code that looks just like this at the bottom of the comments.php option, it’s the code to display the form for comments on all of your pages.
<p><input type=”text” name=”title” id=”title” value=”<?php echo $comment_title; ?/>” size=”22″ tabindex=”3″ />
<label for=”title”><small>Title or Subject for your Rant (appreciated)</small></label></p>
You’re DONE!
There you have it. You’re done with adding a field to your comments section for later display. Just remember that you are taking the variable (example) $title and placing it in comment_title in the MySQL database. You should be able to apply this to many other things and use it as a primer to get you started really messing with your wordpress files.
WARNING: Just remember to save backups to all the files you have been messing with.
Comments
Comment from Todd
Time: February 1, 2007, 12:09 am
I once neglected to set up backups with some work and it really does take a significant amount of backpedaling to figure things out when they go wrong!
That is a cool little hack, I might need to do something similar in the near future.
Comment from bird
Time: February 19, 2007, 7:46 pm
Why aren’t you using this hack on this page? Didn’t it work out in the end? I’d like to see the example before I try it…
Comment from bird
Time: February 20, 2007, 1:59 am
OKAY. This works. REALLY WELL. Thank you! For Wordpress 2.1, the code that WAS in functions-post.php and comment-functions.php is now in wp-includes/comment.php…. but otherwise, it works like a charm. You should make a plugin, no? Anyway, it’s great, thank you. I couldn’t find this information anywhere else!
Comment from Erik
Time: February 20, 2007, 2:06 pm
Thanks bird!
Yeah, I haven’t updated this post in a while, maybe I should write a quick little ditty about it?
But anyway, I use this mod on my page at http://www.sprintrants.com under the rants section. Check it out.
Also, feel free to leave your URL so we can see it in action 
Comment from Allison Brown
Time: August 27, 2007, 6:06 am
Well done!
Comment from Diseño Web
Time: March 8, 2008, 7:37 am
Woa! Erik nice solution, if someone search: add extra fields in comments.php or extra fields in comments on WP is very difficult find something or few.
I find only this and another solution but the other doesnt works.
So Erik if you transform this in a plugin, you made a Big Wordpress contribution.
Im glad to see the 1st plugin to make this.
Congratulations for the Idea!
Comment from TofWrirltrorn
Time: July 7, 2009, 1:47 am
????? ?????? ???????? ????? ????? ??????????? ?????? ??????? ?? ??????. ???? ?????? ??? ???????? ?????? ??????? ?????? ??????? ?????, ??? ?????? ???????. ??? ???????, ??????? ??????????? ????????? ??????, ??? ?? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ????????? ????????? ?????????????????. ??????????? ? ????? ????? ???? ???????? ?? ?????? ? ? ?????.
Comment from Maria
Time: July 14, 2009, 10:17 am
The central subject of our portal is Hi-Tech, games and electronics. Here you will find great number of interesting articles about mobile phones and notebooks, reviews on games and gadgets.
Comment from Maria
Time: July 21, 2009, 8:09 pm
The Company ExtraPack specializes in manufacturing of plastic, biodegradable and paper promotional bags. We are glad to offer you first class offset and flexo printing.
Comment from Inga
Time: July 28, 2009, 10:00 pm
Assist is a top Bulgarian company specialized in sales, assembly and service of gate operators, automatic entrance doors, parking-systems, infrared radiant heating, door mats.
Comment from Tina
Time: August 26, 2009, 5:29 am
Currence trading brokers reviews - find best forex brokerage in US, UK, Switzerland, Russia and offshore. Ratings and comments by real fx trader for real forex trader. Read and comment reviews for FXCM, OANDA, GFT, FXSOL, FXPRO, ALPARI.
Comment from Marina
Time: September 19, 2009, 10:27 am
The main topic of the web site is steaming and web video. Here you will find great number of helpful articles, web video howtos and tutorials and information about video hosting services.
Comment from Martina
Time: September 21, 2009, 6:29 am
We are happy to offer you the blog VideoDaddy.info about steaming and video technology. Learn the recent video steaming news, read interesting articles and video guides on the site.
Comment from Maria
Time: September 23, 2009, 12:50 am
Do you look for freeware software? You are welcome on Zeraha.org site. Here you can find and download freeware sowtware by Nikola Dachev: code snippets manager, free flv player and other.
Comment from Nikolina
Time: September 26, 2009, 12:40 am
Does your company need Online Business Card? We are happy to present to you our web service. On our web portal you will easy and fast order Online Business Card for you and your company.
Comment from Svetlana
Time: September 28, 2009, 11:31 am
Discover how our attention to detail complements your Guest Room experience. Hotel Bulgaria suggests the finest in facilities and service – a place where luxury resides in every detail; where a flair for elegance provides the uttermost in hospitality.
Comment from SouthWind20
Time: October 22, 2009, 6:56 am
This is a straight loyalty and dedication question. ,
Comment from Loy68
Time: October 23, 2009, 3:55 am
If I give a bicycle to my niece rather than to a stranger, my selection need not involve any hostile attitude toward the stranger, no judgment that he is of lesser basic moral worth or lesser earned merit than my relative. ,
Comment from Kirill
Time: October 24, 2009, 6:32 am
The HotFile Search Engine is the first and only tool for HotFile VIP users to find what they want. You can submit your HotFile uploads here to have more money and downloads.
Comment from Miriana
Time: October 25, 2009, 7:15 pm
We are happy to offer you our search engine Canadian colleges. You can find colleges by location or by program offered like Business, Engineering, Technology, Health Care and more.
Comment from Nikol
Time: November 7, 2009, 8:50 am
Do you want to buy digital camera? On our web portal you can find useful information about cameras, camera leans and batteries, spy cameras’ reviews and interesting articles.
Comment from Adrea
Time: November 8, 2009, 10:09 pm
Home Cleaning Company provides high quality total care cleaning services - office and house cleaning, carpet and floor cleaning for commercial and domestic clients in London UK.
Comment from orville
Time: November 12, 2009, 1:54 am
i cant understand some of the part of the code, but i am willing to learn more on how to add field to my wordpress comment
Comment from Alice
Time: November 15, 2009, 2:10 am
Our site Skype Fun is for helping people communicating with ? using Skype. You can learn how to install extras, how to set up your Skype. Here you can find Skype hidden emoticons and birthday wishes.
Comment from Victor
Time: November 18, 2009, 12:50 am
Information for all the colleges - higher education and employment in the world and in Canada. Info about graduate, career college programs, information for students, jobs by profession.
Comment from Amanda
Time: November 25, 2009, 8:43 pm
Are you searching for classy leather bag? You are welcome on our site Best-LeatherBags.info. Here you will find great choice of leather hand and road bags, purses and other leather goods.
Comment from Johan
Time: November 26, 2009, 8:10 am
We are glad to offer you Ontario schools search engine. On the portal you can find university and college in Ontario, by degree or by program offered like Marketing, Technology, Science, Law and more.
Comment from Anelia
Time: November 27, 2009, 1:29 am
Our web portal is dedicated to netbooks and laptops. Here you will find the newest netbooks’ reviews, interesting articles about laptops and netbook accessories and laptops’ prices.
Comment from Victoria
Time: December 1, 2009, 12:17 pm
Would you like to detox the body? There is great number of useful articles about detox systems and natural ways to detox the body on the web portal. Here you can also buy detox products online.
Comment from Milena
Time: December 2, 2009, 9:47 pm
Architectural Studio Keremidski designs office, residential buildings, hotels and others all over the world. It aims to create monumental and harmonious buildings applying individual approach to every development, or piece of furniture.
Comment from Serena
Time: December 8, 2009, 7:43 am
We are happy to present to you our web portal about cuticle pusher, nail nippers and gel manicure. Here you can find articles and helpful information about different manicure sets and others.
Comment from Ivnna
Time: December 8, 2009, 10:46 am
We are happy to offer you site of Forex broker Trading 212. Trading 212 - Forex training, monthly Forex competition, info about currency, shares, gold and oil trading
Comment from Stephanie Jo
Time: December 13, 2009, 9:45 am
I really appreciate your efforts to provide us with such quality information and articles.
Thanks a lot!
Comment from Maria
Time: December 17, 2009, 7:19 am
Welcome to this web site LyricSongs.info. On the portal you will easily find large number of free lyrics and music. The best lyric songs collection on our web portal.
Comment from Sonya
Time: December 19, 2009, 3:54 am
Do you know anything about magnetic therapy? On our web resource you can learn the whole information about magnetic therapy, find magnetic ring and wrist reviews. You can also buy magnetic pillow online.
Comment from Milena
Time: December 22, 2009, 2:54 am
Do you like cooking? Our web site is for you. On the site you will find great number of free recipes. Find the best recipes for soups and salads, sweets and basics here.
Comment from Stiven
Time: December 26, 2009, 2:23 am
Our portal is for all fans of the most popular game all over the world - Football. On the web site you can find live score, information about fixtures of soccer leagues and international football news.
Comment from Milena
Time: January 11, 2010, 12:12 pm
On this web site you will learn Forex tips and helpful info about online Forex trading. Find the fresh Forex and financial news, technical analysis, Forex quotes and materials for beginers. Large collection of Forex related info.
Comment from Nina
Time: January 23, 2010, 2:42 am
Info about skin care and treatments you can learn on the web site My-PerfectSkinCare.com. On the blog you will find great number of useful articles about permanent hair removal and skin care tips.
Comment from Suzana
Time: January 23, 2010, 5:49 pm
We are happy to present to you our web site PainRelief-Products.com. Here you will learn detailed information about pain relief ways and large number of pain relief products briefs.
Comment from Stiven
Time: February 22, 2010, 11:00 am
New dating web portal for men and woman over 18 years of age. View galleries of single women and men from all over the country who are seeking for friendship and love. Dating in UK - Elmaz.Co.Uk.
Comment from Anna
Time: March 4, 2010, 4:43 am
The Brilleon.Net offers you Ray Ban collection 2010 sunglasses. Ray Ban Wayfarer, Aviator, Highstreet for men and women with U. V. Protection and Antireflex at most reasonable prices on the web.
Comment from Angela
Time: March 7, 2010, 9:49 am
We offer huge choice of the best sunglasses on sale, fashion sunglasses, classic aviator sunglasses from top designer brands Ray Ban, Chanel at prices discounted up to as much as 70% off.
Comment from Sofi
Time: March 14, 2010, 3:21 am
Online store MytrendyLady.com specializes at providing great designer fragrances, designer outwear and sunglasses from Givenchy, Versace, Police and many more at competitive prices.
Comment from Stiven
Time: April 9, 2010, 12:38 pm
Spring company specializes in production of wheat bread improvers. We are happy present to our clients great selection of bread improvers for all type of wheat bread buns, varieties, loaves, rolls, baguettes and croissants.
Comment from Victoria
Time: April 20, 2010, 9:14 pm
We are happy to offer you the largest PDF database with more than 250 million counting and files. You can easily find large number of various PDF files using this PDF Files Search Engine.
Comment from Martina
Time: April 27, 2010, 8:56 pm
Online guide to Spanish regions - autonomous communities, municipalities and towns. Information, maps, phone and postal codes, photos, populations and area sizes of all Spanish towns on this web portal.
Comment from Martina
Time: April 28, 2010, 9:44 pm
Online guide to Spanish regions - municipalities, autonomous communities and towns. Descriptions, maps, phone and postal codes, photos, area sizes and populations of all Spanish towns on this web site.
Comment from Viktor
Time: May 2, 2010, 8:13 pm
Is your hobby collecting? You are welcome in this online shop Best-Hobby.Com! Here you can find wide choice of collectible model. Here you will easily buy collectible trains, figurines, daggers and others more.
Comment from Peter
Time: May 6, 2010, 11:40 pm
Welcome to our online store Cute-Sunglasses.com. We are glad to offer you wide variety of sunglasses of famous brands. In our shop you can buy discount RayBan sunglasses, Eagle Eyes sunglasses.
Comment from Martin
Time: May 11, 2010, 6:13 am
Are you fan of diving? Our online store is for you. We are glad to present to you wide choice of various diving equipment. Here you can easily buy diving masks and brick, diving fins and snorkel online.
Comment from Aneta
Time: May 12, 2010, 11:42 pm
Our online store Coins-for-Sale.biz specializes in sale of collectible coins and bars, postage stamps. Here you can easily purchase online gold and silver bars and coins, banknote and postage stamps.
Comment from Anton
Time: June 3, 2010, 6:12 am
Concert tickets and concert dates on our web portal. Here you will find info about worldwide concerts, tour dates and live performances in South and North America, Asia and Europe, Africa and Australia.
Comment from John
Time: July 17, 2010, 7:13 am
Wordpress is such a dynamic platform allowing everyone to setup a professional site.
Comment from Hone
Time: January 18, 2007, 12:53 pm
Hi Eric just wondering why Comment Titles isn’t implemented in your blog here?