An Introduction to Templates

As of WP RSS Aggregator Core version 4.13, we introduced a new feature called Templates. This is the new feed rendering system for our plugin that takes things to a whole new level.

The Templates Page

Once you visit the Template list under RSS Aggregator > Templates, the available templates will be visible in a table. From here you can do the following:

Add a new template from the Add New button up top.
Click on each template to view and edit its options.
Hover over each template to edit or duplicate the template.
Select multiple templates (not the default one) using the checkboxes on the left to view bulk actions.
Filter the templates by type.
Search for specific templates by name (partial matches also work).

The Default Template

Upon installing the plugin for the first time you will find a Default template. This template cannot be deleted or removed, because the design of our plugins requires the existence of at least the Default template. It is the fallback template used in cases where another template is unavailable, thus eliminating the possibility of display issues where a template may be missing.

The default template is set to use the List template type, however, its individual options can be changed according to your wishes.

NOTE: For users updating from previous versions of WP RSS Aggregator (with no templates) to 4.13 or later, the Default template, upon updating, takes on the exact same options you had set in your Display Settings ( under RSS Aggregator > Settings). Therefore, none of your settings will be lost or changed in any way and the shortcode outputs already in use will continue to work normally.

How to Set Up New Templates

In order to set up a new template, you can either duplicate an existing one by hovering over a template in the list, or create a new one using the Add New button up at the top of the Templates list page.

Once the Add New Template page is open, you can set it up with your preferred options.

As of Core version 4.15.2, you can create the following template types:

List
Grid (available in our paid plans)
Excerpts & Thumbnails (available in our paid plans)

We plan to add more template types in new upcoming releases.

If you have a suggestion on a possible new template we can create, please send your request here.

Each option on this page includes a tooltip that can further explain what each option does. Simply hover over the grey question mark icon to learn more. The List type has the same exact options as were previously in the display settings for the core plugin (pre Core version 4.13).

How to Use a Template

There are two ways to display imported items using these templates.

Shortcode

At the top of every template's page (once published) you can see a shortcode.

This is the WP RSS Aggregator shortcode with a parameter set for the current template being viewed. You can also add other parameters as explained here.

To use this shortcode, click on the Copy Shortcode button next to it. That will automatically copy the shortcode and you can now paste it anywhere across your site (and modify it with other parameters, such as sources to show, if needed).

Click here to learn more about using our shortcode.

Block

For those using the block editor for WordPress, we introduced a Gutenberg block for WP RSS Aggregator Feeds that can be used to display imported items anywhere across your pages and posts.

Click here to learn more about using our block.

For inspiration on how you can set this up and have it working for your news or content aggregation check out our guide on how to Build a News Aggregator and Build a Content Hub.

More template types, both free and premium, will be made available over time.

Have you got an idea for a new template type? Please send your request here.