If it is not too much to ask the client to put shortcodes on the page, you could create a shortcode that takes a parameter (or multiple shortcodes – one for each layout) that would define the layout and content.
You might need to use a global value to keep track of how many posts have been shown so the next query will know how many to offset.
I think a shortcode could work. Any links you could point me to, that would show me how this is done?
Thanks!
Also, I guess another way to look at this would be custom post type templates for the homepage, so if I’m using custom post type 01, then I dynamically load custom-post-01.php, if it’s custom post type 02, then use custom-post-02.php to display the posts.
Is that possible? I’ve been searching but all I’ve found is single.php and archive.php info for custom post type templates. These are posts, not pages.
I think this is getting beyond the scope of what can be done in this forum. However, here is a general outline of what I think will work:
- Create a static front page that the client will edit to place the shortcodes in the desired location.
- Create a template for the static front page.
- Create one or more shortcodes to display the desired category (or custom post type) and number of posts.
- Assign the new front page as the static page in Admin->Settings->Reading.
I would not tie the post category or type to the number of posts to show because the client may (probably will) change their mind in the future. So, I would suggest something like this:
[show-post-group type='type1' number='6']
This would show a group of 6 posts of type1.
Here is a tutorial on shortcodes:
http://wp.tutsplus.com/tutorials/theme-development/wordpress-shortcodes-the-right-way/
A Google search on ‘wordpress shortcode tutorial’ will find several more.
