Create WordPress custom post type and custom fields with Toolset

Toolset is a suite of plugins from OnTheGoSystem that that allows you to build complete websites on WordPress without PHP coding.

[15 Apr 2019 Update]

Toolset Coupon and Discount Codes

The Toolset Types Plugin is removed from the WordPress Depository. Therefore, Toolset is now a 100% premium plugin. Fortunately, we managed to secure a sweet 20% discount codes for all Toolset Plans. Click on the links below to receive 20% Off your subscription plan of choice.

Toolset Presentation – 1 Domain license for custom brochure and listing sites.
Toolset Interactive – 3 Domain licenses for Custom brochure sites, E-Commerce sites, Classified sites, Directory sites and Membership sites
Toolset Agency – Unlimited Domain license.

All Plans comes with free support and updates for 1 year.

WordPress Custom Post Types

One of the most commonly used features in WordPress are Custom Post Types. Custom post types allows users to create a different type content based on the built-in WordPress Page or Post system. Custom Post Types are used extensively in plugins to extend the functionalities of WordPress.

An example of a plugin that uses a custom post type would be WooCommerce. The WooCommerce plugin, when activated, adds a custom post type called “Products” to WordPress. Hence, enabling the user to add products to WordPress.

Custom Fields and Custom Taxonomies

A custom post type basically inherits the WordPress default posts and pages structure. To truly add more meaning to a custom post type, we use custom fields and taxonomies (custom categories and tags).

How to create Custom Post Types

Creating your own custom post type is fairly easy, but it requires you to insert code into your theme. And it becomes even more complicated should you need to create custom fields. And then, you would need to code a custom page or post template to display the fields.

This is where Toolset comes in.

Toolset Types Plugin

Toolset Types allows you to create custom post types and custom fields directly from the WordPress Dashboard. All parameters of a custom post type is customizable. Therefore allowing you full control.

A unique feature in Toolset is that it also allows you to define relationships between Post Types.

In addition to creating Custom Post Types, Toolset Types also allows you to create Custom Taxonomies and Custom Fields.

You can assign Custom Fields to your Custom Post type and taxonomies or WordPress built-in Post types like Post, Pages, Media and User.

When using Toolset Types with Toolset Views, you will be able to specify the condition when a template is used. Advanced users can also specify specific conditions for displaying custom fields.

Example Application

As web developers, one of the common requests we get is to build a list of press releases with a PDF link.

In this case, using Toolset Types, we simply create a Custom Post Type and name it “Press Releases”. Then, we create a Custom Field called “pdf”and attach it to our “Press Releases” Custom Post Type.

Now, as to how to display our post type without any coding? Please read on.

Toolset Views

In our opinion, Toolset Views is a very useful plugin. A simple explanation on what it does is that it allows you to insert custom “views” anywhere in WordPress.

With the installation of Views, Toolset, add a few more options into the Menu and onto the default post editor.

Views – Allows you to create loops and display them.
Content templates – Allows you to define content snippets or full layouts and reuse throughout the site.
WordPress Archives – Allows you to overwrite and/or create new Archive pages.

By clicking on the “Fields and Views” button, Toolset presents you with with all the available custom fields and default WordPress fields that you can insert.

Uses of Toolset Views

Use Case #1 – Display a Custom Field anywhere in your theme.

Every field and custom field in WordPress is mapped as shortcodes. Simply click on any the field you would like shown and it will be displayed.

Use Case #2 – Use Content Templates to display custom fields in custom formatting

Don’t let codes in the screenshot above scare you!

Integration with Page Builders

If you are using a page builder with WordPress theme, you will be pleased to know that Toolset Views integrates smoothly with Beaver Builder, Divi theme and Visual Composer.

And for advanced users, you can define the exact HTML, CSS and JS output that you want.

When you have finished composing, simply insert a shortcode to display the content template.

Use Case #3 – Use Content Templates to an entire single post or page

A content template selector will be available (top right of the WordPress Dashboard) to overwrite the entire post or page. Therefore, you get the option to switch different layouts for different individual posts!

Use Case #4 – Use Views with Content Template to build a custom loop view

Toolset Views allows you to create custom loops to display your custom posts and sort them according to your defined rules.

With reference to the “Press Release” example above, using views you can display the list of “Press releases” anywhere on you website.

Use Case #5 – Create a Advanced Search Feature

Create an advanced search feature that can search several Post types with pagination. For example, our WordPress Themes Directory is built this way.

Use Case #6 – Create or Replace WordPress Archive Pages

Toolset Views also allows you to create new Archive Pages or to replace an existing WordPress Archive. Hence, it allows you to include custom fields into your archive pages.

WordPress Custom Post Types, Custom Fields and Custom Taxonomies, are what makes customized WordPress functionalities possible. And it is just the iceberg of what Toolset can do.

Other plugins from the Toolset components includes:

CRED – Front-end content creation forms. 
Layouts – Drag-and-drop Bootstrap editor for pages and templates
Access – Access control and custom roles management
Maps – Display anything as markers on Google Maps

Update. Toolset now comes with tight integration with Astra, OceanWP, Genesis and Divi