Appleton Theme: Questions about Portfolios
-
Hey folks,
Adding some follow-up thoughts/issues following https://wordpress.com/forums/topic/gallery-by-category/: the OP in that thread is currently using Appleton on their site https://wordpress.com/theme/appleton and that theme is described as a portfolio theme.
Appleton is a portfolio theme with a clean layout, designed to help you showcase your images with minimal distractions.
However, after reading the theme showcase page and activating the theme on my Private test site, it’s not clear what makes it a portfolio theme or how to make it so.
I understand the older way of adding Projects to a site, which also automatically generates a Portfolio Archive page /portfolio/ but then there’s no Template to edit in the Site Editor if I want to change only the Portfolio page layout.
Next I tried manually adding a regular Page with the Portfolio shortcode instead, but it showed up as /portfolio-2/ in the navigation. I deleted (not trashed) that page since.
Then I tried creating a new Page Template (projects home template) with a query loop pattern and it also showed up as /portfolio-2/ in navigation.
The only solution I could come up with for the navigation issue was to make that page slug /projects/ and rename the menu navigation label Portfolio in the Customizer.
Any insights on how users can add Portfolio pages/projects to a FSE theme and how that process can be made easier is appreciated. TIA
Heading offline now to soak my overheated head in a bowl of ice water. 😉
The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)
-
Hello Jennifer,
Happy to help you with this.
The Appleton demo doesn’t have a portfolio page, so I can sympathise with your thoughts on what makes this a portfolio template. https://appletondemo.wordpress.com/
For the win, having taken a look at the test site, you’ve done the right thing there by using the query loop with the project template.
If you change https://teachandtestsite.wordpress.com/projects/ to https://teachandtestsite.wordpress.com/portfolio/ dos the page not work?
Many thanks.
-
Hi Adam,
If you change https://teachandtestsite.wordpress.com/projects/ to https://teachandtestsite.wordpress.com/portfolio/ dos the page not work?
The /projects/ slug is then automatically changed to /portfolio-2/ because /portfolio/ is reserved for the autogenerated portfolio page, which cannot be edited.
Regardless, even if the Portfolio slug is /projects/ projects themselves appear at /portfolio/project-x/ (?!?)
But beyond the page slug issue, just the *need* to create a portfolio home page (which is not perfect because seemingly I need to update the query with the number of projects/offset for each column each time) and a single portfolio project page from scratch were mind boggling. There’s nothing (yet) written up about how to create such pages in Full Site Editing, at least that I could find in our support site.
I did finally find a template for the “single item: project” when I clicked the ADD NEW button in the upper right corner of the Templates dashboard (temporary screenshot). And I see that there is a “Archive: Project” template, which I will explore later.
My 2¢/Granted that I am still learning and the likelihood is high of my having overlooked something obvious, but if the expectation is that users are going to understand what to do after activating Appleton in order to get a “portfolio” there’s still a long way to go. If not an actual pattern or template, there needs to be at least a tutorial on how to go about creating/activating such a page. /My 2¢
-
Hello Jennifer,
I did finally find a template for the “single item: project” when I clicked the ADD NEW button in the upper right corner of the Templates dashboard (temporary screenshot). And I see that there is a “Archive: Project” template, which I will explore later.
This is TIL for me also! And it looks like it’s what you need.
My 2¢/Granted that I am still learning and the likelihood is high of my having overlooked something obvious, but if the expectation is that users are going to understand what to do after activating Appleton in order to get a “portfolio” there’s still a long way to go. If not an actual pattern or template, there needs to be at least a tutorial on how to go about creating/activating such a page. /My 2¢
This is valuable feedback, and it’s something we can pass on.
The /projects/ slug is then automatically changed to /portfolio-2/ because /portfolio/ is reserved for the autogenerated portfolio page, which cannot be edited.
Regardless, even if the Portfolio slug is /projects/ projects themselves appear at /portfolio/project-x/ (?!?)
Ah yes of course – this is something available on the business plan I’d expect.
We totally appreciate the thought process here. :) (As always.)
-
And it looks like it’s what you need.
🥳
But “poking around and discovering” something is not the optimal way towards adoption. If the Portfolio is enabled on a theme, those Templates, “Archive: Project” and “Single Item: Project,” or whatever other template is needed, should be available front and center in the Templates dashboard, IMO.
Ah yes of course – this is something available on the business plan I’d expect.
So we’re talking redirect plugin here? TIA
-
OK-After exploring the “Archive: Project” template and changing the existing Query loop to display the way I wanted (or so I thought), I now have a Portfolio page that appears at the URL https://teachandtestsite.wordpress.com/portfolio/ 🥳🥳
But, and, of course, there is one, on the above page the Query loop has two vertical columns displaying the same Projects rather than offsetting them, which is how it appears in the Template Editor. (temporary screenshots)
Thanks again for any assistance here.
*Aside: while I was editing the “Archive: Projects” template, the query was initially drawing in Posts, not Projects.
-
Hello Jennifer!
We’re making progress!
But, and, of course, there is one, on the above page the Query loop has two vertical columns displaying the same Projects rather than offsetting them, which is how it appears in the Template Editor. (temporary screenshots)
It looks like there’s 2 query loops there, in different columns so this would show the same content in both loops. It’s not possible to offset these.
You would perhaps only use one query loop but show it in a grid as seen here:
So we’re talking redirect plugin here? TIA
Correct, or you could look to edit the end point in Settings > Permalinks.
-
We’re making progress!
Slowly and TBH frustratingly, but, yes.
Thanks for the visual. It was very helpful, but I’m not sure what the arrow in the sidebar indicating 3 columns is about?
After attempting to adjust what I already did, I deleted my version (didn’t there used to be a “reset” option?) and started over. I changed only the Query loop as you suggested. And then I realized that both the Project Type template and the Project Tag template would also need to be customized if I wanted them to display in a similar fashion. At that point I stopped.
What would be the least wall/head banging way to customize those templates?
Thanks again.
-
Hello Jennifer,
Thanks for the visual. It was very helpful, but I’m not sure what the arrow in the sidebar indicating 3 columns is about?
When grid is selected, this will dictate how many columns the grid will be.
What would be the least wall/head banging way to customize those templates?
What I did with my own blog, is I created one template, say category (I used a grid and around 3/4 columns) and then I copied the content into another template.
It should carry over the settings as before the archive will pick up whichever category/tag content which is set.
I’m hoping this is useful.
-
When grid is selected, this will dictate how many columns the grid will be.
To add, you wouldn’t sit a query loop into the column, you would just add one query loop outside of any columns.
-
and then I copied the content into another template
So, copy/paste? ☺ Ha ha, very good.
It should carry over the settings as before the archive will pick up whichever category/tag content which is set.
So I’d be careful to copy/paste from the Project Archive template and not the Post Archive, correct?
As far as columns, I think I’ve been “trained” by earlier experiences with blocks to group and/or put things in columns. The current Query loop is sitting there on its own though. Thanks, I think I’ve got it. 🙏
You didn’t relate to my question about resetting a template. In Russell, which I am using on a different site (my100dayproject2023) the option to clear all custom edits exists, but not on Appleton. Or does that option exist only on certain templates?
Thanks again.
-
Or does that option exist only on certain templates?
And I think I just answered my own question, but please let me know if this is not correct.
If you change one of the default templates that appears when you first open the Templates dashboard, like the Index template, you get the option to clear customizations. However, if you add a template from the Add New list, like “Projects: Archive”, you only have the option to delete that template and start over.
If so, the terminology is a bit awkward because we’ve been taught that delete is such a permanent thing. It’s not clear that the Template reverts to default and is available again to be added from the Add New list.
-
Hello Jennifer,
So I’d be careful to copy/paste from the Project Archive template and not the Post Archive, correct?
That’s correct, I used the copy blocks tool. :)
However, if you add a template from the Add New list, like “Projects: Archive”, you only have the option to delete that template and start over.
If so, the terminology is a bit awkward because we’ve been taught that delete is such a permanent thing.
Apologies, I did miss that question! So what you’re seeing is correct…
So by that rationale, you’re suggesting that, even when a template is added, you should seeing a reset button? I can see that logic stacking up also. :)
-
Appreciate that. We’re not really deleting the template, because it’s still available, only clearing out the existing version of it, i.e. resetting it, i.e. clearing any customizations/edits.
I think we’re good, so marking as resolved. Thanks for all your insights and help here.
- The topic ‘Appleton Theme: Questions about Portfolios’ is closed to new replies.
WordPress.com Forums 