Delete default category in WordPress.

September 28, 2007 9:24 AM

Is there a way to delete the default category in WordPress so that all my posts don't show as uncategorized?

Since the new WP 2.3 is using a tagging system now, I'd like to get rid of it. I've never used them and for me, categories are pointless. Thanks!

posted by KevinSkomsvold to Technology (7 answers total)

I'd just change my default category to "Blog" or something. It's in the dashboard option menu "writing".
posted by JeremiahBritt at 9:52 AM on September 28, 2007

Response by poster: Yeah, that is an option I thought of but I'd like to get rid of the whole category idea altogether.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:38 AM on September 28, 2007

Best answer: I don't know if it is possible, but I do know that you can effectively get rid of the category by removing the category tags from the index.php and single.php files (and whatever other ones you use), replacing the category list in the sidebar with a tag cloud, etc. Basically, make them invisible to your audience and try to ignore them in the background. I like categories simply because category templates are so easy to use.
posted by JeremiahBritt at 10:48 AM on September 28, 2007

This plugin works for me:
Filosofo Uncheck Default Category
posted by RoseovSharon at 11:38 AM on September 28, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks Jeremiah. I'll look into that when I get home. Seems to be more along the lines of what I need.

RoseovSharon - I did see that plugin but it doesn't address the problem. I want the whole idea of categories gone, period. Thanks for the suggestion though.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:58 PM on September 28, 2007

Best answer: It's very easy to do what Jeremiah suggests and just not show the category, period. I'm pretty sure that you can remove the part of the php code that goes [in my theme]

Posted in <?php the_category(', ') ?>

and you won't see that line anymore. Make sure, as he says, to do it in both the Main Template and Single Post template pages.
posted by jessamyn at 2:16 PM on September 28, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks Jess and Jeremiah! You were on the right track and those solutions remedied the problem. Thanks again.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:16 PM on September 29, 2007