Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse using Custom Post Types and Taxonomies

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse using Custom Post Types and Taxonomies

Brad WilliamsWebDevStudios.com@williamsba

Brad WilliamsCo-Founder of WebDevStudios.com

Co-Host SitePoint Podcast

Co-Author of Professional WordPress (http://bit.ly/pro-wp)

& Professional WordPress Plugin Development (http://amzn.to/plugindevbook)

Who Am I?

How to Kill Zombies

Topics

How to Kill Zombies Explain Custom Post Types and Taxonomies Create Custom Post Types Create Custom Taxonomies Hooking into WordPress

Topics

So What Are So What Are Custom Post Types?Custom Post Types?

So What Are So What Are Custom Post Types?Custom Post Types?

Post type refers to the various structured data that is maintained in the WordPress posts table.

Huh?Huh?

So What Are So What Are Custom Post Types Really?Custom Post Types Really?

ENGLISH: Custom Post Types allow you to create different types of content in WordPress.

Default WordPress Post Types:

• Posts• Pages• Attachments• Revisions• Nav Menus

Custom Post Type IdeasCustom Post Type Ideas• Podcasts• Movies• Bars• Forum• Quotes• Videos• Cars• House Listings• Events• Ticket System• etc, etc, etc

The possibilities are endless!

To defeat your enemy you To defeat your enemy you must know your enemymust know your enemy

Tweet: @williamsba CAUTION ZOMBIES AHEAD! #wcraleigh

Win a copy of Professional WordPress!


Type: Nerd Zombies

Speed: Slow

Favorite Body Part: Braaaaaains


Type: Nazi Zombies

Speed: Fast

Favorite Part: Buttocks


Type: Baby Zombies

Speed: Crawl

Favorite Part: Fingers


Type: Kitty Zombies

Speed: Lightning Fast

Favorite Part: Fingers

Example:Example:

<?phpadd_action( 'init', 'wc_raleigh_cpt_init' );

function wc_raleigh_cpt_init() {

register_post_type( 'zombies' );

}?>

Drop the below code in your themes functions.php file

Questions?Questions?

That’s it!That’s it!

Example:Example:


Where is it?

Example:Example:



$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'label' => 'Zombies'

);

register_post_type( 'zombies', $arrrrgs );

}?>

Set the public and label parameters for the custom post type

Example:Example:

It’s Alive!

Our new “Zombies” post type is now visible in the WP dashboard!

Example:Example:



$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'label' => 'Zombies'

);


}?>

Lets break it down:

1. Action hook to trigger our function

2. Execute the register_post_type function defining zombies as our custom post type

3. Set the label to Zombies

4. Set public to true. By default public is false which will hide your post type

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: labelslabels


An array of strings that represent your post type in the WP admin

name: The plural form of the name of your post type.singular_name: The singular form of the name of your post type.add_new: The menu item for adding a new post.add_new_item: The header shown when creating a new post.edit_item: The header shown when editing a post.new_item: Shown in the favorites menu in the admin header.view_item: Shown alongside the permalink on the edit post screen.search_items: Button text for the search box on the edit posts screen.not_found: Text to display when no posts are found through search in the admin.not_found_in_trash: Text to display when no posts are in the trash.menu_name – Text used in the WP dashboard menu

Ref: http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/register_post_type#Parameters


add_action( 'init', 'wc_raleigh_cpt_init' );


$labels = array('name' => 'Zombies','singular_name' => 'Zombie','add_new' => 'Add New Zombie','add_new_item' => 'Add New Zombie','edit_item' => 'Edit Zombie','new_item' => 'New Zombie','view_item' => 'View Zombie','search_items' => 'Search Zombies','not_found' => 'No zombies found','not_found_in_trash' => 'No zombies found in Trash','menu_name' => 'Zombies'

);

$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'labels' => $labels

);


}

An array of strings that represent your post type in the WP admin


The Result

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: supportssupports

Defines what meta boxes and other fields appear on the edit screen

title: Text input field for the post title.editor: Main content meta boxcomments: Ability to turn comments on/off.trackbacks: Ability to turn trackbacks and pingbacks on/off.revisions: Allows revisions to be made of your post.author: Displays the post author select box.excerpt: A textarea for writing a custom excerpt.thumbnail: The post thumbnail (featured imaged) upload box.custom-fields: Custom fields input area.page-attributes: The attributes box shown for pages. Important for hierarchical post types, so you can select the parent post.post-formats: Add post formats



register_post_type('zombies', array(

'labels' => array('name' => 'Zombies','singular_name' => 'Zombie','add_new' => 'Add New Zombie','add_new_item' => 'Add New Zombie','edit' => 'Edit Zombies','edit_item' => 'Edit Zombie','new_item' => 'New Zombie','view' => 'View Zombie','view_item' => 'View Zombie','search_items' => 'Search Zombies','not_found' => 'No zombies found','not_found_in_trash' => 'No zombies found in Trash','parent' => 'Parent Zombie',

),'supports' => array('title'),'public' => true,)

);



Only the Title and Publish meta boxes are displayed


Now lets activate all meta boxes


);

$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'labels' => $labels,'supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'author', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'trackbacks',

'custom-fields', 'comments', 'revisions', 'page-attributes', 'post-formats' ) );



Now all meta boxes are displayed on the Zombie edit screen

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: rewriterewrite

Defines the permalink structure of your custom post type posts

slug: The slug to use in your permalink structure

'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'enemy')Example:

BEFORE

AFTER

TIP: If you receive a 404 after setting a custom rewrite visit Settings > Permalinks and save your permalink settings to flush the rewrite rules in WordPress

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: taxonomiestaxonomies

Add pre-existing taxonomies to your custom post type

'taxonomies' => array( 'post_tag', 'category')

Example:

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: miscmisc

Below are additional arguments for creating custom post types

hierarchical: whether the post type is hierarchicaldescription: a text description of your custom post typeshow_ui: whether to show the admin menus/screensmenu_position: Set the position of the menu order where the post type should appearmenu_icon: URL to the menu icon to be usedexclude_from_search: whether post type content should appear in search resultscan_export: Can this post type be exportedshow_in_menu: Whether to show the post type in an existing admin menuhas_archive: Enables post type archives

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: show_in_menushow_in_menu

Add the custom post type to an existing menu

BEFORE AFTER

'show_in_menu' => 'edit.php?post_type=page'

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: has_archivehas_archive

Creates a default page to list all entries in a post type

has_archive' => ‘enemies'

http://example.com/enemies/

Now lists zombie posts

Can also create a theme template named archive-zombies.php

Putting it all togetherPutting it all togetheradd_action( 'init', 'wc_raleigh_cpt_init' );



);

$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'labels' => $labels,'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'enemy'),'taxonomies' => array( 'post_tag', 'category'),'show_in_menu' => 'edit.php?post_type=page','has_archive' => 'enemies','supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'author', 'thumbnail', 'excerpt', 'trackbacks', 'custom-fields',

'comments', 'revisions', 'page-attributes', 'post-formats' ) );


}

Now that we know the enemyNow that we know the enemywe must kill the enemywe must kill the enemy

Zombie WeaponsZombie Weapons

Type: Machete

Nickname: Butter Cutter

Gore Factor: Moderate

Kill Speed: Swift


Type: Spiked Bat

Nickname: Pokie

Gore Factor: Gore-cano

Kill Speed: Slow


Type: Chainsaw

Nickname: Old Faithful

Gore Factor: Over the Top

Kill Speed: Slow and Steady


Type: All in One Zombie Killer

Nickname: The Torbert

Gore Factor: Messy or Clean. You Choose!

Kill Speed: Instant

Create another custom post type for Weapons

$labels = array('name' => 'Weapons','singular_name' => 'Weapon','add_new' => 'Add New Weapon','add_new_item' => 'Add New Weapon','edit_item' => 'Edit Weapon','new_item' => 'New Weapon','view_item' => 'View Weapon','search_items' => 'Search Weapons','not_found' => 'No weapons found','not_found_in_trash' => 'No weapons found in Trash','menu_name' => 'Weapons'

);

$arrrrgs = array('public' => true,'labels' => $labels,'rewrite' => array('slug' => 'weapon'),'has_archive' => 'weapons','supports' => array( 'title', 'editor', 'thumbnail' )

);

register_post_type( 'weapons', $arrrrgs );

Weapons Custom Post TypeWeapons Custom Post Type

So what are Taxonomies?So what are Taxonomies?

ENGLISH: Taxonomies are a way to group similar items together

Default WordPress Taxonomies:

• Category• Tag• Link Category

Example Time!Example Time!

Tweet: @williamsba ZOMBIES IN AREA! RUN #wcraleigh

Win a copy of Professional WordPress!

Example:Example:

<?php $arrrrgs = array(

'label' => ‘Speed' );

register_taxonomy( ‘speed', 'zombies', $arrrrgs );?>


Non-hierarchical Taxonomy

Example:Example:

New custom taxonomy is automatically added to the Zombies post type menu

The Speed meta box is also automatically added to the

Zombie edit screen!

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: hierarchicalhierarchical

Give the custom taxonomy hierarchy

BEFORE AFTER

‘hierarchical' => true

Additional Arguments: labelsAdditional Arguments: labels

An array of strings that represent your taxonomy in the WP admin

name: The general name of your taxonomysingular_name: The singular form of the name of your taxonomy.search_items: The search items textpopular_items: The popular items textall_items: The all items textparent_item: The parent item text. Only used on hierarchical taxonomiesparent_item_colon: Same as parent_item, but with a colonedit_item: The edit item textupdate_item: The update item textadd_new_item: The add new item textnew_item_name: The new item name textseparate_items_with_commas: The separate items with commas textadd_or_remove_items: The add or remove items textchoose_from_most_used: The choose from most used textmenu_name: The string used for the menu name


$labels = array('name' => 'Speed','singular_name' => 'Speed','search_items' => 'Search Speeds','all_items' => 'All Speeds','parent_item' => 'Parent Speed','parent_item_colon' => 'Parent Speed:','edit_item' => 'Edit Speed','update_item' => 'Update Speed','add_new_item' => 'Add New Speed','new_item_name' => 'New Genre Speed','menu_name' => 'Speed'

);

$arrrrgs = array('hierarchical' => false,'labels' => $labels

);

register_taxonomy( 'speed', 'zombies', $arrrrgs );

An array of strings that represent your taxonomy in the WP admin


The Result

Additional Arguments: Additional Arguments: rewriterewrite

Defines the permalink structure for your custom taxonomy

slug: The slug to use in your permalink structure

'rewrite' => array( 'slug' => ‘quickness' )Example:

BEFORE

AFTER

http://example.com/speed/ripe/

http://example.com/quickness/ripe/

Additional Arguments: miscAdditional Arguments: misc

Below are additional arguments for creating custom taxonomies

public: whether the taxonomy is publicly queryableshow_ui: whether to display the admin UI for the taxonomyquery_var: whether to be able to query posts using the taxonomy. show_tagcloud: whether to show a tag cloud in the admin UIshow_in_nav_menus: whether the taxonomy is available for selection in nav menus

Putting it all togetherPutting it all together

$labels = array('name' => 'Speed','singular_name' => 'Speed','search_items' => 'Search Speeds','all_items' => 'All Speeds','parent_item' => 'Parent Speed','parent_item_colon' => 'Parent Speed:','edit_item' => 'Edit Speed','update_item' => 'Update Speed','add_new_item' => 'Add New Speed','new_item_name' => 'New Genre Speed','menu_name' => 'Speed'

);

$arrrrgs = array('hierarchical' => false,'labels' => $labels

);

register_taxonomy( 'speed', 'zombies', $arrrrgs );

Displaying in WordPress

#protip

Displaying Custom Post Type Content

<?php query_posts( array( 'post_type' => 'zombies' ) ); ?>

By default custom post type content will NOT display in the Loop

Placing the above code directly before the Loop will only display our zombies

Displaying Custom Post Type Content

<?php query_posts( array( 'post_type' => 'zombies' ) ); ?>

BEFORE ZOMBIED(After)

Custom Loop

<?php $zombies = new WP_Query( array( 'post_type' => 'zombies', 'posts_per_page' => 1, 'orderby' => 'rand' ) );

while ( $zombies->have_posts() ) : $zombies->the_post();

the_title( '<h2><a href="' . get_permalink() . '" >', '</a></h2>' );?><div class="entry-content">

<?php the_content(); ?></div>

<?php endwhile; ?>

Creating a custom Loop for your post type

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post();

$post_type = get_post_type( get_the_ID() ); if ($post_type == 'zombies') {

echo 'This is a Zombie!'; }?>

<?php endwhile; ?><?php endif; ?>

Function: get_post_type()

Returns the post type of the content you are viewing

Custom Post Type Functions

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_post_type

if ( post_type_exists( 'zombies' ) ) {echo 'Zombies Exist!';

}

Function: post_type_exists()

Check if a post type exists

Custom Post Type Functions

$post_types = get_post_types( '','names' );foreach ( $post_types as $post_type ) { echo '<p>'. $post_type. '</p>';}

Function: get_post_types()

List all registered post types in WordPress

<?php echo get_the_term_list( $post->ID, speed', ‘Speed: ', ', ', '' ); ?>

Function: get_the_term_list()

Display speed taxonomy for our zombies

Custom Taxonomy Functions

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_the_term_list

Recommended Plugin

Custom Post Type UI

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/custom-post-type-ui/

Easily create custom post types without writing code!

Custom Post Type UI


Also easily create custom taxonomies without writing code!

Custom Post Type UI


Plugin also gives you the PHP code for custom post types and taxonomies!

Related Codex Articles› http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_Types› http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/register_post_type› http://codex.wordpress.org/Taxonomies

Custom Post Type Articles› http://justintadlock.com/archives/2010/04/29/custom-post-types-in-wordpress› http://justintadlock.com/archives/2010/02/02/showing-custom-post-types-on-your-home-

blog-page› http://kovshenin.com/archives/custom-post-types-in-wordpress-3-0/› http://wpengineer.com/impressions-of-custom-post-type/› http://kovshenin.com/archives/custom-post-types-in-wordpress-3-0/

Custom Taxonomies› http://justintadlock.com/archives/2009/05/06/custom-taxonomies-in-wordpress-28› http://justintadlock.com/archives/2009/06/04/using-custom-taxonomies-to-create-a-movie-

database› http://www.shibashake.com/wordpress-theme/wordpress-custom-taxonomy-input-panels

Custom Post Type and Taxonomy Resources

http://codex.wordpress.org/Post_Types

Brad [email protected]

Blog: strangework.com

Twitter: @williamsba

IRC: WDS-Brad

Contact

http://bit.ly/pro-wphttp://amzn.to/plugindevbook

Technology

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse using Custom Post Types and Taxonomies