Custom fields
There are several custom fields used with this theme. You don’t have to use all of them. Which ones you’ll use depends on the layout options you choose.
Most custom fields are used to compliment your home page sections or your sidebar.
If you don’t know how to use custom fields, here are a few guides to get you started.
- My personal custom field tutorial series
- The WordPress Codex’s article on using custom fields
- The undersigned’s how-to tutorial
Don’t bother with the next section until you know how to use custom fields.
Navigate your way through the individual custom fields and other sections:
- The custom fields
- Image
- Image Alt
- Thumbnail
- Thumbnail Alt
- Thumbnail Large
- Thumbnail Large Alt
- Feature Image
- Feature Image Alt
- Feature Full
- Feature Full Alt
- Video
- Asides Link
- Asides Title
- Subtitle
- Stack Order
- Turn off custom fields (single posts)
The custom fields
Each heading indicates the custom field Key. Every Key will have a list of files that uses it.
Be sure to note that all custom fields are case-sensitive. For example, “Image Alt” is not the same as “image alt,” “Image alt,” or “image-alt.” I use a simple custom field naming convention. Each word in the Key name is capitalized. If there is more than one word, then there is a space in between the words.
It’s also important to note that each stylesheet might vary a bit on the size of custom field images.
Image
This image has no style rules that define its size. It should be mainly used for creating images on your post pages.
Files used in: single.php, full-posts.php
Image Alt
This custom field is meant to accompany the Image custom field. It just gives your image the alt text you define. The default is the post title.
Files used in: single.php, full-posts.php
Thumbnail
Displays a thumbnail-sized image in many files. It will be 100 x 100 px in most stylesheets. It’s the most-used custom field in the theme.
Files used in: recent.php, category-thumbnail-tabs.php, category-sections.php, category-blocks.php, excerpts.php, single.php, full-posts.php, search.php, archive.php
Thumbnail Alt
This custom field is meant to accompany Thumbnail. Just input your custom alt text for the image. Defaults to the post title.
Files used in: recent.php, category-thumbnail-tabs.php, category-sections.php, category-blocks.php, excerpts.php, single.php, full-posts.php, search.php, archive.php
Thumbnail Large
Custom field for displaying large thumbnails. Most stylesheets will set a width of around 265px for this image.
Files used in: category-thumbnail-tabs.php, category-sections.php, category-blocks.php, excerpts.php, single.php, full-posts.php
Thumbnail Large Alt
Used for the accompanying alt text to the Thumbnail Large custom field. Defaults to the post title.
Files used in: category-thumbnail-tabs.php, category-sections.php, category-blocks.php, excerpts.php, single.php, full-posts.php
Feature Image
An image used for feature articles. The typical stylesheet will set it at 300 x 175 px for default.
Files used in: feature.php, features-gallery.php, features-numbers.php, full-posts.php, single.php
Feature Image Alt
Input your alt text to go with the Feature image.
Files used in: feature.php, features-gallery.php, features-numbers.php, full-posts.php, single.php
Feature Full
Image to use for the features gallery. There is no default size, but the outside container has a fixed width. For optimal image viewing with most stylesheets, you’ll need to crop your image to 588 x 240 px.
Files used in: features-gallery.php
Feature Full Alt
Alt text that accompanies Feature Full.
Files used in: features-gallery.php
Video
Input a video embed URL from sites like YouTube, Google Video, or MetaCafe to show on your site. Read how to add videos to understand how this custom field works.
Files used in: video-sidebar.php, video-non-posted.php, video-numbers.php, video-tabbed.php, full-posts.php, single.php
Asides Link
Link to a page outside of your site with your asides. Just provide a valid URL. Defaults to your post’s permalink.
Files used in: asides.php
Asides Title
Title of your Aside Link. Maybe you might want to make it something catchy.
Files used in: asides.php
Subtitle
This is a custom field for displaying a subtitle to your posts or pages in the title bar of the browser. It’s nothing special, but it could help a little with SEO.
Files used in: single.php
The stack order
The custom fields have what I call a stack order. That means, if more than one is used in a particular file, then one may override the other, at least as far as images are concerned.
- Image
- Feature Full
- Feature Image
- Thumbnail Large
- Thumbnail
Remember that not all files use the same custom fields, so that custom field would be removed from that stack.
Turning off custom fields for single posts
Custom fields can be turned off in “single.php” and “full-posts.php” by editing the file. You need to change $show_custom_fields to false if you don’t want to use them on your single post pages.
// Show custom fields?
// $show_custom_fields = false;
$show_custom_fields = true;