WordPress as a CMS with the powerful Custom Post Types
With the release of WordPress 3.0 just around the corner and as discussed in the previous article: 7 Features to look forward to in WordPress 3.0 I’m beginning to realize just how powerful this version of WordPress is going to be. WordPress can be officially called a Content Management System CMS and not just a blogging platform. Notice how the installation screen refers to Site Title instead of Blog Title?!
We can now create even more powerful websites using one of the features that is presented in WordPress 3.0. and that is: the powerful Custom Types.
Custom Types:
Traditionally, in WordPress so far, we use the good ol’ Pages and Posts. This is the typical hierarchy that WordPress provides us. Posts are blog entries that are presented in a chronicle order. and Pages are some how static-like entries. Custom Posts work really with a different prospective. Suppose you’d like to create a real-estate directory website where each listing has the following features:
- Property Name
- Property Area Size
- Number of Bedroom
- Number of Bathrooms
- etc.
(I will soon write a more detailed tutorial on using Custom Types to set up this Real Estate website)
With the power of Custom Types you can easily do that. You can accomplish that with writing a few lines of code to create the new Type, or you can simply use a plugin which will guide you through the whole process in a nice graphical interface, thanks to Brad Williams‘s plugin on:
http://www.strangework.com/2010/03/03/custom-post-type-ui-plugin-for-wordpress/
To download the plugin, simply go to:
Custom Post Type UI
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/custom-post-type-ui/
Not only it will provide you with the Custom Type facilities, but it will also enable you to use Custom Taxonomies, another feature that I will be talking about soon as well.
If you prefer to write the code yourself, I strongly recommend you visit the following resources:
http://www.sharpdotinc.com/ataylor/2010/04/09/wordpress-3-and-custom-post-types/
http://www.dazil.com/615/wordcamp-victoria-slides-custom-post-types-in-wordpress/
That’s it for now. Tune in for a more detailed illustrated tutorial on a real life example of using Custom Types
