Custom Post Types

Jon Bishop
June 25, 2012

What Are Custom Post Types

• Custom post types allow us to create new “content types” for publishing content within WordPress
• Allows you to easily customize the UI for specific uses
• You can organizes your custom content with custom taxonomies
  • You can even create Post to Post relationships
• Easily create custom templates for your new post types and taxonomies

When Should I Use Them?

• Portfolios
• Events
• Databases
• Forums
• Ticket systems
• Ad management

Anywhere you need a new content type

Creating New Post Types

<?php
add_action( 'init', 'create_post_type' );
function create_post_type() {
	register_post_type( 'my-post-type',
		array(
			'labels' => array(
				'name' => __( 'My Post Type' ),
				'singular_name' => __( 'My Post Type' )
			),
		'public' => true,
		'has_archive' => true,
		)
	);
}
?>

Querying by Post Type

<?php
$args = array( 'post_type' => 'my-post-type', 'posts_per_page' => 10 );
$loop = new WP_Query( $args );
while ( $loop->have_posts() ) : $loop->the_post();
	the_title();
	echo '<div class="entry-content">';
	the_content();
	echo '</div>';
endwhile;
?>

Using Custom Post Types

Getting the post type of a post

<?php
$post_type = get_post_type( $post_id );
?>

Checking if a post type exists

<?php
if ( is_post_type( 'my-post-type' ) )
?>

Modifying Custom Post Types

Remove support of certain features for a given post type

<?php
add_action('init', 'my_custom_init');
function my_custom_init() {
	add_post_type_support( 'my-post-type', 'author' );
        remove_post_type_support( 'my-post-type', 'excerpt' );
}
?>

Checks a post type’s support for a given feature.

<?php
post_type_supports( 'my-post-type', 'editor' )
?>

Custom Post Type Templates

Custom Post Types display

• single-{posttype}.php
• archive-{posttype}.php

Custom Taxonomies display

• taxonomy-{taxonomy}-{slug}.php
• taxonomy-{taxonomy}.php

Stuff To Remember

Execute flush_rewrite_rules with register_activation_hook to make pemerlinks work with your new post type

• This is similar to visiting the permalinks page under Settings in the WordPress admin

Prefix your name with a short “namespace” so you don’t conflict with other theme’s and plugins

Thanks!

Jon Bishop
Web Developer @ AMP Agency

Website / JonBishop.com
Twitter / @JonDBishop