Custom Post Types UI allows WordPress users to quickly set up a custom post type on their website without having to handle any code to create. This plugin was created by WebDev Studios.
Custom Post Types add more ways to organize and display your content. By default, most WordPress users know how to use the Pages and Posts areas of their website. These are post types. A custom post type can be used to:
- Add a forum
- Add a different type of blog
- Facts and Questions section
- Testimonials area
- Portfolio
and much more…
With the Custom Post Types plugin, you can generate both custom post types and taxonomies. You can also set more advanced options like making the custom post type behave much like posts (hierarchical) or like pages (non-hierarchical.) You can also label the area for your custom post type with custom names or labels.
You can also control the aspects of your taxonomies like tags and categories, even giving them custom names. This is great for many things like e-commerce sites, web directories, and more.
Below are some of the advanced options for custom post types and taxonomies.
Because this plugin actually generates the code for you, you are able to use this plugin one time, copy the code, and then paste that generated code into your theme’s functions.php file. You can then deactivate the plugin if you wish. You also can choose to leave the plugin active and just use it to maintain all of your custom post types in case you have many different sections of your site using this feature.
Now, this plugin does not include any templates to make a page to call posts from a custom post type, so if you are unsure of how to template pages for custom post types, here are a few resources:
- Podcast Presentation: WordPress Custom Post Types (includes both podcast and a PowerPoint presentation to follow along.)
- WordPress Codex- Post Types
- Justing Tadlock- Custom post types in WordPress
Sound like something you might use? You can download Custom Post Types UI at the WordPress Plugin Repository.
Have you used Custom Post Types UI? Do you have an example of how you used this plugin on your site?
It seems a bit complicated. Will this plugin allow me to create a separate category that shows in the sidebar but not the main post stream? I have a small post category on my blog for news and updates that I want to display (links) in the sidebar rather than with the rest of the posts in the main blog post stream on the front page.
That is what taxonomies are: categories and tags. You will be able to use the Menus area in your WordPress backend to create menus and widgetize it for your sidebar. If you create a widget area on your front page, you can use the Latest Custom Post Type Updates plugin and it can display most recent posts for custom post types.
You can do whatever you like. It does not put in the feed or links unless you put them in…. for example a menu widget or a recent posts for custom post types widget.
I personally think that wordpress plugins are a lot more useful compared to blogspot and drupals. Plus wordpress is offering us an easier way to change our blog into a top domain site when we feel like it. In addittion, compared to blogspot which is just flooded with spam blogs, file sharing sites and adult sites, wordpress is a lot organized and more efficient to use
i am searching for this plugin for a long time. Thanks a lot.
Hi Nile,
thank you for providing this great overview of this plugin.
With the theme I am using I can create child/sub-pages and sub-categories.
Is this different to that?
When you say you can use it for adding a different type of blog – does that mean you can add another blog to the same website?
It looks like a great plugin.
Thanks again for sharing this.
Cheers,
Yorinda
It is different as you can even add more taxonomies like tags and categories and label them for something else. For example, if you had a movie site… maybe you want to organize the site further into:
Category taxonomy – Genre
Category taxonomy – Year Debut
Category taxonomy – Movie Rating
Tag taxonomy – Actors
Tag taxonomy – Producer
You could add those new ones to your default posts. OR you can create an entire section called movies and those taxnomonies listed above could go there. These allow you to organize your site as thorough as you like so finding articles are easier for your readers.
Yes, you can have more than one blog/ feed on your website using custom taxonomies. 🙂
Yikes!! I must say that I have some learning to do!! I don’t know some of the basics so this sounds a bit complicated to me! That’s why I know people like you so that I can find out things that lead me to more knowledge of this nature!!
Nile,
Love this post. That plugin could really come in handy for me someday or for one of my clients and when I am ready to rock it, I know where to go now because of you. A custom post type for testimonials page would be nice. You said we can also use this for forum, too? I don’t know anything about forums except that I thought you had to buy sophisticated plugins for forums?
I would appreciate your feedback on that last question.
Thanks again for all your great information!
p.s. Hope you are having a great weekend!
~ Jupiter Jim
Not at all, Jim. You can use bbpress. You can make it like a subsite without having multi-site involved. Even without a plugin, you already have the ability for threaded comments for posts, use Gravity forms for custom registration, ability to allow category and tag creation, submitting, etc. You can write your own template to fit in just like bbpress can. Think about it. 🙂
How humbling. Seriously, got lost pretty quickly, but by the end I think I got it – kind of. If there’s one thing I love it’s flexibility to do more things, so thanks Niles – I’m definitely going to take a closer look at this plugin.
I am pretty confused with this plugin. I think still have to take a closer look at this.
Hey there..! I am new in blogging line so i am sepnding time researching and learning..! So, il be needing ua help..Hope to get ua feedback soon..!
Hi Nile,
Well I read it twice, went and read the comments and now I have a better understanding of it. Hey, you know me, I’m all thumbs at this stuff.
But, from what I can gather, this plug in can do what several other things I am using currently. Hmmm Have to keep a closer eye on it.
Thanks Nile
Donna
Hi Nile! Like many of the others have started I am all new to this stuff. I did have my blog set up for me as I am not techy what so ever! I do like the sounds of this though. I defiantly have a lot to learn. Thanks for sharing.. Chery 🙂
This plugin will make WordPress even easier to use. I think the function of adding Podcasts and Powerpoints to the material you already post is a great feature. It will make blogging more dynamic.
everyday i realize i should shift from drupal to wordpress
sadly am stuck :S
You are not stuck. I have a tutorial on how to convert Drupal over to WordPress.
I have to agree that it looked complicated to start, but then I realized that I always wish that I could do more with my blog. The challenge is that I don’t want to get stuck in something technical that keeps me mired in WordPress for the week. Sometimes, it’s fun to figure out what I did to “break” my site, but most of the time, it’s just aggravating. LOL!!
Thanks for this. When I went back and read a second time, I could easily see that this is much like what I’ve been needing to install. GReat share, Nile!!
Hi Nile,
WordPress offers the users lots of plugin to make it strong & attractive.I think everyone should download the plugins from trusted web site.As everyone can use the WordPress’s own website to download the plugin.Most of the plugins are free there.Another feature i must said “Post types and Taxonomies”. It really helps a user to find his posts in the sites category-wise & easily.
Thanks for the post.
I was looking something for my blog where I want to deal seperatly with tutorials and other resources.
This might help.
Are all the post types indexed on the home page (assuming that home page is set to blog page) while we are using this plugin?
No, in order to cal a custom post type to your front page, it will be separate from your default posts. So, for example, you have a portfolio done in custom post types and want to call just the thumbnail images of different portfolio posts to an area on your front page that are linked to their own posts, you either have to do: a- design an area on your site and put a custom loop that calls that particular custom post type or b- design a widget area, install a plugin that does most recent posts from a custom post type and drag that into the widget area.
Amazing plugins, Which one is the best from these all.
Great post! I have a quick question, whats a WordPress partial file and how do I create one?
hiii
nile
thnx for giving this nice review i am searching for this plugin for a long time. Thanks a lot.for sharing wid us
regards
vishvast
This plugin is looking good. Thanks for introducing me with this plugin, as it is new for me.
Thanks Nile for sharing this plugin, I am fairly new to Marketing and using a blog and recon this could be so helpful to myself and many others 🙂
Clint Barber
Wow, This plugin seems amazing, Gonna make use of it.
Thanks for sharing Nile
Well i am new into blogging .. Surely gonna use this one ..
Thanks we’ll try this.
Its looks Great. I,m Just going to Try this Plugin. Thanks Nile!
I have a question.. can you please tell me how to work with tables in wordpress post?
i am searching for this plugin for a long time. Thanks a lot.
Nice plugin. What I worry is that it may cause problem with the wp theme I am currently using like the one I encounter with an seo plugin I used before.
Hi Nile,
This plugin is definitely gonna rule. Being a beginner, I will surely give it a try..
Thanks 🙂
i am not any pro in this
but i have heard a lot about thesis friendly plugin that its the best seo theme but i am not sure if i will be able to give a good look using thesis..
I must say that I have some learning to do!! I don’t know some of the basics so this sounds a bit complicated to me! That’s why I know people like you so that I can find out things that lead me to more knowledge of this nature!!
This is a great post! Thanks for the plugin review I am really enjoying it on my site!
never tried this plugin….going to try it soon…looks nice and useful.
Sweet! I was thinking in creating a subdomain to host a forum, but this just makes it less complicated! Any advices on how to do that?
I admit I still don’t have my head around all the ways that custom post types can be used and manipulated but this looks like another one of those plugins that I’m going to have to take for a spin!
Kim
This plugin works great and does exactly what is needed. You can have a whole different type of blog going, or reviews, or whatever you like. It reminds me of when I use to do a lot of subdomains for sections of my site years ago… now, I can do it with custom post types and keep it all in one install, but also have specific section, and not jumbled with other post types in my backend.
Thanks Nile for sharing this plugin, I am fairly new to Marketing and using a blog and recon this could be so helpful to myself and many others
Now, this is awwsom and the best of it is portfolio and forums,
Thanks
Thank you for the review. I might just use this plugin.
Thanks a lot Nile, for informing about the word press plugin of
Custom Post Types U. And its great option so that we can also set more advanced options of making the custom posts or pages .It should be free .Right?
this is awesome thanks for this plugin Nile would like to check out with my blog
Hi Nile
I have a problem with using Google sitemap, i have a arlready created a sitemap but it is in .html format but google asks for .xml, whenever i try to create .xml sitemap with google sitemap generator for my blog it shows error. Plz do share if you have any idea. your help will be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Duyu… you might want to join http://facebook.com/groups/AllAboutWP and post your question…. this article is about Custom Post types, and not sitemaps, so if you can, please ask there or in my sitemaps post here on Blondish.net.
Always great to read these posts here at blondish. Keep up the great work.
Very Nice Review Nile. You discussed most of the features. I have not used Custom Post Types till now but i have recieved suggestions from fellow bloggers. I will look forward to use it.
truly helpful because i dont know how to create a fourm under a site thanks for such a nice Plugin of WordPress
awesome article and tips with picture. I am already find another tips for this plugin finally i found it.
Thanks a lot for share ^^
Hello Nile,
You have mentioned in the post that the code be added to the theme’s function.php file. Since this plugin is actually a code generator (as per your post. I am yet to use it). Would it not be better to include this as a plugin file. This would make this custom type independent of theme.
You can put it in a file for your theme’s template and refer to it from your functions.php file if you do not wish to use the plugin itself to store your Custom Post Type. In using the plugin itself, you have the option to either keep the plugin active, or remove it and just use the generated code…. either by pasting the code in your theme’s functions.php OR putting it in like a customposttypes.php and putting a line in your theme’s file to refer to it.
If you just create another plugin, it wouldn’t make any sense… as it would just be better to keep the Custom Post Types UI plugin activated.
Nile, Thanks for the reply. You are right. I am convinced with the last paragraph of your reply. I was of the same opinion. However, I just focused on the generated code feature and in the process of reading, forgot that the code was generated by a plugin itself, especially after reading your suggestion to copy it in theme’s function file. Thus, I was thinking from the code onwards and as a result I asked for the plugin as a more suitable place 😉 Indeed, if we combine any other closely related functionality like custom fields mods then may be we can combine the output code with our customization and put it as plugin.