TaxoSelect – Taxonomy Template Selector

FAQ

How do I create a custom template?

Add a PHP file to your theme directory with this header comment:

<?php
/**
 * Taxonomy Template: My Custom Template
 */

Which taxonomies are supported?

All public taxonomies including categories, tags, custom taxonomies from plugins like WooCommerce product categories, and any custom post type taxonomies.

I’m using “Category Template:” in my theme files. Do I need to change it?

No. The plugin supports both Taxonomy Template: (recommended) and Category Template: (legacy) headers for backwards compatibility. Your existing templates will continue to work.

Can I prevent data deletion when uninstalling?

Yes. Add this to your wp-config.php before uninstalling:

define( 'RUNTHINGS_TAXONOMY_TEMPLATE_SELECTOR_KEEP_DATA', true );

Why don’t I see the template dropdown?

Make sure your theme has at least one PHP file with either a Taxonomy Template: or Category Template: header comment. The dropdown only appears if templates are available to select.

Can I add custom directories for template scanning?

Yes. Use the runthings_taxonomy_template_selector_dirs filter to add additional directories. Note that subdirectories are not scanned automatically – you must add each folder path explicitly.

add_filter( 'runthings_taxonomy_template_selector_dirs', function( $dirs ) {
    $dirs[] = get_stylesheet_directory() . '/taxonomy-templates';
    return $dirs;
} );

Can I add or remove templates without modifying theme files?

Yes. Use the runthings_taxonomy_template_selector_list filter to modify the available templates. The filename is a path relative to your theme root – if using a child theme, it checks the child theme first, then falls back to the parent theme.

add_filter( 'runthings_taxonomy_template_selector_list', function( $templates ) {
    // Add a template from theme root
    $templates['My Custom Archive'] = 'custom-archive.php';
    // Add a template from a subdirectory
    $templates['Product Archive'] = 'template-parts/archive-product.php';
    // Remove one you don't want
    unset( $templates['Unwanted Template'] );
    return $templates;
} );

How do I upgrade from Advanced Category Template?

This plugin is a fork of the original “Advanced Category Template” plugin by Praveen Goswami. It was adopted because the original plugin was removed from the WordPress.org plugin directory due to security issues.

Your existing template mappings will be migrated automatically when you activate this plugin. You can safely deactivate and delete the old plugin in any order.