1. COPY-AND-PASTE Method

Basically, I just copied the function for the archive list from general-template.php and pasted it in my theme’s function.php.

Then change the function name from wp_get_archives to my_wp_get_archives, for example. So you call the archive list using the latter one.

To make it more efficient, I deleted the lines that I don’t need.

This way I can modify the code as I like, using your tips.

Here’s a link to my modified function:

http://www.zumodrive.com/share/3Mr0NGQzMT

Change line 53 to customise the date (using your tips).
Change lines 71 to 78 to customise the format (according to your needs).

2. FILTER Method

For the second method, I tried using the WP filter feature. This one retains the function name (wp_get_archives). Also, put this in your function.php.

I have 2 examples. One allows changing the dates only. The other allows changing the whole format. Both examples displays the dates in numerical format with a slash as delimiter.

a. Custom dates:

http://www.zumodrive.com/share/3Mp1N2Q4Y2

b. Custom format

http://www.zumodrive.com/share/3MrXNzk3YT

Of course, you can be creative with the code.

These are only examples of what you can do. They may not be the best, but they work ;)… and you don’t have to change any core coding, too!!

Cheers.

That was some interesting stuff there. Thanks for posting it.

I have to believe that this sort of functionality can be added using a plugin so that it’s independent from the WordPress core. I may poke around and see if I can come up with something.

A) You don’t want to screw up anything on the back-end so follow the directions precisely. Luckily, if you do make some kind of egregious error that you can’t fix, you can always just download the WP install again and overwrite your modified general-template.php.

B) As forementioned, new Wordpress installations will override the fix.

It’s not an ideal solution, but unfortunately Wordpress doesn’t facilitate one—and a janky solution is preferable to none!