Sidebar & Widget Manager for WordPress

Get full control over Layouts, Page Content, Sidebars and Widgets

Custom Responsive page layouts – widgetize a page, drop widgets in page content area
Drag and drop OTW Grid Manager – build responsive layouts in seconds!
Vertical or Horizontal widgets alignment
Replace any theme sidebar with a custom one on any set of pages
Unlimited custom sidebars
Sticky sidebars and widgets
Widget visibility – display any widget on or hide it from any page
Supports any kind of content Pages, Page templates, Posts, Categories, Tags, Archives, Custom post types, Taxonomies, Post type archives, WordPress service pages – home, front, 404, search, etc.
OTW Content Sidebars – add custom sidebars in content for pages and posts
WPML plugin support – display sidebars and widgets based on Language
WooCommerce plugin support – woo pages, products, categories, tags
bbPress plugin support – bbPress pages, forums, topics, topic tags
BuddyPress plugin support – Activity and Members pages
User roles – Display sidebars and widgets based on User role
Optimized performance for large WP installations
Designed to fit into the core WordPress design
Easy and intuitive administration
No coding required

Custom responsive page layouts – Widgetizing pages

Adding widgets on pages is a very flexible way to build your own unique page layout. Your layours will be responsive. Easy, fun, no coding!

Create as many custom sidebars as you need
Create a new page
Create your responsive column layout – few clicks with the OTW Grid Manager
Insert the new sidebars in the columns
Go to Appearance -> Widgets and drop some widgets in your new sidebars

Your other options are to copy the sidebar’s shortcode and paste it in a page/post, wherever in the content you need it. Or use the Insert Sidebar Shortcode button in the editor to do the same.

You can read more on Widgetizing pages by using the OTW Grid Manager – the process, screenshots, video.

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Vertical
This is the default WordPress widget alignment. The widgets in sidebars (widget areas) with vertical alignment are arranged in a column bellow each other.
Horizontal
The widgets in sidebars (widget areas) with horizontal alignment will be arranged in a row next to each other (lined up on the same line).
Such widget areas are fluid and very flexible. The widget area width will be equally divided between all widgets in this widget area. Horizontal alignement is usually used on widgetized pages.

You can read more on Horizontal or vertical widget alignment with screenshots.

Replace existing theme sidebars with custom ones.

Display relevant content on your pages. You can now replace an existing sidebar (widget area) with a custom sidebar for one or group of pages, templates, posts, custom post types, taxonomies, etc (any combination). The content of the new sidebar will be displayed on the exact same spot as the one you select to replace only for those pages you selected. You can also easily make your sidebar a Sticky sidebar so the content in the sidebar stays visible even when the user scrolls down the page.

Create a custom sidebar
Choose which sidebar to replace
Choose where to display the custom sidebar – any set of pages, templates, posts, custom post types, taxonomies, etc.
Go to your Appearance -> Widgets and drop some widgets in your new sidebar

Widgets visibility – complete control

Every widget can now be display on or hidden from one or few pages, templates, posts, custom post types, taxonomies, etc (any combination). It works with all widgets – WordPress default and any custom added widget.

Go to Appearance -> Widgets
Every widget has a button named Set Visibility
Choose where is the widget displayed on or hidden from

OTW Content Sidebars

Add custom sidebars on the left and right of the content of your pages and posts. This works best in full width page templates. We have such template included if your theme does not have it.
Content sidebars can be set up for all pages and these settings can be overriden for each page individually.

Those sidebars can be easily made Sticky sidebars so the content in those sidebars stay visible even when the user scrolls down the page.

Add a sidebar in a page template file

Although it requires a little coding knowledge it is still very simple. Use the shortcode of the sidebar you’d like to add and the WordPress function do_shortcode.

If you are a ThemeForest theme author

Include this item in your themes and give your users full control over page layout, sidebars and widget visibility. All you need is 1 extended license for each theme you put on the market and permission from the author which you get by writing us: http://themeforest.net/user/OTWthemes#contact

Interface and Performance optimizations

Fits well into the core WordPress design
Optimized performance for large WP installations
Ajax based operations so you don’t have to wait on pages to refresh
Filters in the listings – search, total selected, select/dis-select all, show all selected/dis-selected, order options, pagination
Content types are grouped

Testimonials

ruchri

It’s flexible and one can work rapidly with it. Although there are many plugins to create columns with, S&W Manager does it the best, i.m.o., and does many many more. The learning curve is very very low (if there is a learning curve at all!)

DigitalDigg

Excellent job on this, I think this is a must have plugin for anyone messing with wordpress. And I also think this is one of the best plugins I’v seen on here.

adoralinksis

Best sidebar and widget solution on the web!
I recommend it to everyone running WordPress. It saves a lot of time and it’s easy.

Pal2Pal

Just had to come back and add my voice to all the other “Wows!”

Buddercup

Great plugin. Super easy to use, and helps you take full advantage of available space in WordPress (no more deadspots!) Kudos to the developer for a great creation.

dotins

This plugin saves so much development time and it is very easy to do all the cool stuff! You practically go beyond layout limits in no time. Really nice Thank you.

SBD

What an amazing plugin, i am speechless! Saved my day.

CanCars

10 stars!! I love it, exactly what I was looking for and some! thanks

Support

Got a question or an issue? Please email us via our user page contact form here. We will get back to you as soon as possible!

Updates

If you have any suggestions on how to improve this item please let us know! We will seriously consider any suggestion and add it to item’s update list.

Rating

If you like this item please consider rating it as a way of supporting consistent improvements.
Note: If you are rating below 5 stars, please contact us. We’ll try to do our best to assist or fix all your points of criticisms.

Change log

Version 4.7 (05.04.2022)

Fixed: dynamic shortcode fields
Fixed: catch errors from old version of image loaded library
Fixed: Set default value of sanitized requests
Fixed: JS Strict mode
Added: support of old version imagesLoaded lib

Version 4.6 (06.03.2022)

Fixed: add missing file

Version 4.5 (17.02.2022)

Updated: core functions
Fixed: Check for registered block editors
Fixed: Grid templates managment

Version 4.4 (28.10.2021)

Updated: confict with grafityforms
Updated: latest updates on cotent sidebars
Updated: php8 fixes
Updated: fm update
Updated: block styling
Updated: require tickbox
Updated: latest version of facotry
Updated: latest version of form
Updated: latest verion of shortcode
Fixed: remove doubled code
Fixed: remove parent menu blocks
Added: indicate if new wp js api is called from the admin
Added: set visibility in guthenberg blogs
Added: block editro for shorcodes
Added: check for need of block editor
Added: position add row dropdown

Version 4.3 (23.05.2021)

Updated: latest version of datetimepicker and select2

Version 4.2 (06.05.2021)

Updated: deprecated functions update
Updated: latest version of the OTW framework
Updated: post and get sanitizing

Version 4.1 (18.11.2020)

Fixed: jQuery live function deprication
Fixed: more jQuery deprications

Version 4.0 (14.01.2020)

Updated:gutenmber requirements
Updated: OTW core functions
Updated: force check if something went wrong
Updated: escape more attriutes and change to on
Fixed: request items again on case of error
Fixed: ajax request on fail when manage sitebar
Fixed: form functions

Version 3.25 (05.10.2018)

Updated: apply patch for multisite
Updated: OTW api plugin update and verify

Version 3.24 (07.12.2017)

Added: secirity checks and display errors
Updated: latest version of otw factory
Fixed: check for existing response
Fixed: error mode modification

Version 3.23 (08.06.2017)

Added: Security checks

Version 3.22 (24.04.2017)

Updated: OTW core componets update
Updated: WordPress 4.7.x support

Version 3.21 (28.09.2016)

Fixed: force scrolls for the tb window

Version 3.19 (09.05.2016)

Fixed: widget saving issue

Version 3.18 (19.04.2016)

Updated: WordPress 4.5 compatibility
Updated: OTW core componets update
Updated: Post type check
Added: Duplicate sidebar option

Version 3.17 (09.01.2016)

Added: custom css area in plugin options

Version 3.16 (06.11.2015)

Added: Margin from top setting for Sticky sidebars
Updated: Old grid disabled

Version 3.15 (11.10.2015)

Added: Custom class for sidebars
Updated: Optimization on calling shortcodes
Fixed: BuddyPress pages selection

Version 3.14 (16.07.2015)

Updated: bbpress minor updates
Updated: enable OTW Content Sidebars for CPT

Version 3.13 (18.05.2015)

Fixed: Visibility tabs posts pagination

Version 3.12 (11.05.2015)

Fixed: widget area drag and drop issue with call before and after widget in admin

Version 3.11 (16.04.2015)

Added: Disable Sticky sidebars when certain id/class is reached
Added: Sticky Widgets
Added: Disable Sticky widgets when certain id/class is reached

Version 3.10 (04.03.2015)

Added: Sticky sidebars for OTW content sidebars and replaced theme sidebars

Version 3.9 (23.09.2014)

Added: Full compatibility with Popping Sidebars and Widgets plugin

Version 3.8 (05.06.2014)

Fixed: OTW Grid Manager for custom post types

Version 3.7 (21.05.2014)

Fixed: Popup buttons css fixes

Version 3.6 (13.05.2014)

Fixed: Horizontal widget alignment for sidebars

Version 3.5 (26.04.2014)

Updated: Remove global object style definition
Added: Theme sidebars can now be inserted in your OTW Grid Manager grids
Added: Sidebars that replace sidebars can now be inserted in your OTW Grid Manager grids
Added: Copy sidebar shortcode from OTW Grid Manger, Copy column with all content, Copy row with all content – then you can paste it in Page editor, template file, or elsewhere
Added: Visible/Invisible everywhere – new option in widget and sidebar visibility settings
Added: New option to exclude posts in All posts from category/tag tabs for both sidebars and widgets
Fixed: Metabox arrows for WP 3.8.2 and up
Fixed: Tinymce plugin to work with the editor for WP 3.9 and up

Version 3.4(23.02.2014)

Updated: Add json column check
Updated: Enable old grid option to false by default

Version 3.3(28.11.2013)

Updated: Change button class name
Updated: Live reload of shortcode object
Added: Spanish translation by Maria Ramos from Webhostinghub.com

Version 3.2(19.09.2013)

Updated: replace deprecated functions
Updated: Grid Manager – no content wrapping where not needed
Added: options to show/hide Grid Manager and Content Sidebars metaboxes in page/post

Version 3.1(15.08.2013)

Updated: minor grid css changes

Version 3.0(24.07.2013)

Updated: WordPress 3.6 support
Added: drag & drop Grid Manager – build custom responsive layouts
Added: OTW Content Sidebars – add custom sidebars to pages and posts
Added: filter options in add/edit sidebars and widget visibility
Updated: faster and nicer interface in add/edit sidebars and widget visibility
Updated: custom post type bbpress items better selection

Version 2.13(01.06.2013)

Added: Widget visibility settings for inserted sidebars in page/post content editor and template files

Version 2.12(20.05.2013)

Added: BuddyPress plugin support – Activity and Members pages

Version 2.11(08.05.2013)

Update: WPML plugin translated and not translated languages display
Update: WPML plugin function registration verification

Version 2.10(30.04.2013)

Update: few minor updates

Version 2.9(29.04.2013)

Added: bbPress plugin support – bbPress pages, forums, topics, topic tags

Version 2.8(21.04.2013)

Added: WooCommerce full support – woo pages, products, categories, tags

Version 2.7(02.04.2013)

Added: Author archives filter

Version 2.6(25.03.2013)

Fixed: WPML plugin – display sidebars and widgets based on Language – all pages fixed
Added: All posts from custom taxonomy

Version 2.5(19.03.2013)

Added: WPML plugin – display sidebars and widgets based on Language
Added: Display sidebars and widgets based on User role
Added: All posts from tag – filters for sidebars and widgets

Version 2.4(05.01.2013)

Added: Number of items to show in lists – in options
Added: Filter notes in the lists
Updated: js variable selection

Version 2.3(04.12.2012)

Added: .po files – the plugin is localization ready
Added: Performance optimizations: filters in set widget visibility
Update: Horizontal widget alignment new div wrap
Fixed: CSS issues with WooCommerce

Version 2.2(16.11.2012)

Added: Performance optimizations: filters in add/edit sidebars pages, posts, taxonomies lists
Added: Doc lines in widget visibility
Updated: Widgetize pages interface improvements, notifications, error messages
Updated: Widget visibility enabled by default

Version 2.1(05.11.2012)