TED talks shortcode not working

2 comments

1. Unfortunately, this is going to be a problem for you.

   The [ted] shortcode is specific to WordPress.com – not to a self-hosted site where you installed the software yourself from WordPress.org.

   The only embeds that WordPress.org’s software supports by default are listed in the Codex:

   • YouTube (only public videos and playlists – “unlisted” and “private” videos will not embed)
   • Vimeo
   • DailyMotion
   • blip.tv
   • Flickr (both videos and images)
   • Viddler
   • Hulu
   • Qik
   • Revision3
   • Scribd
   • Photobucket
   • PollDaddy
   • WordPress.tv (only VideoPress-type videos for the time being)
   • SmugMug (WordPress 3.0+)
   • FunnyOrDie.com (WordPress 3.0+)
   • Twitter (WordPress 3.4+)

   There is a plugin available for embedding Ted talks, though. TEDTalks Embedder. But it only lists compatibility through WP 3.2.1, so it may not work with the current version (it may, but I can’t guarantee it).

   ---

   Alternative Actual Embeds

   Here’s an alternative if you don’t want to use a plugin. Add the following to your theme’s functions.php file:

   // Whitelist the TEDTalks oEmbed URL
   wp_oembed_add_provider( 'http://www.ted.com/talks/*', 'http://www.ted.com/talks/oembed.json' );
   
   function ted_shortcode( $atts ) {
       // We need to use the WP_Embed class instance
       global $wp_embed;
   
       // The "id" parameter is required
       if ( empty($atts['id']) )
           return '';
   
       // Construct the TEDTalk URL
       $url = 'http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng/id/' . $atts['id'];
   
       // Run the URL through the  handler.
       // This handler handles calling the oEmbed class
       // and more importantly will also do the caching!
       return $wp_embed->shortcode( $atts, $url );
   }
   add_shortcode( 'ted', 'ted_shortcode' );
   

   Now, you can embed TEDTalks two ways:

   • By using the [ted id=981] way they do on WordPress.com
   • By placing the url of a TEDTalk on a line by itself in a post (i.e. http://www.ted.com/talks/ze_frank_s_web_playroom.html)

   Enjoy!

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2. The Jetpack plugin will allow you to use the [ted] shortcode on your WordPress self-hosted site.

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