Add metabox "featured" content and show checked content in theme files

I think you’re definitely on the right track with a custom field and a custom meta box but having a checkbox for the custom field could add an extra layer of complexity. I’d suggest that you start with something a lot simpler. Create a custom meta box called “featured” and just enter “yes” into a basic text input. Then construct your query based upon something like:

$query = new WP_Query( array( 'meta_key' => 'featured', 'meta_value' => 'yes' ) );

and see how that goes. You could then look at turning the custom meta text input into a checkbox alter on.

Just had another idea of a way to approach this. What about hijacking post formats? If you added theme support for the “status” format (for example), the client could then mark featured posts as “status” and you could add:

array(
	'taxonomy' => 'post_format',
	'field' => 'slug',
	'terms' => array( 'post-format-status' )
)

to your query. I’ve not tried this myself and it is a but hackish but it would be very quick to code. ??

hmm i’m intrigued by your idea using post formats…

Thing is that clients love it when stuff is named for what it is, where they have… well somewhat of a point, but I certainly will think this over.

Starting to get late here.
Thanks and i’ll let you know.

Paul

Yeah, well… kinda does what it needs to…

got this in functions.php

add_theme_support( 'post-formats', array('status'));
add_post_type_support( 'page', 'post-formats' );

and this for the loop (this probably could be a little cleaner)

<section>
    <article id="">
		<?php $args = array(
    		'tax_query' => array(
        		array(
        		'taxonomy' => 'post_format',
        		'field'    => 'slug',
        		'terms'    => 'post-format-status'
        		)
    		)
        );
        query_posts( $args );
        if ( have_posts() ) : while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
            the_title();
            echo '<br />';
            endwhile; else:
            echo 'no';
            endif;
            wp_reset_query();
        ?>
	</article>
</section>

Now if I could rename status in Featured someway… that possible?
I love the easiness but think my client prefers a more… tailored solution.

Paul

I had a look through the core scripts in the hopes of finding a filter that you could use to change the label text but there’s nothing ??

Looks like it’s back to the custom meta box solution…

Hmm… must say, really liking this codewise, quick clean and simple.

It’s just a matter of educating the people who will be using it. Nevertheless still good practice to fiddle with the meta-box.

Ill update when I have something new, maybe somebody else takes a peak here and post’s some other thoughts.

thanks.
Paul

I’ve dropped the code I’ve used previously to create text-based meta boxes into https://pastebin.com/hZpnmhGd Not sating it’s perfect but I do try to build using recommended best WP practices. The code is commented, so there may be bits in there that you can re-use.

wow thanks a allot!
again, ill keep you posted.

No problem ??

If I am reading this right you want to dispaly a checkbox and set this to true if it is in the post meta?

If so this will display a checkbox and check it if it is set true in the post meta!

<tr class="form-field">
	<th scope="row" valign="top"><label for="my_cb"><?php _e('My Checkbox'); ?></label></th>
	<td>
		<?php if( get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'my_cb', true ) ){ $checked = "checked=\"checked\""; }else{ $checked = "";} ?>
		<input style="float:left; width: 15px; border: none;" type="checkbox" id="my_cb" name="my_cb" value="true" <?php echo $checked; ?> />
	</td>
</tr>

Could shorten the $checked to something like:

<?php $checked= get_post_meta( $post->ID, 'my_cb', true ) ? "checked=\"checked\"" : ""; ?>

HTH

David

I do have a couple of post with downloadable child themes that might help, between the two.
This Page of Posts has meta textboxes, and select dropdown boxes.

This one extends the categories with additional boxes including a check box.

HTH

David

Hey thanks,

Ill check in to that… will let you know!

Paul

I found this…

Only gives a parse error for me in an empty functions.php.

But the description does exactly what I need.

Like Esmi’s idea… but without post format. (what by the way works great), only I want to try and get it a bit more user friendly… and what if I need the post-format for something else later on….

So I have a checkbox in post and page edit page where I can select if it is featured content or not.

So on index.php we can get it by a query like:

[Code moderated as per the Forum Rules. The maximum number of lines of code that you can post in these forums is ten lines. Please use the pastebin]