How to create a Post Selection
1. Post Selection basics
A Post Selection is an entity type introduced by Advanced Views that defines a dynamic content query. Each Post Selection consists of the following components:
Content filters - specify the target content (post types), along with filtering and sorting options.
Item Layout - defines which Layout is used to render each item returned by the query.
Selection template - defines the HTML markup that wraps the rendered items.
CSS and JavaScript (both optional) – provide styling and scripting associated with the Selection.
Embedding shortcode – a unique shortcode that can be pasted anywhere
Post Selection is built on top of WordPress's native WP_Query and provides a user-friendly interface for its most commonly used arguments.
This eliminates the need to learn the extensive WP_Query Docs for everyday use, while still allowing you to inject custom query arguments directly for advanced or uncommon scenarios.
2. How to create a Post Selection
Visit Advanced Views → Post Selections in your WordPress dashboard.
Click Add New Post Selection.
Give your Post Selection a clear name.
Example:
Latest Blog Posts
Choose names that describe the content being displayed. This makes your setup easier to understand as your website grows.
2.1) Assign your Layout
Select which Layout should display your results.
The Layout controls the design for every item found by your Post Selection.
Example:
Your Post Selection finds:
Property A
Property B
Property C
Your assigned Property Layout decides how each property card appears.
This means you can reuse the same Layout with different Post Selections.
2.2) Choose the content you want to display
Next, choose which content Advanced Views should query.
You can choose from WordPress content types including:
Posts
Pages
Custom post types
Products
Other registered content types
For example:
A real estate website might select:
Properties
A team directory might select:
Team Members
A shop section might select:
Products
Advanced Views will use this selection to find matching items.
2.3) Adjust query settings
Customise which items should appear.
You can control options such as:
Number of items
Sorting order
Categories and taxonomies
Authors
Dates
Custom field values
Examples:
Display:
6 latest news articles
Featured properties only
Products from a specific category
Events ordered by date
2.4) Publish your Post Selection
Click Publish to save your Post Selection.
Advanced Views will generate a shortcode.
Copy this shortcode and place it anywhere shortcodes are supported:
Pages
Posts
Page builders
Theme areas
Your website will now display the selected content using your chosen Layout.
3. Updating your Post Selection
Need to change what appears?
Simply edit your Post Selection.
You can update query settings, change sorting, adjust limits, or assign a different Layout without rebuilding your pages.
4. Next steps
You have now created your first Post Selection and learned how Advanced Views connects content and design.
You now understand the main workflow:
Posts / Products / CPT → Post Selection (Which items to show) → Layout (How each item looks) → Website Grid/List
With Layouts and Post Selections, you can build anything from simple sections to advanced dynamic websites.
Next, explore:
Adding CSS styles
Using filters and sorting
Note: Restrict visibility of Post Selections by using user-with-roles="ROLE1,ROLE2" user-without-roles="ROLE1,ROLE2" shortcode arguments.
Note: Do you want to customize a query (WP_Query) that is used to get Post Selection, but the option is missing in the interface? You can do this using our filters. Read more here
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