Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums

Angelique · 11-04-2011, 03:52 AM

I want to add a business directory to my WP site, with drop down lists and maybe a keyword search. My goal is to include contact info, prices, a summary of what their business entails, and maybe a picture or two.

Any ideas on how I can implement this, without hiring a coder? (I'm considering that, but I just want to know what my options are.)

Came · 11-04-2011, 08:40 AM

You'll probably need a plugin for that and if you can't code php your self you'll need to hire someone. Let me recommend... well me!

I'm very affordable and good with php, send me an email to c.calcluth(at)btinternet.com Check out my portfolio here: Vermilion Site Web Design

Thanks

Angelique · 11-05-2011, 12:29 AM

Thank you, Came.

I will keep you in mind.

thirial · 11-14-2011, 08:00 PM

hey angelique is this for your quinceria site? i spent ages toying around with different wordpress directory plugins and most are bad but i got a good one, ill send it to you next time i see you on chat.

Angelique · 11-15-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thirial

hey angelique is this for your quinceria site? i spent ages toying around with different wordpress directory plugins and most are bad but i got a good one, ill send it to you next time i see you on chat.

Yep, it is. Great, thank you so much!

aussieNickuss · 11-19-2011, 07:44 AM

What you want to do can easily be accomplished with a custom post type. A custom post type is the same as a normal post, however you can specify a name, what options are available (eg. editor, thumbnail, custom fields etc.) and provide custom templates to display them. Once defined, they appear as a new sectio within wp-admin. For things like what you want to do, I always prefer to use CPTs because they leverage the default built-in functionality of Wordpress without having to create my own. Typically, you need to be a bit of a "coder" to implement them as they're defined through the functions.php file within your theme.

There are a couple of plugins out there that allow you to define custom post types and related taxonomies via wp-admin. Check out this one (not free... $20) which allows you to define a CPT, create custom taxonomies and setup all the custom fields you require.

Easy Content Types Plugin for WordPress | Pippin's Plugins

Have a squiz at the second video on that page. I think that will do everything you need to do.

Angelique · 11-20-2011, 03:39 AM

This makes a lot of sense to me. Actually, I was wondering if there was a solution like this.. or whether it'd be just fine to build a separate post/page for each listing.

Thank you, aussieNickuss!

aussieNickuss · 11-20-2011, 07:41 AM

No worries!

Custom post types are amazing. Prior to Wordpress 3.0 (or maybe it was 2.7... can't remember), if you wanted to use post-like functionality for anything other than blog posts, you would typically do it by creating a bunch of post categories and use the cumbersome custom fields feature to add extra meta data. You would then have to modify your themes to display the posts in a different fashion depending on what categories they had been assigned to.

I use them all the time with my client projects. Some examples have included a business directory like what you're seeking, events calendar, products database etc. It's CPTs that have basically turned Wordpress into a full-blown CMS rather than just a glorified blogging platform.

Read up on CPTs in more depth at the Wordpress Codex.... (bit techie over there... but worth a look anyway).

Post Types WordPress Codex

Angelique · 11-20-2011, 01:48 PM

This is great, aussieNickuss. I'm so glad you shared this with me, as I hadn't even heard the term 'custom post types' yet.

Aminka Ozmun · 11-22-2011, 03:46 PM

How integral is this directory to your site? The latest theme from Elegant Themes (my affiliate link), called "eList," turns your site into a traditional directory listing. It could be a jobs board, a dating service...anything Craig's List-like, basically.

If a directory is supposed to just be a part of your site, as opposed to the heart of it, you can still implement a whole theme (as opposed to just a plugin) by hosting it as a subdomain.

Angelique · 11-23-2011, 01:24 AM

Aminka Ozmun, this is the prettiest design I've seen for a directory, so far. I had no idea you could do that with a theme.

Thank you for the link and the tips!

Aminka Ozmun · 11-23-2011, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angelique

Aminka Ozmun, this is the prettiest design I've seen for a directory, so far. I had no idea you could do that with a theme.

Thank you for the link and the tips!

I'm glad it's useful! I use some of those themes for almost all my own sites so if you need help, feel free to PM me.

Angelique · 11-23-2011, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aminka Ozmun

I'm glad it's useful! I use some of those themes for almost all my own sites so if you need help, feel free to PM me.

Oh, cool. Thank you!

Whyshydude · 12-08-2011, 06:24 AM

I have sample for you, how wordpress can do? This my own Web site, with Wordpress. But in Indonesian

Simpli Software | Because we 're simpli software developers

11-04-2011, 03:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Angelique Family Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,760	Wordpress Directory I want to add a business directory to my WP site, with drop down lists and maybe a keyword search. My goal is to include contact info, prices, a summary of what their business entails, and maybe a picture or two. Any ideas on how I can implement this, without hiring a coder? (I'm considering that, but I just want to know what my options are.)

11-19-2011, 07:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
aussieNickuss Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Posts: 287	What you want to do can easily be accomplished with a custom post type. A custom post type is the same as a normal post, however you can specify a name, what options are available (eg. editor, thumbnail, custom fields etc.) and provide custom templates to display them. Once defined, they appear as a new sectio within wp-admin. For things like what you want to do, I always prefer to use CPTs because they leverage the default built-in functionality of Wordpress without having to create my own. Typically, you need to be a bit of a "coder" to implement them as they're defined through the functions.php file within your theme. There are a couple of plugins out there that allow you to define custom post types and related taxonomies via wp-admin. Check out this one (not free... $20) which allows you to define a CPT, create custom taxonomies and setup all the custom fields you require. Easy Content Types Plugin for WordPress \| Pippin's Plugins Have a squiz at the second video on that page. I think that will do everything you need to do. Last edited by aussieNickuss; 11-19-2011 at 07:48 AM.

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11-04-2011, 08:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Came Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK Posts: 50	You'll probably need a plugin for that and if you can't code php your self you'll need to hire someone. Let me recommend... well me! I'm very affordable and good with php, send me an email to c.calcluth(at)btinternet.com Check out my portfolio here: Vermilion Site Web Design Thanks

11-05-2011, 12:29 AM	#3 (permalink)
Angelique Family Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,760	Thank you, Came. I will keep you in mind.

11-14-2011, 08:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
thirial Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ecuadorian Andes Posts: 124	hey angelique is this for your quinceria site? i spent ages toying around with different wordpress directory plugins and most are bad but i got a good one, ill send it to you next time i see you on chat.

11-20-2011, 03:39 AM	#7 (permalink)
Angelique Family Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,760	This makes a lot of sense to me. Actually, I was wondering if there was a solution like this.. or whether it'd be just fine to build a separate post/page for each listing. Thank you, aussieNickuss!

11-20-2011, 07:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
aussieNickuss Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Posts: 287	No worries! Custom post types are amazing. Prior to Wordpress 3.0 (or maybe it was 2.7... can't remember), if you wanted to use post-like functionality for anything other than blog posts, you would typically do it by creating a bunch of post categories and use the cumbersome custom fields feature to add extra meta data. You would then have to modify your themes to display the posts in a different fashion depending on what categories they had been assigned to. I use them all the time with my client projects. Some examples have included a business directory like what you're seeking, events calendar, products database etc. It's CPTs that have basically turned Wordpress into a full-blown CMS rather than just a glorified blogging platform. Read up on CPTs in more depth at the Wordpress Codex.... (bit techie over there... but worth a look anyway). Post Types WordPress Codex

11-20-2011, 01:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
Angelique Family Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,760	This is great, aussieNickuss. I'm so glad you shared this with me, as I hadn't even heard the term 'custom post types' yet.

11-22-2011, 03:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
Aminka Ozmun Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: New York City Posts: 209	How integral is this directory to your site? The latest theme from Elegant Themes (my affiliate link), called "eList," turns your site into a traditional directory listing. It could be a jobs board, a dating service...anything Craig's List-like, basically. If a directory is supposed to just be a part of your site, as opposed to the heart of it, you can still implement a whole theme (as opposed to just a plugin) by hosting it as a subdomain.

11-23-2011, 01:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
Angelique Family Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 1,760	Aminka Ozmun, this is the prettiest design I've seen for a directory, so far. I had no idea you could do that with a theme. Thank you for the link and the tips!

12-08-2011, 06:24 AM	#14 (permalink)
Whyshydude Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Bandung, Indonesia Posts: 177	I have sample for you, how wordpress can do? This my own Web site, with Wordpress. But in Indonesian Simpli Software \| Because we 're simpli software developers

Personal Development for Smart PeopleTM Forums

Personal Development for Smart People^TM Forums