This is a beginner talk that explores the differences between the standard Posts & Pages in WordPress and Custom Post Types and explains why you might use them. Advanced Custom Fields also help diversify the data around those posts and enhance the experience, not only for the visitor to the site, but the content creators.

1. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
WTH are CPT’s (&
ACF’s)?

2. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Hello!
I AM SHANTA R. NATHWANI
▹ Recent Graduate, Full Stack Web Dev, BrainStation
▹ Instructor, Sheridan College & Mohawk College in Web
Design (including WordPress) and Capstone Project
▹ Serial WordCamper. Went to 7 the last three years, including
Mumbai. Including Co-organizer, WordCamp Hamilton, 2015-
6, Toronto in 2015 and Milwaukee 2016
▹ Contributor, The WPCrowd
▹ “Lead Dudette” defined as: "a young woman or girl who is
very popular or admired by her peers”. Thanks @modmatt!

3. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Thank you to all the people that got me here today!
@ShawnHooper @YouTooCanBeGuru @add_action_dan @TheMattyG
@Mor10 @MarkTimeMedia @MichelleAmes @MHanes

4. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
AGENDA
● Quick review of
Posts & Pages
● CPT’s
● Quick review of
Categories & Tags
● ACF’s
● Case Study: Real
Estate

5. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
LET’S REVIEW!
Posts and Pages.

6. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Posts vs. Pages
● Static information for the
most part
● “About Us” is a great
example
● Does not use Categories
● Can have sub-pages
● Hierarchical in nature
● Single in Nature
● Dynamic information
● Time sensitive
● Uses Categories & Tags
● “Upcoming Events” or
“Events Attended” are
good examples
● Reverse Chronological
● Non-hierarchical
Pages Posts

7. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Custom Post Types
● Can act either as a Post or a Page (in theory)
● Can be organized by categories or tags (both built
into WordPress already) or by your own organization
(custom taxonomies)
● Will show up as a different entry on the dashboard
● Can be called in anywhere on your site

8. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Some Examples of CPT’s
▹ECommerce product pages, such as
WooCommerce
▹Portfolio pages
▹Author Pages
▹Movie/TV Series pages or People pages on
IMDB.com

9. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
An Example Using A Plugin
This plugin adds a new CPT called “Listings”

10. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Taxonomy
An organizational system, that
allows you to relate one item to
other similar items in a
hierarchical or a non-hierarchical
group

11. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Categories vs. Tags
● Major classifications for
information
● “Events” is a great
example
● Can have sub-categories
(much like pages)
● Hierarchical
● Describes the content
using keywords
● WordPress recommends
5-7 per post
● Non-hierarchical
Categories Tags

12. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Features
▹Fireplace
▹Water
▹Pool
▹etc.
Non-Hierarchical
Listing Type
▹Condominium
▹Townhouse
▹Detached
Hierarchical
A Tale of Two Taxonomies

13. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Taxonomy in the Dashboard

14. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
(Advanced) Custom Fields
(ACF is a plugin)
● In a standard post on WordPress, you have a “Title”.
This is a field.
● Custom Fields hold pieces of data that you want to
show. In our example, perhaps Municipal Address of
the property.
● Can hold different types of data, such as text or
numbers. This is the smallest of the three concepts.

15. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Some examples of ACF’s on a Listing

16. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
IMDB - TV Series
What’s different?
▹Seasons
▹Episodes

17. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
IMDB - Movies
What’s different?
▹Release Date

18. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
IMDB - Person
What’s different?
▹Date of Birth
▹Date of Death (if
applicable)
▹Role (actor,
director)
▹Known for...

19. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
What’s the difference on a wireframe?
This is a Custom Post Type
This is a Custom Field* *Doesn’t have to be text!

20. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
How Do I Know Which Witch Is Which?
Custom Post Type answers the question: What is the content/layout?
Taxonomy answers the question: How is the content organized?
Custom Fields answers the question: What is this piece of data in
relation to the CPT?

21. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Our Real Estate Example
Custom Post Type
Listing: Every
listing for a Real
Estate firm
Taxonomies
Listing Type:
▹Condominium
▹Townhouse
▹Detached
Features:
▹Fireplace
▹Water
▹Pool
Custom Fields
▹Sale Price
(show only if
it’s a sale)
▹Rental Price
(show only if
it’s a rental)
▹Size of the unit
(shown on all
listings)
▹Condo fees
(show only on
conds)

22. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Our Real Estate Example
Custom
Post Type
▹Property
Listing

23. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Our Real Estate Example
Taxonomy
▹Listing
Type
▹Features
▹Tags
Tag
s
Features
Listing Type

24. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Our Real Estate Example
Custom
Fields
▹Address
▹Price
▹Sq. Ft.
Address

25. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
DESKTOP website
Can add Taxonomies to the navigation,
just like Categories. Can add them in
different ways, and filter by those CPT’s.

26. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
Resources
▹ Custom Post Types on Lynda.com with Morten
Rand-Hendriksen
▹Advanced Custom Fields on Lynda.com with
Morten Rand-Hendriksen
▹Posts & Pages, Categories & Tags on
WordPress.tv

27. Shanta R. Nathwani http://shanta.ca
@ShantaDotCa
thanks!
ANY QUESTIONS?
You can find me at:
@ShantaDotCa
http://shanta.ca