Creotec Content Expiration Manager

Creotec Content Expiration Manager adds simple content lifecycle management to WordPress:

• Add an expiration date/time to posts, pages, and public custom post types.
• Choose what happens when content expires:
  • Change status to Draft
  • Make Private/Password Protect (unpublish)
  • Redirect to another URL (301 or 302)
  • Replace content with a custom « expired » message
  • Display an « Expired » banner at the top of the post
  • Move content to the bin/trash
• Optional pre-expiration reminder email to the site admin address.
• Reliable processing:
  • Runs on WP-Cron every 10 minutes
  • Includes a lightweight fallback check on normal WordPress requests (throttled)
• Admin overview page:
  • Expiring Soon (next 30 days)
  • Already Expired
  • Bulk actions (extend date, disable expiration)
• Reusable templates for redirect, banner, and replacement-content actions.
• Per-post-type enabling/disabling under Settings > Post Expiration.
• List-table indicator icons show which posts have expiration enabled.

No external services, no analytics, no licensing system.

Usage

1. Edit any supported post type.
2. In the « Expiration » box:
   • Check « Enable expiration ».
   • Set an « Expiration date & time » (site timezone).
   • Optionally choose a reminder email (1/3/7 days before).
   • Choose what happens when it expires.
3. Update/publish the post.

To manage expirations site-wide: * Go to WP Admin > Expirations * Use tabs: * Expiring Soon (next 30 days) * Already Expired * Use bulk actions: * Extend by 7 days * Extend by 30 days * Disable expiration

To choose which post types support expiration: * Go to Settings > Expirations.

To create reusable expiration templates: * Go to Settings > Expirations. * Create templates for redirects, banners, or replacement content. * When editing a post, choose a template in the relevant expiration action. Template edits are reflected anywhere that template is selected.

Restore original content (Replace action)

When the action is « Replace content with a message », the plugin saves the original content when the expiration is processed. After that, a « Restore original content » button appears in the Expiration meta box, allowing you to restore the saved content and disable expiration for that item.

Expiration processing & reliability

This plugin does not rely solely on WP-Cron.

• Primary: WP-Cron runs every 10 minutes to process reminders and expirations.
• Fallback: A lightweight check runs on WordPress requests (throttled via transient) to ensure expirations still trigger even if cron is delayed.

Notes about caching: * Some full-page caches may serve pages without executing PHP. In those cases, expirations will still process when WordPress runs (admin requests, REST requests, cron, etc.). * On expiration, the plugin triggers an action hook so caching plugins/site code can purge caches: do_action( ‘creocem_post_expired’, $post_id, $action );

Hooks

• creocem_post_expired – Fires after a post is processed as expired.
  • Parameters: (int) $post_id, (string) $action

License

This plugin is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 2 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.

This plugin is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU General Public License for more details.

Credits

Developed and maintained by Michael Gbadebo @ Creotec Limited.