Are you looking for a way to create a new page(s) automatically on theme activation? While there’s probably a plugin for this, we have created a quick code snippet that you can use to create a new page in WordPress.
If you want your Theme or Plugin to create a new page (or two or three) on its own, here is some quick code to do it. wp_insert_post returns the ID of the newly-created page. In the event of an error, it will return 0 if $wp_error is set to false, or a WP_Error object if $wp_error is set to true.
Instructions:
All you have to do is add this code to your theme’s index.php file above the hook.
And of course, this code could be used to create a POST or any other Custom Post Type content just by changing the value for post_type.
<?php $new_page = array( 'slug' => 'this-is-my-new-page', 'title' => 'Write a Headline that Captivates', 'content' => "Enter the body Content for your Page here" ); $new_page_id = wp_insert_post( array( 'post_title' => $new_page['title'], 'post_type' => 'page', 'post_name' => $new_page['slug'], 'comment_status' => 'closed', 'ping_status' => 'closed', 'post_content' => $new_page['content'], 'post_status' => 'publish', 'post_author' => 1, 'menu_order' => 0 )); ?>
Or, you could use this code instead. This snippet checks to see if a page with the title on line 3 already exists, and creates the page if it doesn’t exist yet. It also sets a page template if a page template is given on line 5.
All you have to do is add this code to your theme’s functions.php file or in a site-specific plugin:
if (isset($_GET['activated']) && is_admin()){
$new_page_title = 'This is the page title';
$new_page_content = 'This is the page content';
$new_page_template = ''; //ex. template-custom.php. Leave blank if you don't want a custom page template.
//don't change the code bellow, unless you know what you're doing
$page_check = get_page_by_title($new_page_title);
$new_page = array(
'post_type' => 'page',
'post_title' => $new_page_title,
'post_content' => $new_page_content,
'post_status' => 'publish',
'post_author' => 1,
);
if(!isset($page_check->ID)){
$new_page_id = wp_insert_post($new_page);
if(!empty($new_page_template)){
update_post_meta($new_page_id, '_wp_page_template', $new_page_template);
}
}
}
Note: If this is your first time adding code snippets in WordPress, then please refer to our guide on how to properly add code snippets in WordPress, so you don’t accidentally break your site.
If you liked this code snippet, please consider checking out our other articles on the site like: 27 best WordPress themes for travel blogs and how to secure your WordPress forms.
If I had to give a prime example of great quality content, this article would be one. It’s well-written material that keeps your interest well.
Thanks. I exactly need this. Let me know with which hook, This code should be hooked?
Thanks man! U have solution for insert auto taxonomies?
Hi in my plugin automatic page generated and short code also automatic generated. i want in detail page no need to display header footer and sidebar.. any idea please ?
Hi Kevin. How to create multiple pages with this method?Thankss..
I don’t suppose there’s a way of directing users to the page after activation is there no matter what permalnk they have set is?
I wanted to use this to create a theme FAQ page and direct the user to it after activation.
I’m don’t think that is the best way to do things what you could do is create an admin page much like people do when they create a plugin and add your FAQ or other details in that. This tutorial on net.tuts has details about creating the admin panel for a plugin but the idea is the same.
http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/creating-a-custom-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/
Yeah You’re probably right. I’m using a child theme for Twenty Eleven and haven’t figure out how to hook into the current theme options yet. I’ll probably just create a html page with the info I need on it and link it but will check that link out, thanks
Hi Zeaks,
The tutorial I posted should work fine! Should not matter the theme
you are using, the code in the tutorial will just have you add code to
your functions.php to create the admin panel then it is just html to
style and display your faq or other information.
I’m don’t think that is the best way to do things what you could do is create an admin page much like people do when they create a plugin and add your FAQ or other details in that. This tutorial on net.tuts has details about creating the admin panel for a plugin but the idea is the same.
http://net.tutsplus.com/tutorials/wordpress/creating-a-custom-wordpress-plugin-from-scratch/
Nice! Big thanks!
Just used your code to add menu items as well.
(‘post_type’ => ‘nav-menu-item’)
Hi Tyson, Cool glad I could help. Don’t forget to follow on twitter, facebook or RSS I post new snippets regularly.
Sorry if a dumb question, but why would you want to do this?
I have a test WP installation where I manually create a new post (or sometimes a page) whenever I activate a new plugin – to test out what it can do. I can see the benefit of a page/post generator for that action, but I’m not sure why a new page for activating a theme. Please help me understand. Thanks!
No such thing as a dumb question on wpsnipp, this is a good question. Lets say that I have a new theme that will function more like a CMS with a default static front page. You could use this in your theme to create the needed pages for the person rather then asking them to do it by hand. This way I could create any number of pages needed for a theme I was creating then all the person would need to do is link pages to templates required. But this is just one example could be reasons we can’t even think of.
How I add this new page created by your code in main menu. (‘post_type’ => ‘nav-menu-item’) not working for me
This is kind of old, but for me I am making a theme and setting up a custom page that will make a site map, and I want to link to that sitemap in the footer.
This is a great bit of code, it lets me know for sure that this sitemap page will be there all the site.
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