Creating A Portfolio Website in WordPress Using Custom Post Types

Presentation begins today at 3 PM PT

Download sample plugins referenced during the presentation.

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: Portfolio Custom Post Type
 * Description: A custom post type for an additional portfolio blog
 * Author: Joseph Dickson
 * Author URI: https://joseph-dickson.com
 * Version: 1.0
 * License: GPL2
 */

// Prevent direct access to this file
if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;

// defined( 'ABSPATH' ) or die( 'No script kiddies please!' );

/**
 * Create a custom post type  
 * https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/register_post_type#Arguments
 */
function jd_portfolio_custom_post_type() {

$labels = array(
	'name'			=> 'Portfolio',
	'singular_name'		=> 'Portfolio',
	'menu_name'		=> 'Portfolio',
	'name_admin_bar'	=> 'Portfolio',
	'add_new'		=> 'Add a Portfolio Post',
	'add_new_item' 		=> 'Portfolio Post',
	'new_item'		=> 'Portfolio Post',
	'edit_item'		=> 'Edit Portfolio Post',
	'view_item'		=> 'View Portfolio Post',
	'all_items'		=> 'All Portfolio Posts',
	'search_items' 		=> 'Search Portfolio Posts',
	'parent_item_colon'	=> 'Parent Portfolio Posts:',
	'not_found'		=> 'No Portfolio Posts found.',
	'not_found_in_trash' 	=> 'No Portfolio Posts found in Trash.',
);

$args = array(
	'labels'	     	=> $labels,
	'public'		=> true,
	'publicly_queryable'	=> true,
	'show_ui'		=> true,
	'show_in_menu'		=> true,
	'menu_icon'		=> 'dashicons-format-gallery',
	'query_var'		=> true,
	'rewrite'		=> array( 'slug' => 'portfolio' ),
	'capability_type'	=> 'post',
	'has_archive'		=> true,
	'hierarchical'		=> false,
	'menu_position'		=> 21,
	'show_in_rest'		=> true,
	'supports'		=> array( 'title', 'editor', 'thumbnail' ),
);

register_post_type( 'portfolio', $args );
}

add_action( 'init', 'jd_portfolio_custom_post_type' );

// Flush rewrite rules when plugin is activated
function jd_portfolio_rewrite_flush() {
	jd_portfolio_custom_post_type();
	flush_rewrite_rules();
}
register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'jd_rewrite_flush' );

<?php
/**
 * Plugin Name: Services Custom Post Type
 * Description: A custom post type Services Pages 
 * Version: 1.0
 * License: GPL2
 */

// Prevent direct access to this file
if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) exit;

/**
 * Create a custom post type  
 * https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/register_post_type#Arguments
 */
function jd_services_custom_post_type() {

$labels = array(
	'name'			=> 'Services',
	'singular_name'		=> 'Services',
	'menu_name'		=> 'Services',
	'name_admin_bar'	=> 'Services',
	'add_new'		=> 'Add a Services Page',
	'add_new_item'		=> 'Services Page',
	'new_item'		=> 'Services Page',
	'edit_item'		=> 'Edit Services Page',
	'view_item'		=> 'View Services Page',
	'all_items'		=> 'All Services Pages',
	'search_items'		=> 'Search Services Pages',
	'parent_item_colon'	=> 'Parent Services Pages:',
	'not_found'		=> 'No Services Pages found.',
	'not_found_in_trash'	=> 'No Services Pages found in Trash.',
);

$args = array(
	'labels'		=> $labels,
	'public'		=> true,
	'publicly_queryable'	=> true,
	'show_ui'		=> true,
	'show_in_menu'		=> true,
	'menu_icon'		=> 'dashicons-media-document',
	'query_var'		=> true,
	'rewrite'		=> array( 'slug' => 'services' ),
	'capability_type'	=> 'page',
	'has_archive'		=> false,
	'hierarchical'		=> true,
	'menu_position'		=> 22,
	'show_in_rest'		=> true,
	'supports'		=> array( 'title', 'editor', 'thumbnail' ),
);

register_post_type( 'services', $args );
}

add_action( 'init', 'jd_services_custom_post_type' );

// Flush rewrite rules when plugin is activated
function jd_services_rewrite_flush() {
	jd_services_custom_post_type();
	flush_rewrite_rules();
}
register_activation_hook( __FILE__, 'jd_rewrite_flush' );

Creating Custom Block Patterns For WordPress

Block Patterns

The WordPress block editor includes Block Patterns which allow designers and developers to copy a block group and build it into a Plugin, Theme or Child Theme then quickly add and re-configure it in a post.

Effectively copy and paste the entire group into an editor

Joseph Dickson

Call to Action Block

		register_block_pattern(
			'josephd-patterns/call-to-action-tiles',
			array(
				'title'       => __( 'Call to Action Tiles', 'textdomain' ),
				'categories'  => array( 'josephd-patterns' ), // use the category slug
				'description' => _x( 'A column row of images and buttons.', 'A column row using images and buttons', 'textdomain' ),
				'content'     => implode(
					'', array(
						'<!-- wp:columns -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-columns"><!-- wp:column -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column"><!-- wp:group -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-group"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container"><!-- wp:image  -->',
						'<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="' . $dir  . '" alt="camera icon" /></figure>',
						'<!-- /wp:image -->',

						'<!-- wp:buttons -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-buttons"><!-- wp:button {"borderRadius":0,"width":100} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100"><a class="wp-block-button__link no-border-radius">Button Text</a></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:button --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:buttons --></div></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:group --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column -->',

						'<!-- wp:column -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column"><!-- wp:image -->',
						'<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="' . $dir  . '" alt="camera icon" /></figure>',
						'<!-- /wp:image -->',

						'<!-- wp:buttons -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-buttons"><!-- wp:button {"borderRadius":0,"width":100} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100"><a class="wp-block-button__link no-border-radius">Button Text</a></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:button --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:buttons --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column -->',

						'<!-- wp:column -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column"><!-- wp:image -->',
						'<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="' . $dir  . '" alt="camera icon" /></figure>',
						'<!-- /wp:image -->',

						'<!-- wp:buttons -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-buttons"><!-- wp:button {"borderRadius":0,"width":100} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100"><a class="wp-block-button__link no-border-radius">Button Text</a></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:button --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:buttons --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:columns -->',
					)
				),

			)
		);

YouTube Embed Block

register_block_pattern(
			'josephd-patterns/youtube-video-embed',
			array(
				'title'       => __( 'YouTube Video', 'textdomain' ),
				'categories'  => array( 'josephd-patterns' ), // use the category slug
				'description' => _x( 'A video and supporting text', 'A YouTube embed, text and, buttons', 'textdomain' ),
				'content'     => implode(
					'', array(					
						'<!-- wp:cover {"url":"' . $dir . '","dimRatio":50,"focalPoint":{"x":"0.50","y":"1.00"},"contentPosition":"center center","align":"full","className":"is-style-default"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-cover alignfull has-background-dim-50 has-background-dim is-style-default"><img class="wp-block-cover__image-background" alt="" src="' . $dir . '" style="object-position:50% 100%" data-object-fit="cover" data-object-position="50% 100%"/><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container"><!-- wp:columns {"align":"full"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-columns alignfull"><!-- wp:column -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column"><!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL7DJay1xtA","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} -->',
						'<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">',
						'https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JL7DJay1xtA',
						'</div></figure>',
						'<!-- /wp:embed --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column -->',

						'<!-- wp:column -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column"><!-- wp:heading -->',
						'<h2>Lorem Ipsum</h2>',
						'<!-- /wp:heading -->',

						'<!-- wp:paragraph -->',
						'<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Cras auctor id odio ut feugiat. In vitae metus libero. Curabitur nulla mi, ultrices ut maximus non, pellentesque non erat. Nam accumsan sapien sodales augue tempus iaculis. Etiam interdum vestibulum eleifend. Ut ornare dignissim lacus sit amet placerat. Mauris et diam pulvinar orci consectetur malesuada non nec libero. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.</p>',
						'<!-- /wp:paragraph -->',

						'<!-- wp:buttons {"contentJustification":"center"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center"><!-- wp:button {"backgroundColor":"black","textColor":"white"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-black-background-color has-text-color has-background">Call to Action</a></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:button -->',

						'<!-- wp:button {"textColor":"white","className":"is-style-outline"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-button is-style-outline"><a class="wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-text-color">Supporting Action</a></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:button --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:buttons --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:columns --></div></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:cover -->',
						
					)
				),

			)
		);

Image & Quote

register_block_pattern(
			'josephd-patterns/image-quote',
			array(
				'title'       => __( 'Image & Quote', 'textdomain' ),
				'categories'  => array( 'josephd-patterns' ), // use the category slug
				'description' => _x( 'An image and quote', 'A portrait alongside the quote', 'textdomain' ),
				'content'     => implode(
						'', array(					
						'<!-- wp:columns -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-columns"><!-- wp:column {"width":"33.33%"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:33.33%"><!-- wp:image {"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->',
						'<figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="' . $dir  . '" alt="camera icon" /></figure>',
						'<!-- /wp:image --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column -->',

						'<!-- wp:column {"width":"66.66%"} -->',
						'<div class="wp-block-column" style="flex-basis:66.66%"><!-- wp:quote {"className":"is-style-large"} -->',
						'<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-style-large"><p>Inspiring Quote"</p><cite>Citation </cite></blockquote>',
						'<!-- /wp:quote --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:column --></div>',
						'<!-- /wp:columns -->',
					)
				),

			)
		);

Articles Referenced In The Video

My First Custom WordPress Block Pattern

Block Patterns are pre-defined groups of blocks curated by a WordPress theme or plugin developer and I have put off learning to build these for a few months until a case presented itself.

Previously I used WP_Query in a Child Theme to display posts of a special category to generate these call to action titles. It was cumbersome and whenever the client needed to update the page I’d have to edit the theme. Today, four years since the Block Editor arrived we can finally configure complex groups of blocks for our clients to drop any post. That’s significant workflow enhancement.

Block Pattern
Block pattern on the front end of a website

In a future release I expect users could build their own patterns within the editor itself and save them to a library just as we can with Reusable Blocks. I’m kinda curious why that ability doesn’t already exist.

I plan to post a build tutorial to joseph-dickson.com this weekend.