Twenty Eleven Child theme error when attempting to use a rewritten function

Question

I attempted to make a minor change to a function in the Twenty Eleven theme (wordpress 3.4.2)

I get this error message:

Fatal error: Cannot redeclare twentyeleven_widgets_init() (previously declared in /home/labfocus/public_html/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven-child/functions.php:10) in /home/labfocus/public_html/wp-content/themes/twentyeleven/functions.php on line 438

Here is the function that I am attempting to add in place of the original

<?php
if ( !function_exists('twentyeleven_widgets_init')) {
/**
 * Register our sidebars and widgetized areas. Also register the default Ephemera widget.
 *
 * @since Twenty Eleven 1.0
 */
function twentyeleven_widgets_init() {

    register_widget( 'Twenty_Eleven_Ephemera_Widget' );

    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => __( 'Main Sidebar', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'id' => 'sidebar-1',
        'before_widget' => '<div class="su-spoiler-title">%2$s</div><aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
        'after_widget' => "</aside></div>",
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
        'after_title' => '</h3>',
    ) );

    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => __( 'Showcase Sidebar', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'id' => 'sidebar-2',
        'description' => __( 'The sidebar for the optional Showcase Template', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
        'after_widget' => "</aside>",
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
        'after_title' => '</h3>',
    ) );

    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => __( 'Footer Area One', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'id' => 'sidebar-3',
        'description' => __( 'An optional widget area for your site footer', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
        'after_widget' => "</aside>",
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
        'after_title' => '</h3>',
    ) );

    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => __( 'Footer Area Two', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'id' => 'sidebar-4',
        'description' => __( 'An optional widget area for your site footer', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
        'after_widget' => "</aside>",
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
        'after_title' => '</h3>',
    ) );

    register_sidebar( array(
        'name' => __( 'Footer Area Three', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'id' => 'sidebar-5',
        'description' => __( 'An optional widget area for your site footer', 'twentyeleven' ),
        'before_widget' => '<aside id="%1$s" class="widget %2$s">',
        'after_widget' => "</aside>",
        'before_title' => '<h3 class="widget-title">',
        'after_title' => '</h3>',
    ) );
    }
}

Can anyone see what's wrong with this function?

Update: the question is really that I want to change how the Main Sidebar displays before_widget and after_widget. I've added a <div>

I just saw a note in this article for creating twenty eleven child themes that uses add_action and add_filter - would these help?

paulruescher · Answer 1 · 2012-10-12 15:14:21Z

up vote 3 down vote

Why exactly are you trying to redeclare that function?

You can either edit the original function, or, better yet, use remove_action to remove add_action( 'widgets_init', 'twentyeleven_widgets_init' ); and then reattach your own function add_action('widgets_init', 'your_widgets_init_function' );

edited Oct 12 '12 at 15:14

answered Oct 12 '12 at 8:47

paulruescher
613

Don't edit parent theme, but adding own function is the way to go. Original is coded to be pluggable (able to be declared in different place). – Rarst♦ Oct 12 '12 at 11:46

I want to modify the Main Sidebar and this is the only thing I could think of. Is there a way to change before_widget and after_widget without redoing the whole function? – Nohl Oct 12 '12 at 17:34

@paulruescher I had read in multiple places (including the WP codex) that the correct procedure for a child theme was to use the if(!function_exists()) structure. I welcome any other methods. – Nohl Oct 12 '12 at 17:36

I just found this thread that indicates that some twentyeleven functions lack the if(!function_exists()) code required for the trick to work. @paulruescher can you suggest the correct usage of remove_action to fix it? – Nohl Oct 12 '12 at 17:56

1

I would look into trying to do it properly, but personally what I would do is use remove_action. In functions.php, there is an add_action right below twentyeleven_widgets_init. Use the first paramater passed in your remove_action. Then, write your new twentyeleven_widgets_init, and use add_action to re-add the function using that original add_action parameter – paulruescher Oct 13 '12 at 20:51

olgri · Answer 2 · 2012-12-24 00:40:56Z

I had the same problem... SOLUTION: http://venutip.com/content/right-way-override-theme-functions but use 'after_setup_theme' instead of 'init' or it won't work because the child functions.php is called before the parent functions.php. Another useful article: http://ottopress.com/2010/wordpress-protip-child-themes/

An answer should be more than just a link to an external site. Please add a solution.

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Twenty Eleven Child theme error when attempting to use a rewritten function

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