Title: News & Blog Layout Builder Author: Jpadweb Published: September 3, 2026 Last modified: September 3, 2026 --- Search plugins ![](https://ps.w.org/news-blog-layout-builder/assets/banner-772x250.png?rev=3680002) ![](https://ps.w.org/news-blog-layout-builder/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=3680002) # News & Blog Layout Builder By [Jpadweb](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jpadweb/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/news-blog-layout-builder.1.0.0.zip) * [Details](https://wordpress.org/plugins/news-blog-layout-builder/#description) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/plugins/news-blog-layout-builder/#reviews) * [Installation](https://wordpress.org/plugins/news-blog-layout-builder/#installation) * [Development](https://wordpress.org/plugins/news-blog-layout-builder/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/news-blog-layout-builder/) ## Description News & Blog Layout Builder displays WordPress posts in six layout types: Grid, Slider, Carousel, List, Masonry, and Gridbox. Each layout has two designs. You can output layouts with a shortcode, a saved custom layout, or a sidebar widget. #### Getting started 1. Activate the plugin and open **Layout Builder** in the admin menu. 2. Go to **Shortcode Generator**, choose a layout and design, then adjust query and display options. 3. Use the live preview to check the result, then click **Copy Shortcode**. 4. Paste the shortcode into a page, post, Shortcode block, or widget area. 5. Optionally open **All Layouts Add New** to save a reusable layout and embed it with `[nwblb_posts layout_id="123"]`. 6. Use **Style Manager** for global card style, spacing, colors, and image defaults. Use **Settings** for featured image fallbacks and related options. #### Layouts * **Grid** – Multi-column post cards (Design 1 and Design 2) * **Slider** – One post per slide with autoplay, arrows, and dots (Design 1 and Design 2) * **Carousel** – Multiple slides visible at once (Design 1 and Design 2) * **List** – Vertical list of posts (Design 1 and Design 2) * **Masonry** – Variable-height masonry arrangement (Design 1 and Design 2) * **Gridbox** – Featured post with supporting posts beside it (Design 1 and Design 2) #### Admin screens * **Dashboard** – Overview and shortcuts to the main tools * **Shortcode Generator** – Build a layout with live preview and copy the shortcode * **Layout Builder (All Layouts)** – Create and edit saved layouts * **Style Manager** – Set global defaults for card style, gap, radius, accent colors, and images * **Settings** – Featured image fallbacks and plugin options * **How to Use** – In-admin examples and guidance #### Widget Add the **News & Blog Posts** widget under **Appearance Widgets**. * Design 1: image, date, and title * Design 2: image, category, title, and date * Optional category filter and post count #### Shortcode Default shortcode (uses Style Manager defaults where applicable): ``` [nwblb_posts] ``` Saved layout: ``` [nwblb_posts layout_id="123"] ``` Custom example: ``` [nwblb_posts layout="grid" design="1" category="news" limit="6" columns="3" pagination="yes"] ``` #### Common shortcode parameters * **Layout** layout=”grid” (Values: grid, slider, carousel, list, masonry, gridbox) * **Design** design=”1″ (Values: 1 or 2) * **Saved layout** layout_id=”123″ (Use a layout created under Layout Builder All Layouts) * **Post limit** limit=”6″ (Number of posts. Use -1 to show all posts within the max limit) * **Offset** offset=”0″ (Number of posts to skip from the start of the query) * **Category** category=”news” OR category=”news,sports” (Filter by category slug or comma-separated slugs) * **Columns (Grid & Masonry)** columns=”3″ (Values: 1 to 12) * **Order** order=”DESC” (Values: DESC or ASC) * **Order by** orderby=”date” (Values: date, title, comment_count, rand, modified) * **Pagination** pagination=”yes” (Values: yes or no. Not used for Slider and Carousel layouts) * **Show featured image** show_image=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show date** show_date=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show author** show_author=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show category** show_category=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show excerpt** show_excerpt=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Excerpt length** excerpt_length=”20″ (Number of words) * **Show read more** show_read_more=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Read more text** read_more_text=”Read More” (Custom button label) * **Show icons** show_icons=”yes” (Values: yes or no. Uses WordPress Dashicons) * **Link category** link_category=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Link author** link_author=”no” (Values: yes or no) * **Link date** link_date=”no” (Values: yes or no) * **Card style** card_style=”bordered” (Values: bordered, shadow, flat) * **Gap** gap=”24″ (Spacing between cards in pixels) * **Border radius** border_radius=”4″ (Corner radius in pixels) * **Accent color** accent_color=”#c62828″ (Hex color for links and accents) * **Accent hover color** accent_hover_color=”#9a1e1e” (Hex hover color) * **Image mode** image_mode=”ratio” (Values: ratio or size) * **Image ratio** image_ratio=”auto” (Values: auto, 16-9, 4-3, 1-1. Used when image_mode is ratio) * **Image size** image_size=”medium” (WordPress image size slug. Used when image_mode is size) * **Custom CSS class** class=”my-custom-class” (Additional CSS classes on the layout wrapper) #### Slider shortcode parameters ``` [nwblb_posts layout="slider"] ``` * **Autoplay** autoplay=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Autoplay interval** autoplay_interval=”5000″ (Milliseconds between slides) * **Show arrows** show_arrows=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show dots** show_dots=”yes” (Values: yes or no) #### Carousel shortcode parameters ``` [nwblb_posts layout="carousel"] ``` * **Slides to show** slides_to_show=”3″ (Values: 1 to 6) * **Slides to scroll** slides_to_scroll=”1″ (Values: 1 to 6) * **Autoplay** autoplay=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Autoplay interval** autoplay_interval=”5000″ (Milliseconds between slides) * **Show arrows** show_arrows=”yes” (Values: yes or no) * **Show dots** show_dots=”yes” (Values: yes or no) #### Pagination Numeric pagination is available for Grid, List, Masonry, and Gridbox. It uses WordPress` paginate_links()` and works with `/page/2/` permalinks (or `?paged=2` when pretty permalinks are off). Slider and Carousel do not use pagination. #### Featured image fallbacks If a post has no featured image, you can enable these options under **Layout Builder Settings**: * Use the first image from the post content * Use a default image from the media library #### Developer hooks * `nwblb_query_args` – Filter the main post query arguments * `nwblb_public_post_types` – Add post types to admin selectors * `nwblb_template_path` – Override layout template file paths * `nwblb_paginate_links_args` – Customize pagination output * custom_param_1 and `custom_param_2` can pass URL query values into custom filtering through the `nwblb_query_args` hook. #### Third-party libraries * [Swiper](https://swiperjs.com/) 11.2.10 (MIT License) – Bundled in `assets/vendor/ swiper/` for Slider and Carousel. No CDN is used at runtime. The plugin does not collect, store, or send personal data to remote services. ## Screenshots [⌊Plugin Dashboard – overview of published posts, custom layouts, and quick links to Shortcode Generator and Layout Builder.⌉⌊Plugin Dashboard – overview of published posts, custom layouts, and quick links to Shortcode Generator and Layout Builder .⌉[ Plugin Dashboard – overview of published posts, custom layouts, and quick links to Shortcode Generator and Layout Builder. [⌊Shortcode Generator – choose a layout, configure query and style options, and preview the result live before copying the shortcode.⌉⌊Shortcode Generator – choose a layout, configure query and style options, and preview the result live before copying the shortcode.⌉[ Shortcode Generator – choose a layout, configure query and style options, and preview the result live before copying the shortcode. [⌊Style Manager – set global defaults for card style, gap, border radius, accent colors, and image ratio applied across all layouts.⌉⌊Style Manager – set global defaults for card style, gap, border radius, accent colors, and image ratio applied across all layouts.⌉[ Style Manager – set global defaults for card style, gap, border radius, accent colors, and image ratio applied across all layouts. [⌊Settings – select post types, configure featured image fallbacks, manage Swiper. js loading, and control uninstall behaviour.⌉⌊Settings – select post types, configure featured image fallbacks, manage Swiper.js loading, and control uninstall behaviour .⌉[ Settings – select post types, configure featured image fallbacks, manage Swiper. js loading, and control uninstall behaviour. [⌊How to Use – two-step guide with shortcode examples and a list of all 6 available layout types (Grid, Slider, Carousel, List, Masonry, Gridbox).⌉⌊How to Use – two- step guide with shortcode examples and a list of all 6 available layout types (Grid, Slider, Carousel, List, Masonry, Gridbox).⌉[ How to Use – two-step guide with shortcode examples and a list of all 6 available layout types (Grid, Slider, Carousel, List, Masonry, Gridbox). [⌊All Layouts – manage all your saved custom layouts, see their shortcode and type at a glance, and add new ones.⌉⌊All Layouts – manage all your saved custom layouts, see their shortcode and type at a glance, and add new ones.⌉[ All Layouts – manage all your saved custom layouts, see their shortcode and type at a glance, and add new ones. [⌊Edit Layout – full layout editor with Layout, Query, Style, Display settings, and a live preview, plus a Copy Shortcode button in the sidebar.⌉⌊Edit Layout – full layout editor with Layout, Query, Style, Display settings, and a live preview, plus a Copy Shortcode button in the sidebar.⌉[ Edit Layout – full layout editor with Layout, Query, Style, Display settings, and a live preview, plus a Copy Shortcode button in the sidebar. ## Installation 1. Upload the `news-blog-layout-builder` folder to the `/wp-content/plugins/` directory, or install the plugin through the **Plugins Add New** screen in WordPress. 2. Activate **News & Blog Layout Builder** through the **Plugins** menu in WordPress. 3. Go to **Layout Builder** in the admin menu. 4. Open **Shortcode Generator** to build a layout with live preview, or go to **All Layouts** to create a saved custom layout. 5. Copy the shortcode and paste it into a page, post, Shortcode block, or widget area. **Tip:** To display posts on a dedicated blog page, create a new Page, add the shortcode, and publish. Do not set that page as the **Posts page** under **Settings Reading**. ## FAQ ### How do I display posts with this plugin? Go to **Layout Builder Shortcode Generator**, choose a layout and design, adjust the settings, preview the result, then click **Copy Shortcode**. Paste the shortcode into any page or post. ### Can I save a layout and reuse it? Yes. Go to **Layout Builder All Layouts Add New**, configure your layout in the Layout Settings panel, publish, and use the shortcode shown in the sidebar: `[nwblb_posts layout_id="YOUR_ID"]`. ### Where can I find all shortcode parameters? Open **Layout Builder Shortcode Generator** or **Layout Builder How to Use** for examples. This readme also lists all available attributes under **Description**. ### Which post types are supported? The plugin displays the built-in WordPress **Post** type. You can filter posts by category slug. ### Can I filter by multiple categories? Yes. Pass comma-separated category slugs to the `category` attribute, for example:` category="news,sports"`. ### Does pagination work with all layouts? Numeric pagination works with Grid, List, Masonry, and Gridbox. Slider and Carousel do not use pagination. ### Can I use a widget instead of a shortcode? Yes. Add the **News & Blog Posts** widget under **Appearance Widgets**. Choose Design 1 or Design 2, set the number of posts, and optionally filter by category. ### Will this plugin work with my theme? Yes. News & Blog Layout Builder works with any WordPress theme. Minor CSS adjustments may be needed to match your theme’s typography or spacing. ### Does this plugin collect any data? No. The plugin does not collect, store, or transmit personal data to external services. ### Will updating or replacing the plugin delete my layouts and settings? No. Updates and replacing plugin files keep your saved layouts, style defaults, and settings. Data is removed only if you enable **Remove plugin data when the plugin is deleted** under **Layout Builder Settings** and then delete the plugin from the Plugins screen. ### Is News & Blog Layout Builder compatible with the block editor? Yes. Paste the generated shortcode into a **Shortcode** block, or use the classic editor. The Layout Builder and Shortcode Generator work in the WordPress admin. ## Reviews There are no reviews for this plugin. ## Contributors & Developers “News & Blog Layout Builder” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Jpadweb ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jpadweb/) * [ Jagir Bahesh ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jagirbahesh/) * [ Komal Vaja ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/komalvaja/) [Translate “News & Blog Layout Builder” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/news-blog-layout-builder) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/news-blog-layout-builder/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/news-blog-layout-builder/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/news-blog-layout-builder/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/news-blog-layout-builder/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.0.0 * Initial release. * 6 layouts (Grid, Slider, Carousel, List, Masonry, Gridbox) with 2 designs each. * Shortcode Generator with live AJAX preview. * Custom Layout Builder with saved layouts and copy shortcode. * Style Manager for global default styling. * Settings for featured image fallbacks. * News & Blog Posts widget with 2 designs. * Numeric pagination for Grid, List, Masonry, and Gridbox. * Bundled Swiper library for Slider and Carousel (no CDN). ## Meta * Version **1.0.0** * Last updated **1 day ago** * Active installations **Fewer than 10** * WordPress version ** 5.8 or higher ** * Tested up to **7.1** * PHP version ** 7.4 or higher ** * Tags * [blog](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/blog/)[masonry](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/masonry/) [news](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/news/)[post grid](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/post-grid/) [shortcode](https://wordpress.org/plugins/tags/shortcode/) * [Advanced View](https://wordpress.org/plugins/news-blog-layout-builder/advanced/) ## Ratings No reviews have been submitted yet. [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/news-blog-layout-builder/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/news-blog-layout-builder/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Jpadweb ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jpadweb/) * [ Jagir Bahesh ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/jagirbahesh/) * [ Komal Vaja ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/komalvaja/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/news-blog-layout-builder/)