[Closed] Question about custom author field

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[elizabethS-6]

Hi, I'm working on a site redesign for a magazine. I didn't think I would have to use Toolset because I was just going to use the built-in WordPress author pages. I just found out they don't want to have a user account for every author on the site, so they need custom author post types. This is really daunting to me because I didn't want to have to create a custom template for their archive pages since that's a much bigger project.

I'm wondering if there's a way to add custom post types for authors, and replace the built-in author metadata with a link to the custom posts in the regular WordPress archives, so I don't have to build them by scratch. Does Toolset create shortcode for custom posts that I could insert into the header meta section in my theme customizer? I thought I saw something like that in the documentation but now I can't find it.

Thanks very much!

[Shane]

Hi Elizabeth,

Thank you for getting in touch.
I just found out they don't want to have a user account for every author on the site, so they need custom author post types.

Are you referring to just setting up Author custom post types rather than the actual user accounts ? Will those authors be logging into the site itself ?

I'm wondering if there's a way to add custom post types for authors, and replace the built-in author metadata with a link to the custom posts in the regular WordPress archives, so I don't have to build them by scratch

You can create an author post type but these authors won't be able to log into the site, they will just be profiles essentially but not actual user accounts.

Does Toolset create shortcode for custom posts that I could insert into the header meta section in my theme customizer?

No it doesn't

Thanks,
Shane

[elizabethS-6]

Hi Shane,

Yeah, exactly, my client specifically said they didn't want authors to have user accounts.

Does that mean I have to build the archive pages by scratch?

Is there any way to enter the things I build in Toolkit into the the header meta section of my existing theme? Or is there a way to very quickly replicate the existing archive page design in a Toolkit template, without having to go through the Gutenberg builder?

Thanks again,

Lizzie

[Shane]

Hi Elizabeth,

Does that mean I have to build the archive pages by scratch?

You theme usually has a basic design for the archives, so it will display your archive in the default way that your theme defines unless you create a custom archive.

Is there any way to enter the things I build in Toolkit into the the header meta section of my existing theme?

For this I believe you will need to use an SEO plugin that allows for you to add the custom field data to the header meta.

Or is there a way to very quickly replicate the existing archive page design in a Toolkit template, without having to go through the Gutenberg builder?

Yes there is however you will need some amount of HTML and CSS knowledge in order to create the custom archive without the gutenburg editor.

Thanks,
Shane

[elizabethS-6]

Thanks Shane!

For this I believe you will need to use an SEO plugin that allows for you to add the custom field data to the header meta.

Is there documentation on this?

Yes there is however you will need some amount of HTML and CSS knowledge in order to create the custom archive without the gutenburg editor.

I understand. I was hoping for a little more guidance. If I wanted to replicate my archive page exactly how it is, and just swap out the built-in author link with the custom post type I create for authors, what's the quickest way to do that? I figure if the code is already available in my theme I should be able to replicate it for a Toolset View without having to build from scratch, but I just need help figuring out how to do that. Thanks again!

[Shane]

Hi Elizabeth,

Unfortunately we don't have documentation on this because this is usually managed by the SEO plugin that is being used.

If I wanted to replicate my archive page exactly how it is, and just swap out the built-in author link with the custom post type I create for authors, what's the quickest way to do that?

Well in a case like this you will need to completely remake the archive unfortunately. The HTML code will already be there for your archive and your archive will basically display with your theme's css so the only thing you will need to do is to use the loop editor to add the content.

I would suggest adding some basic content to the custom archive first and then see how it looks and move from there to see what else is needed.

Thanks,
Shane