Title: define a theme constant? Last modified: August 19, 2016 --- # define a theme constant? * [ext103](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ext103/) * (@ext103) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/) * hello all, * im working on a new theme right now, and plan to release more in the future. * thing ive noticed is you have to right alot of functions and make sure there unique, so i generally call them: * ``` function themenamefunction function themenamefunction2 ``` * etc. * is there a wauy i can setup a constant like this? * ``` $themename = 'name_of_theme"; function $themename.function function $themename.function2 ``` * etc * i tried it a few ways but arent brilliant at php so could anyone point me in the right direction? Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) * [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * (@rvoodoo) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744322) * I have variables set up at the beginning of functions.php like: * ``` $shortname = "ve"; $mytheme_template_dir = get_bloginfo('template_directory'); ``` * etc..whatev I need. I have like 8 files I use to put functions into….using these variables is easier to use/remember * then I use $shortname, or the others all over the place… like in option arrays * ``` array( 'name' => __( 'Colour Scheme', 'voodoo_lion' ), "desc" => __( 'Select the colour scheme for the theme', 'voodoo_lion' ), "id" => $shortname."_color_scheme", "type" => "select", "options" => array( "","default", "reds"/*, "black", "purple"*/ ), "std" => "reds" ), ``` * or functions * ``` function mytheme_css_and_scripts() { global $mytheme_template_dir; ``` * Thread Starter [ext103](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ext103/) * (@ext103) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744333) * thanks for the reply, but doesnt really help me. * i too have a lot of different files linked with functions (shortcodes/help/widgets/ general/optionspage/etc) * i was hoping i could implement something similar to the $shortname for my entire functions files. * right know i have a theme im working on called “press3” * so my functions look like this * ``` function press_3_widget_load function press_3_register_sidebar function_press_3_options_page ``` * etc. * when i want to create a new theme, i need to go through all of these files and change the press_3 part to whatever relates to the new theme. * but if i could set something up like the shortname you mentioned, i would only have to change the original * ``` &themename = ``` * and all functions would work and be named specific to new theme. * maybe if this isnt possible i could add in a str replace function right at the begining of the original functions.php file??? * [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * (@rvoodoo) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744345) * I thought that’s what I was saying? * I define $shortname as ve in my theme, right at the top of functions.php….. then I use $shortname all over the theme * If I was to move a bunch of the functions and arrays to a new theme, all I would have to do is rename $shortname to something else and it would work just fine * Thread Starter [ext103](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ext103/) * (@ext103) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744347) * yes i know, but you use it within a function, not to name a function. * ``` function $shortname.setup(){ } ``` * the above code doesnt work. * [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * (@rvoodoo) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744350) * Ah, I see! Sorry, wasn’t reading totally straight * Why do you need the functions renamed for each theme out of curiosity? * Since only one theme can be active, the functions can’t conflict with each other…. so they can always have the same name theme to theme…. * If just for naming sake…. instead of naming my functions after my theme, I name them after my company…. * Like my company is The Voodoo Empire, so all my functions are named voodoo_something * I just use them like that throughout all my themes. Just not sure if there is a certain functionality you are after here? * Thread Starter [ext103](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ext103/) * (@ext103) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744353) * its not for specific use, its just a suggestion i got from a theme reviewer last time i submitted my theme. * they said the functions should describe what they do (ie press_3_load_sidebar_1) * i think i may go through and do as you suggested, name functions on a different basis. * i may use your $shortname method for text domain/translation though. * do i have to call “global” inside each function i call these? * [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * (@rvoodoo) * [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744365) * you call global to grab variables from outside the function * [http://www.thewebsqueeze.com/web-design-tutorials/writing-functions-in-php-global-variable.html](http://www.thewebsqueeze.com/web-design-tutorials/writing-functions-in-php-global-variable.html) * here’s a decent article on global variables Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total) The topic ‘define a theme constant?’ is closed to new replies. * 7 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [Rev. Voodoo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/rvoodoo/) * Last activity: [15 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/define-a-theme-constant/#post-1744365) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics