Customizing the custom loop wordcamp 2012-jeff
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This document discusses customizing WordPress loops to display content in non-standard ways. It introduces different loop methods like WP_Query, get_posts(), and query_posts() and recommends using WP_Query to build custom loops. Examples are provided of custom loops for the homepage, sidebar, and pages to categorize and style content beyond the default loop.
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Customizing the custom loop wordcamp 2012-jeff
- 1. Welcome Customizing the Custom Loop Code: http://github.com/jmarx/Wordcamp-NYC-2012
- 2. Meet the guys Alexander Sapountzis Jeff Marx •Worked with • Worked with WordPress for 2 Years WordPress for 7 years •Worked at Bloomberg • Worked at Gannett Businessweek Newspapers •He's the one with the • Not the guy from the beard Sopranos (even though he looks like him)
- 3. What is CBS Local? Network of local sites for news and media, consolidating CBS' media content •Radio •TV •News •Original Content www.cbslocal.com
- 5. After the five-minute install • • You get a cool theme • Single Column • Sidebar ...but it's boring We need to customize this so it's cool!
- 6. What comes next? • Featured Posts • Category Boxes • Cool stuff • Not boring!
- 7. How do we do this? (pay attention, this will be on the test)
- 8. The Global Query • Runs once on every page • Returns all relevant posts based on params o Home Page Query returns all posts o Category Page Query returns all for that category o Single Post Page Query returns a single, lonely post • Global query feeds default loop o default loop is hard coded on theme template files and contains post information from the global query • This comes built into WordPress
- 9. WordPress does all this for free ...what's the problem? Why bother with custom loops? Because you may need to: •Categorize content •use Custom Post Types •not have a boring site
- 10. Introduce The Loops • query_posts() • WP_Query • get_posts() Each is used in different ways, but you really only need one: WP_Query
- 11. query_posts() • Modifies the Global Query (that's bad) • Can cause unpredictable behavior • Will very likely be removed from WordPress (we hope soon) • Ignore tutorials that use this Remember: using query_posts() is like trying to hammer a nail in with your forehead; painful and messy
- 12. get_posts() • Safer but not ideal • Limited - Not as powerful or useful • Some template tags are not included This is like the little brother of WP_Query. It uses WP_Query behind the scenes, but hides quite a bit from you
- 13. WP_Query • Returns everything you need • Template tags will work • Plays nice with the Global Query • High in fiber http://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query query_posts() and get_posts() actually use this internally, but either do other things that you don't want or won’t give you what you want. Cut out the middle man!
- 14. Standard Loop Examples of the standard loop (before we make it all fancy) https:// github.com/jmarx/Wordcamp-NYC-2012/blob/master
- 15. Custom Loop Examples Homepage: https:// github.com/jmarx/Wordcamp-NYC-2012/blob/master/twenty Sidebar: https:// github.com/jmarx/Wordcamp-NYC-2012/blob/master/twenty Page https:// github.com/jmarx/Wordcamp-NYC-2012/blob/master/twenty
- 16. Performance Gotchas • Use caching and transients to improve performance • Limits load by minimizing database calls • Always cache your site when using custom loops! Links: http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-super-cache/ http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/w3-total-cache/ http://codex.wordpress.org/Transients_API