ACPT

WordPress is a fantastic platform for building anything from simple blogs to complex business sites, and while it works well out of the box, sometimes you need to go beyond the default post types (Post, Page, etc.). That’s where custom post types come in, and tools like the ACPT (Advanced Custom Post Types) WordPress plugin can help you get there.

Today, we’ll walk through ACPT’s features, setup process, and its features, all based on our first-look experience. Whether you build client sites or manage your own, this overview can help you decide if ACPT fits your project needs.

How to Get the Best Deal on ACPT

InfluenceWP has an exclusive ACPT deal.

Custom Post Types Explained: Expanding WordPress Beyond Posts and Pages

Many WordPress users don’t realize that WordPress includes several built-in post types:

• Post (Post Type: ‘post’)
• Page (Post Type: ‘page’)
• Attachment (Post Type: ‘attachment’)
• Revision (Post Type: ‘revision’)
• Navigation menu (Post Type: ‘nav_menu_item’)
• Block templates (Post Type: ‘wp_template’)
• Template parts (Post Type: ‘wp_template_part’)

Most people create blog posts and static pages, but custom post types let you create entirely new types of content. Want a dedicated area for recipes that’s not mixed with blog posts? Or maybe a portfolio, testimonials, or product listings? That’s where custom post types shine.

Custom post types are even more powerful when paired with:

• Taxonomies: A way to group or classify data within WordPress (e.g., categories, tags).
• Custom Fields: Allow for the storage of additional information associated with posts, pages, or custom post types beyond the standard content fields.
• Option Pages: Dedicated settings pages for specific custom post types, separate from the default WordPress settings pages.
• Hierarchical Structures: Parent and child content relationships (e.g., category and subcategory).

This mix lets you organize your site however you want. For instance, a “Recipe” custom post type could use custom taxonomies like “Cuisine” or “Course” and custom fields for prep time or difficulty.

ACPT Plugin Overview and a Tour of acpt.io

ACPT stands for Advanced Custom Post Type, and it aims to be your all-in-one tool for creating and managing custom post types, taxonomies, fields, and front-end forms, all from your WordPress dashboard.

Visit the official ACPT website (not .com, but .io). Here you’ll find:

• Roadmap: Track features in progress and upcoming releases.
• Change Log: See when the last updates and improvements were made.
• Documentation: Two extensive documentation versions to help guide you.
• Affiliate Program: For agencies or power users interested in referrals.

You can also put a face to the team, with Morrow, the founder, being notably responsive and open to feedback. The ACPT team keeps the roadmap updated, which signals active development. For InfluenceWP followers, there’s an exclusive ACPT discount available.

How to Set Up ACPT in WordPress

Getting ACPT up and running is straightforward, but it helps to know what to expect. Here’s how the process looks:

1. Install ACPT on your WordPress site.
2. Activate your license. If you run into trouble (like a license key that won’t copy properly), check the plugin’s support or documentation for tips.
3. Explore the settings. After activation, ACPT adds a clear menu in your dashboard. Jump into the settings:
   • Language: Pick your preferred language.
   • Skin color: Choose between light and dark mode.
   • Records per page: Set how many list items display by default.
   • Beta versions: If you’re experimenting, you can enable beta features (avoid this on a live site).
4. Enable core features: Make sure the options for custom post types, taxonomies, meta fields, option pages, and forms are turned on.
5. Connect external services: Integrate APIs like Google Maps or enable reCAPTCHA for added functionality.
6. Performance settings: ACPT includes a cache with a clear flush option for troubleshooting display issues during setup.
7. Danger zone: Remove all plugin data from your database if you ever uninstall, keeping your WordPress setup tidy.
8. Tools: Access data export and import options, as well as health checks and an API dashboard.

Each menu item is well-labeled, making it less daunting. If you’re a developer or power user, you’ll appreciate these administrative tools. Beginners can stick to the basics and turn on features as needed.

Building a “Recipe” Custom Post Type: A Guided Walkthrough

Let’s walk through creating a dedicated “Recipe” area using ACPT. This example covers the core steps that apply to other content types as well.

Creating the Post Type

1. Go to “Custom Post Types” and register a new type.
2. Set the slug: Use “recipe” so URLs look like /recipe/my-greek-salad/.
3. Set the singular and plural labels: “Recipe” and “Recipes.”
4. Pick an icon: Choose a food-related icon or upload your own.
5. Select supported features: Decide if you need the title, editor, thumbnail, excerpt, author info, or revisions.
6. Customize the admin language and settings: You can change the UI label to something like “Add New Recipe.”

By default, hierarchy is off (recipes can’t be parents of other recipes), and visibility is set to public and user-friendly. These defaults work for most content types.

Once saved, “Recipes” now appears as a menu item in your WordPress dashboard. A table view shows which taxonomies are attached, relevant field groups, and available actions like edit, duplicate, or export.

Key Settings for Post Types

• Slug: The URL-friendly version of your type (e.g., recipe).
• Icon: Adds visual clarity in the dashboard.
• Supported Features: Decide what editors and custom fields are available.
• Visibility: Controls if users can view, query, or edit the content.
• Show in Menu/UI: Sets where it appears within WordPress.

Sticking with default settings is fine for most users, but exploring advanced options gives more control as your needs grow.

Adding and Connecting Taxonomies

Custom taxonomies let you classify your recipes in helpful ways beyond the WordPress basics.

Here’s how to set one up:

1. Visit “Taxonomies” and register a new one.
2. Choose a slug and labels: For example, “recipe-category” for the slug, “Recipe Category” singular, and “Recipe Categories” plural.
3. Adjust settings: Decide if it’s hierarchical (like nested categories) and whether it’s public.
4. Associate taxonomy with your post type: If you skip this step, your taxonomy won’t show up in the recipe editor screen.

Now, add some taxonomy terms, maybe “Italian” and “Greek.” You can add as many as you like, making it easier to filter and group recipes.

By keeping the taxonomy setup flexible, you help future-proof your content. Adding more categories or tags later takes only a few clicks.

Glossary Tip:

• Hierarchical: Categories can have parents and children, like “European” > “Greek.”
• Term: An individual category or tag under a taxonomy.

Creating Option Pages for Recipes

ACPT lets you add custom option pages to your admin dashboard. These are useful for managing global settings relevant to your new post type.

To create an option page:

1. Register a new option page.
2. Set a page title (“Recipe Options”) and menu title.
3. Choose a menu icon, like a gear.
4. Pick where it appears in the menu (after Recipes).
5. Add a description or child pages if needed (optional).
6. Save and check your WordPress admin to see the new page.

Option pages can hold sitewide custom fields or act as a settings panel for your custom post type.

Field Groups and Meta Boxes: Adding Custom Data Fields

Field groups and meta boxes let you attach extra data to your custom post type. For recipes, maybe you want users to choose a category.

1. Create a new field group and set the display style and priority.
2. Set the location: E.g., show this field group when editing “Recipes.”
3. Add fields: Choose a name, slug, and field type (for categories, use “term” to connect to your taxonomy).
4. Describe the field and set defaults if needed.

Delete accidental field groups so your setup stays clean. When you add a new recipe, you’ll now see this new field at the bottom of the editor interface, letting you pick categories or enter custom data.

Adding a Recipe: The Content Creation Process

With your custom post type, taxonomy, option page, and field group in place, it’s time to add your first recipe.

• Go to “Recipes” in the dashboard and select “Add New.”
• Fill in the title and description, and optionally upload a featured image.
• Use your new meta box to set the recipe category (e.g., Greek).
• Publish the post and preview it.

The recipe now lives in its dedicated area, separate from blog posts and pages. Just note, the look and navigation of the recipe section depend on your active theme. You’ll often need to build or link category/archive pages in your menu for public visitors to find your new content.

Building Front-End Submission Forms for Recipes

One of ACPT’s standout features is the ability to create front-end forms so users or team members can submit content without going through the WordPress backend.

Here’s how you can set up a basic “Recipe Submission” form:

1. In the ACPT menu, click “Forms” and create a new form.
2. Give your form a label and slug (e.g., “Recipe Form”).
3. Set the action type: Choose “post management” so the form adds a new post.
4. Customize your success message, such as “Your recipe was successfully added!”
5. Decide if users should be redirected to another page after they submit.
6. Set which post type this form relates to (e.g., Recipes).
7. Choose the post status after submission (published, draft, etc.).
8. Add fields: For example, add a “recipe categories” field linked to your custom taxonomy.
9. Use the shortcode generated by ACPT to embed the form in any page.
10. Publish the page and check the front-end form.

If your form doesn’t show up, you might need to clear your website’s caching. Double-check all settings, as missing steps can cause confusion.

When live, the form lets anyone (with permission) submit a new recipe. For site owners, this opens opportunities for user-generated content, guest recipes, or remote team input.

Keep in mind that design and styling rely on your theme and any extra CSS you might want to add. ACPT gives you CSS variables to help tailor the appearance to fit your site.

Final Thoughts

Are you prepared to transition from mere curiosity to actual implementation? We invite you to explore the ACPT official documentation and review their demo examples for further inspiration.

ACPT brings serious power to custom content in WordPress. If you run sites with specialty content or want to organize things beyond the basic blog, it’s a tool worth testing. With a bit of patience and attention to detail, you can set up everything from recipes to portfolios or directories and put your WordPress site in a league of its own.

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