Considering the versatility of both NextGEN and Envira Gallery, transitioning between them is seamless. However, readers seeking guidance on migrating from NextGEN to Envira for better suitability prompted this tutorial. Here, we’ll demonstrate the straightforward process of switching from NextGEN Gallery to Envira Gallery in WordPress.
What motivates the transition from NextGEN to Envira Gallery?
NextGEN Gallery and Envira Gallery, both offering drag-and-drop functionality, cater to diverse WordPress users. In our analysis for the best WordPress gallery plugin, Envira emerges as a versatile choice, starting at $39.50 annually, featuring addons for varied needs like video galleries and SEO optimization. It boasts top performance among leading gallery plugins.
On the other hand, NextGEN Gallery, starting at $69.50 per year, targets professional photographers, offering multiple templates, watermarking, and eCommerce capabilities.
For users seeking a premium plugin for user-friendly image display, Envira proves optimal. NextGEN, while robust, suits professional needs, considering its higher cost.
To transition from NextGEN to Envira for image display on your WordPress.org site, follow these steps:
- Install and Configure the Envira Gallery Plugin.
- Select Which NextGEN Photo Galleries to Import.
- Customize Your WordPress Envira Image Galleries.
- Showcase Your Imported Photo Galleries.
Explore comprehensive guides to enhance your Envira Photo Galleries further.
Step:01 Install and Configure the Envira Gallery Plugin.
To initiate the switch from NextGEN to Envira, begin by installing and activating the Envira Gallery plugin.
Although Envira offers a free version, access to the NextGEN Importer Addon requires one of its Premium plans. This addon facilitates the transfer of your NextGEN galleries.
For installation guidance, refer to our tutorial on installing a WordPress plugin.
Once the plugin is activated, navigate to Envira Gallery » Addons in the WordPress dashboard. Locate the NextGEN Importer Addon and click ‘Install.’
Upon installation, the status will change to ‘Inactive,’ with the button text prompting ‘Activate.’
Simply click the button to activate the addon.
Step:02 Select Which NextGEN Photo Galleries to Import.
After refreshing your WordPress admin area, navigate to Envira Gallery » NextGEN Import. Here, you’ll find a list of NextGEN galleries available for import.
Tick the boxes beside the galleries you wish to transfer to Envira, then click ‘Import Galleries.’
Once selected, wait briefly for the addon to complete the import process.
Upon successful import, you’ll receive a confirmation message resembling:
Notification indicating successful import of NextGEN gallery to Envira.
Step:03 Customize Your WordPress Envira Image Galleries.
After importing your image gallery, proceed to Envira Gallery » Envira Gallery and hover over the title of the newly imported gallery. Click ‘Edit’ to access various customization options.
In the top section, you can add new images from different sources like your media library, desktop, or Instagram account. Scroll down to find additional customization options.
Under the ‘Gallery’ tab, manage images, delete them, or rearrange their order as desired. Switch to the ‘Configuration’ tab to modify various elements of your gallery.
Here, adjust the Gallery Layout, choosing from options like Automatic, Mason, Grid, and others. Enable the lazy loading feature to enhance your WordPress site’s performance.
Further down, customize settings such as titles, captions, and thumbnail crop positions. Depending on your chosen layout, additional settings may be available.
Navigate to the ‘Lightbox’ tab to configure settings for displaying images in a fullscreen pop-up window.
The ‘Mobile’ tab offers settings to optimize gallery responsiveness for mobile devices, including the option to create specific images for mobile viewing.
In the ‘Standalone’ tab, create a dedicated page for your galleries using a custom page template, if available.
If your theme lacks a custom page template, skip to the ‘Misc’ tab. Here, edit the gallery’s slug, add CSS classes, import/export galleries, and more.
Once satisfied with your settings, navigate to the ‘Publish’ section and click ‘Update’ to finalize the changes.
Step:04 Showcase Your Imported Photo Galleries.
To incorporate your edited Envira gallery into various parts of your site, such as pages or posts, you have three insertion options: Gutenberg block, shortcodes, or template tags. Let’s explore each method:
- Using the Envira Gallery Gutenberg Block:
- Navigate to the page or post where you want to add the gallery.
- Click the ‘+ Add Block’ button and search for the Envira Gallery block.
- Drag and drop the block to your preferred location.
- Type in the name of the imported and edited gallery.
- Utilize the Block settings sidebar to further configure the block.
- Optionally, add new images to the gallery.
- Remove the previous NextGEN Gallery block or shortcode.
- Click ‘Update’ to save your changes.
- Adding the Envira Gallery with Shortcodes:
- Go to Envira Gallery » Envira Gallery to obtain the shortcode.
- Copy the shortcode from the ‘Shortcode’ column or navigate to the gallery and find it in the ‘Envira Code’ section.
- Paste the shortcode into your desired page, post, or widget-ready area.
- Optionally, use a special shortcode to add a link directing users to the gallery.
- Inserting the Envira Template Tag in a Theme File:
- Retrieve the template tag from the gallery editor.
- Install the WPCode plugin for safe code insertion.
- Go to Code Snippets » + Add Snippet and insert the title of your snippet.
- Change the Code Type to ‘PHP Snippet’.
- Copy and paste the Envira template tag into the Code Preview box.
- Configure the Insertion section according to your preferences, selecting the appropriate location.
- Make the code active and save the snippet.
- Verify the functionality of the code on your website.
By following these steps, you can seamlessly integrate your Envira gallery into your WordPress site, enhancing its visual appeal and functionality.