The following is a guest post by Ian Marquette. Ian learned that SVG can have a <text> element, meaning that text could come from a dynamic source while still being able to do cool custom SVG-specific stuff to it.

I was recently working on a WordPress-based website that needed an infographic. Being a proponent of responsive design, I drew the infographic in Illustrator and exported it to SVG for scalability. While tinkering around in the backend I discovered that you can add WordPress custom fields to SVG text elements that allow you to control text-based content from within your WordPress CMS. How awesome is that?

Here I'll explain how I did it, and some further options you might find useful.

Preparing the SVG File

Create the graphic in your vector-editing software of choice. Add placeholder text to the area you'll want to contain user-controlled text. Here I've created a simple graphic for demonstration purposes.

Now open your SVG file with your preferred editor. You'll have to make some changes to the code. In my example the path had to be changed to a <textpath>, given an ID and linked to using xlink. If I didn't do this, each individual character in my text would have its own tag, coordinates etc.

<svg width="1000px" height="300px" viewBox="0 0 1000 300"
         xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 
         xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"&gt;
      <defs>
        <path id="MyPath"
              d="M 100 200 
                 C 200 100 300   0 400 100
                 C 500 200 600 300 700 200
                 C 800 100 900 100 900 100" />
      </defs>
    
      <use xlink:href="#MyPath" fill="none" stroke="green"  />
    
      <text font-family="Helvetica" font-size="42.5">
        <textPath xlink:href="#MyPath">
          SVG Text on a path for WordPress!
        </textPath>
      </text>
    
    </svg>

Here's a live demo of some text-on-a-path:

See the Pen JoakC by Chris Coyier (@chriscoyier) on CodePen.

You can just copy and paste the markup straight into a WordPress template. You could also use on of the other methods of using SVG on your page, such as linking to the file as an object. Essentially it needs to be inline SVG, not SVG used as an or background-image.

You'll want to replace the content between the <text> tags with the following code, replacing custom_field with whatever name you want to give yours:

<?php
      global $wp_query;
      $postid = $wp_query->post->ID;
      echo get_post_meta($postid, 'custom_field', true);
      wp_reset_query();
    ?>

Dropping that within the SVG will look like:

<svg width="1000px" height="300px" viewBox="0 0 1000 300"
         xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" 
         xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"&gt;
    
      <defs>
        <path id="MyPath"
              d="M 100 200 
                 C 200 100 300   0 400 100
                 C 500 200 600 300 700 200
                 C 800 100 900 100 900 100" />
      </defs>
    
      <use xlink:href="#MyPath" fill="none" stroke="green"  />
    
      <text font-family="Helvetica" font-size="42.5">
        <textPath xlink:href="#MyPath">
           <?php
            global $wp_query;
            $postid = $wp_query->post->ID;
            echo get_post_meta($postid, 'custom_field', true);
            wp_reset_query();
           ?>
        </textPath>
      </text>
    
    </svg>

Now create a custom field in the WordPress CMS with this label and populate it.

Now if you check out that page, you should see the custom text sitting inside your custom SVG graphic! Of course custom fields are just one way to do this that is rather extensible. You could use do the post title this way, menus, or anything else that dynamically spits out text from any CMS.

Once it's in there the text can be styled just like regular markup. For instance:

...
    <textpath class="text-path" ... >
      ...

.text-path {
      fill: orange;
    }

Or any other SVG CSS property. That means using custom fonts via @font-face work just fine. You also have access to nice features such as SVG filters and animation.

SVG & WordPress Custom Fields is a post from CSS-Tricks

A High-Tech Manufacturing Leader In Baltimore Drives Innovation With Lifelong Learning

In the last decade, Baltimore has become a hotbed for high-tech growth and this accomplishment is one for the city to be proud of. It takes a rich talent pool, often from local universities, to make a tech city. Additionally, the business and political community have shown strong support of technology initiatives and start-ups. With these attractive features in place, the area is wired for continued prosperity in this industry.

(Photo Courtesy of Mike Adelstein)

One of the primary reasons that Mike Adelstein, president and CEO of Potomac Photonics, a leader in micro-fabrication and small hole drilling, moved the company to bwtech@UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County) Research and Technology Park was to be in a tech-centric environment that fosters innovation and learning. In fact, Adelstein initially started his education at UMBC earning a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology before joining Potomac Photonics – a step that effectively launched his career and the lifelong pursuit of education both in and out of classroom.

Where did you earn your degree?

“After I started working at Potomac Photonics, I earned a Masters of Science in Technology Management at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).”

How has education prepared you for your job?

“My degree in biochemistry and molecular biology initially helped me succeed as a sales engineer for Potomac Photonics because I felt very comfortable working in a technical environment. My masters degree and CPA provided me with the foundation to be promoted to president and CEO in 2011, and lead a buyout of the company in 2012. The combination of my degrees and certification has been essential in preparing me to deal with all aspects of the company and serve our partners and customers at a high level, both from a technical and business perspective.”

Could you have reached your present position without your education endeavors?

“Certainly my education played a critical role in helping me reach my present position. Additionally, factors such as my passion for high-tech manufacturing and perseverance to achieve success, especially for our customers and employees, are also important.”

What continuing education is required for your specific role?

“In addition to earning CPE hours for my CPA license, I attend workshops and conferences. For hands-on training, I am looking forward to spending time in our new innovation laboratory. Potomac Photonics’ Educational Manufacturing Initiative, which provides universities and institutions with access to our services at a reduced rate, helps to keep my pulse on what the next generation of engineers and scientists will require in terms of manufacturing.”

Keri Ann Beazell is a Baltimore writer following the latest developments in arts and culture, natural wonders, lifestyle and pets. She enjoys promoting thought-provoking discussions, education, new ideas and smiles among readers. Follow her online at beazellblog.com and Examiner.com

Keeping abreast of emerging trends is one of the most challenging aspects of any designer’s job. If you’re looking for a truly accurate picture of the web design world we’ll inhabit over the next few years, as well as the technologies, techniques and ideas that will be guiding our careers then you need to attend the Future of Web Design conference.

Returning for its 8th year, FOWD will be held 7th–9th April at the Brewery in London, UK.

There are practical hands-on workshops that allow you to experience a range of vital technologies including CSS architecture and responsive design. Workshops are taught by respected industry leaders including Rachel Nabors, Harry Roberts, Jason Pamental and Paul Addams; giving you the chance to immerse yourself in some genuinely innovative techniques.

The central focus of the conference is the future of the web design sector and all the sessions focus on key emerging practices and technologies that could be the next big thing.

It’s the perfect opportunity to develop your agency’s staff into a cutting-edge team that are both prepared for, and excited about the next few years.

Key sessions this year include Stephanie Rieger (Yiibu), Razvan Caliman (Adobe), Jason Pamental (H+W Design) and Gunnar Vilhjálmsson (Monotype); as well as many more with 30 sessions scheduled for the 2 conference days.

On top of that, the buzz that surrounds the conference is a great place to network, hang out, and otherwise make those connections that ensure we stay a community rather than a professional field.

Attending the FOWD conference is a sure-fire way to develop a vision for where the Web is going, how we’re going to get there, and what we’ll see along the way. With an impressive list of speakers and a great balance of design, technical and inspirational sessions, FOWD is one of the premier events on the conference calendar and not to be missed.

We’re delighted that FOWD have given WebdesignerDepot readers a discount off their regular price, just enter WEBDESIGNERDEPOT at the checkout for a 10% discount.

17 Tracks, Happy Spring Music Bundle from LuckStock – only $17!

Fiberight Facility Closer to Reality

For more information contact Stephen Freeland at freeland@umbc.edu.

Incoming freshman have until May to register to be in the community. Students already on campus must register by the 27th.

CSEE Professor Marie desJardins has been named as UMBC’s Presidential Teaching Professor for 2014-17. Dr. desJardins joined the UMBC faculty in 2001 after earning her Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley and spending ten years at SRI International as a research scientist. She has made significant contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, brought over six million dollars to UMBC as PI or co-PI in external grant funding, and held leadership positions in the top professional organizations in her field.

Dr. desJardins is an outstanding teacher, earning praise from students in courses from freshman-level courses for non-majors to specialized graduate-level seminars. She was named one of UMBC’s “Professors Not to Miss” in 2011 and is one of the first cohort of Hrabowski Academic Innovation Fellows. She is also well known for mentoring students at all levels, having graduated ten Ph.D. and 22 M.S. students, mentored over 50 undergraduates in research and served on the dissertation and thesis committees of more than 30 other students. She was recently recognized for mentoring by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, who selected her as one of four awardees of the 2014 NCWIT Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award.

Within the department and university, Dr. desJardins’s commitment to teaching and student success goes far beyond the classroom. She has served as the computer science undergraduate program director and led an effort to redesign the introductory computing course to better serve new students. In addition to mentoring her own graduate students, she is the Faculty Advisor for the Women in Science and Engineering Graduate Association and a member of the Center for Women in Technology Advisory Board. She is regularly invited to participate on panels, give presentations in the Honors Forum and other campus events, and to run workshops for graduate students and junior faculty.

Outside of UMBC, Dr. desJardins has built an international reputation as an advocate for high-quality education, mentoring, and diversity at all levels of the profession. She has been chair, mentor, reviewer, and/or panelist of the AAAI/SIGART Doctoral Consortium for the last 14 years; this event has provided valuable feedback and mentoring to hundreds of computing graduate students during that time. She co-founded the AAAI Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence annual symposium. She regularly publishes articles on her research and innovations in computing education, including tools and techniques for classroom teaching, new courses, and analyses of the state of computer science education at the high school level.

Dr. desJardins is also a nationally recognized leader in computer science education and has received multiple NSF awards to support her work in this area. She gives frequent presentations around the state and the country on high school computer science education and preparing a diverse population of students to succeed in computing careers. She is a founding member of the Maryland chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, and has organized several professional development workshops for high school teachers. Her NSF-funded CE21-Maryland (Computing Education for the 21st Century) grant explored the landscape of high school CS education in Maryland, culminating in a statewide summit for educators, administrators, and community members that was held at UMBC in May 2013. A recent NSF CE-21 grant will result in curriculum creation and professional development for 100 Maryland high school teachers, focused on the new CS Principles course that is scheduled to become a new AP offering in 2016. Other funded grants in the educational arena include her Hrabowski Innovation Fund award to create the ACTIVE Center, an NSF TUES award that is developing a new freshman-level computing course, an NSF T-SITE grant to build a community of transfer scholars in IT/engineering, as well as multiple smaller awards to run workshops and support graduate student development.

We congratulate Professor desJardins for her selection as Presidential Teaching Professor and look forward to the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 2 in the University Center Ballroom. Not only is she an outstanding and dedicated classroom teacher, her contributions to research, teaching, mentoring, and educational innovations have been broad and sustained.

CSEE Professor Marie desJardins has been named as UMBC’s Presidential Teaching Professor for 2014-17. Dr. desJardins joined the UMBC faculty in 2001 after earning her Ph.D. in computer science from UC Berkeley and spending ten years at SRI International as a research scientist. She has made significant contributions to the fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning, published over 100 peer-reviewed papers, brought over six million dollars to UMBC as PI or co-PI in external grant funding, and held leadership positions in the top professional organizations in her field.

Dr. desJardins is an outstanding teacher, earning praise from students in courses from freshman-level courses for non-majors to specialized graduate-level seminars. She was named one of UMBC’s “Professors Not to Miss” in 2011 and is one of the first cohort of Hrabowski Academic Innovation Fellows. She is also well known for mentoring students at all levels, having graduated ten Ph.D. and 22 M.S. students, mentored over 50 undergraduates in research and served on the dissertation and thesis committees of more than 30 other students. She was recently recognized for mentoring by the National Center for Women & Information Technology, who selected her as one of four awardees of the 2014 NCWIT Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award.

Within the department and university, Dr. desJardins’s commitment to teaching and student success goes far beyond the classroom. She has served as the computer science undergraduate program director and led an effort to redesign the introductory computing course to better serve new students. In addition to mentoring her own graduate students, she is the Faculty Advisor for the Women in Science and Engineering Graduate Association and a member of the Center for Women in Technology Advisory Board. She is regularly invited to participate on panels, give presentations in the Honors Forum and other campus events, and to run workshops for graduate students and junior faculty.

Outside of UMBC, Dr. desJardins has built an international reputation as an advocate for high-quality education, mentoring, and diversity at all levels of the profession. She has been chair, mentor, reviewer, and/or panelist of the AAAI/SIGART Doctoral Consortium for the last 14 years; this event has provided valuable feedback and mentoring to hundreds of computing graduate students during that time. She co-founded the AAAI Educational Advances in Artificial Intelligence annual symposium. She regularly publishes articles on her research and innovations in computing education, including tools and techniques for classroom teaching, new courses, and analyses of the state of computer science education at the high school level.

Dr. desJardins is also a nationally recognized leader in computer science education and has received multiple NSF awards to support her work in this area. She gives frequent presentations around the state and the country on high school computer science education and preparing a diverse population of students to succeed in computing careers. She is a founding member of the Maryland chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, and has organized several professional development workshops for high school teachers. Her NSF-funded CE21-Maryland (Computing Education for the 21st Century) grant explored the landscape of high school CS education in Maryland, culminating in a statewide summit for educators, administrators, and community members that was held at UMBC in May 2013. A recent NSF CE-21 grant will result in curriculum creation and professional development for 100 Maryland high school teachers, focused on the new CS Principles course that is scheduled to become a new AP offering in 2016. Other funded grants in the educational arena include her Hrabowski Innovation Fund award to create the ACTIVE Center, an NSF TUES award that is developing a new freshman-level computing course, an NSF T-SITE grant to build a community of transfer scholars in IT/engineering, as well as multiple smaller awards to run workshops and support graduate student development.

We congratulate Professor desJardins for her selection as Presidential Teaching Professor and look forward to the Presidential Faculty and Staff Awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 2 in the University Center Ballroom. Not only is she an outstanding and dedicated classroom teacher, her contributions to research, teaching, mentoring, and educational innovations have been broad and sustained.