Note: Not long after writing this post, I discovered that the best way to load external CSS files is by using the wp_enqueue_style function. Similarly, the best way to load JavaScript files is by using the wp_enqueue_script function. The method outlined below is not necessary – although it may still be useful for other things to be added to the head section.

Custom page templates are a powerful feature of WordPress that can be used to make pages (not posts) do something different from normal. You can make them do pretty much anything. Obviously, this can greatly increase the flexibility of your site.

Amongst other things, I’ve used custom page templates to create a basic photo wall and a dynamic listing of jobs in China.

However, because of the way most WordPress themes are created, calling an external CSS file from a custom page template is not straightforward. Here, I explain the problem, look at the options and explain how to use ‘plugin functionality’ to overcome the problem.

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• updated my twitter background, very basic, just matching colours to my site, due to difficulties coming up with something that resizes well. #
• reading Jakob Nielsen’s Mega Drop-Down Navigation Menus Work Well http://tinyurl.com/cgbup8. Interesting article from the Usability guru. #
• RT: @stevensnell: New on DesignM.ag: 13 Tips for Working with WordPress on Client Sites – http://tinyurl.com/cdmuho #
• RT: @problogger: OK – Poll on automated DMs to new followers is up on Twitip – http://twurl.nl/ivwl4u #
• The RedDot CMS can be really counter-intuitive at times. I’m so much more at home in WordPress. Pity it’s not an enterprise level CMS. #
• RT: @sitemost: reading Google-AU blog: Two new improvements to Google result pages http://bit.ly/4BC1d #
• RT @iandstewart: 40 WordPress Template Tags made into shortcodes with this plugin http://bit.ly/USOWY #
• RT: @wptavern: 10 Tips for WordPress plugin developers – http://tinyurl.com/dkz93n great write up by Vladimir #
• RT: @problogger: Reading: – Twitter Tweaks Its Title Tags For Better Google Juice http://is.gd/oJec wondered how long they’d take to do this #
• @TerenceChang Only two Twitter accounts at the moment and only one’s active. Have been thinking about several new ones though. in reply to TerenceChang #
• @TerenceChang back in AU for almost a year now! Slowly turning http://www.jobsinchina.com/ into what it was supposed to be, not just a blog. in reply to TerenceChang #

• RT: @vprelovac: Likes: “Firewalling and Hack Proofing Your WordPress Blog « Lorelle on WordPre” ( http://tinyurl.com/ct84ef ) #
• @wefollow #web #webdevelopment #wordpress #
• good write up by @dannysullivan on the new WeFollow Twitter directory http://tinyurl.com/bjo2ms #
• @Viper007Bond feel your pain. TinyMCE sucks (at least in WordPress). HTML editor for me. in reply to Viper007Bond #
• now I’ve got no excuse not to get a custom Twitter background. @chrisspooner has a great tutorial on creating one. http://tinyurl.com/dhpflf #
• Just read 8 Detailed Typography Tips for the Web http://tinyurl.com/bkw7jj sound advice, although as a developer I like straight quotes! #
• This is sick: RT: @Sueblimely: Programmer replaces missing finger with thumb drive http://ub0.cc/m/3q #
• RT @iandstewart: Sexy Web Design by Elliot Jay Stocks http://bit.ly/XHas8 #
• Hold myself back everyday… RT @donncha: Hehe. how to tweet your way out of your new job: http://url.ie/1bvi #
• Just downloaded my review copy of WordPress Plugin Development (Beginner’s Guide) by @vprelovac – looking forward to it, but bed time now #
• For some reason (actually it’s cost) they don’t ship the physical book to reviewers in Australia, so it’s an ebook for me. No worries! #
• RT @chrisgarrett: RT @tweetmeme Google News no longer requires stupid numbers in the URL http://bit.ly/19K4Vm #
• RT @catswhocode: 10 awesome .htaccess hacks for WordPress http://tr.im/hy7b PLEASE Digg and RT!! #
• RT: @AndyBeard: RT @alicam FINALLY! Someone making moral sense and not just blowing off steam Aussie Internet filter – http://bit.ly/sYShm #

Some of my most popular posts are those in my make money online series that discuss how to avoid Adsense smart pricing by displaying Adsense only to search engine visitors. Now I’ve found the most complete solution to the problem of smart pricing, over on the Blog associated with RT’s backlinks service (more…)