[Steven Zahm]

When I release the update that contains the new Meta API and new Custom Metabox and Fields API I’m also going to post a new extension for Connections to the WP plugin repo for business hours. What’ll it’ll do is add a new field so one can enter business hours and it’ll add a new widget that can be added the to theme’s sidebar. The widget will only be shown when viewing a single entry and will display the business hours.

I think this will a great little way to expose the this new core functionality to everyone while I continue to develop other ways to better exploit it for users.

[Steven Zahm]

Here’s another interesting idea. Specialized templates that have add their own custom fields. Much like theme’s can do with posts. Very doable, easy infact, using what is already built.

[PG]

Thanks, Steven. I will check out your suggestions and I look forward to the update.

[PG]

Where would I find information on creating a specialized template?

[Steven Zahm]

@ PG

There is no step by step or tutorial available. All the doc is inline with the code.

I suggest referencing one of the core templates, such as the default template. The functions you can use are in the class.output.php file and the class.template-parts.php file. Both have a lot of documentation.

[ytayar1]

Hi there! Very interested by the api as well, and will be happy to be informed as soon as you go further in the project!
cheers

[Mathew Anderson]

Excellent, thank you Steven for working on custom fields. It should really go without saying that this is a feature that’s to be included. Especially when paying several dollars for extensions.

For my specific site, we want to present a range of events that users are going to, or that like, etc. So some of the custom fields will need to be dynamic and have a drop down selection or multi-checkbox feature if possible.

Keep up the good work! Great to see this.

[Susan Paigen]

Please add my voice to the request. HUGELY useful! I would like to be able to add at least 4 or 5 specific fields.
How would the contents of custom fields interact with search? Could they be used as a way to sort – eg (in shortcode) category=”blah” my_custom_field=”duh”?

[Steven Zahm]

@ Susan

Not certain about search yet. I think what I would have to do is create a Search API for Connections that way it could be extended easily. Search needs some serious love too…

I hadn’t thought about making the field data filterable by shortcode options. Since each custom field has to be registered with a unique ID thru the API, that ID could be the shortcode option name. I “just” have to come up with a way to let the shortcode know that it is a valid option and that it needs to query the meta data table. I’ve logged these under my notes for this feature so I can take them into account as I finish it.

[Eric]

Thanks Steven for the work on this! Please let us know if there’s any testing we can do to help out.

[Author]

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