Understand the template system
POM Theme separates a results page into layers. Choosing the correct layer prevents duplicated markup and makes a design reusable.
The three template types
| Template type | What it controls | Typical dynamic content |
|---|---|---|
| Archive | The page shell around an archive | Archive title, term description, term media and the complete results region |
| Feed | One repeated item inside a results region | Item title, image, excerpt, custom fields, taxonomy terms and product information |
| Single | The body of one post or custom post type item | Full content, post metadata, galleries and previous/next navigation |
An archive template can place {{archive_results}} inside its HTML. The selected feed template is then repeated once for every result.
Where templates are created
- Open Settings → POM Theme → Templates → HMTL templates.
- Choose Archive HTML templates., Feed HTML templates. or Single HTML templates.
- Add a template and complete Template name and Template HTML.
- Select Custom CSS Stylesheets or Custom JS Scripts only when the template needs those assets.
- Save the theme settings.
The navigation label is displayed as HMTL templates in the current interface.
Creation and assignment are separate
Saving a template makes it available for selection; it does not assign it automatically.
- Archive templates are selected as Sidebar layout for WordPress post archives or as Archive layout for a supported custom post type or product archive.
- Feed templates are selected as a Custom result template in archive, author and search settings, or directly by a Listings (Feed) element.
- Single templates are selected as the Layout style for posts or as the Single layout of a POM custom post type.
A reliable design sequence
- Decide which layer owns the required markup.
- Create semantic static HTML.
- Add only merge tags supported by that template type.
- Protect optional fields with conditionals or fallbacks where supported.
- Assign the template.
- Open a representative public URL and verify populated, empty and long values.