Post Type

Academic Programs Post Type

The Academic Programs post type allows you to easily create a filterable and searchable listing of programs offered. It also allows you to create individual program pages that are designed and optimized to help move prospective students towards applying to NC State. Creating Entries An individual program page is created by the post type. Based…

Block

Accordion Block

Use Cases The Accordion block is a styled list that grants site maintainers the option to have information nested through a collapsible drop-down. An example of several blocks within a block, the Accordion block allows for several lines of text through its “Add an item” feature, which provides the option of adding multiple paragraph blocks…

Special Configuration

Adding Custom Width Classes to Blocks

The NC State Theme uses a six-column (50%) width for its main body copy, but there are times when you may want content like embeds, social media feeds, or Smash Balloon content to extend beyond this default width. This can be achieved by adding custom CSS classes to your blocks. Available Width Classes The NC…

Site Settings

Adjusting Page and Post Visibility

There may be times when a site maintainer who is building content on a WordPress site does not want to make that content public immediately. This can occur when a maintainer is working on a page or post over an extended period of time, or when other people need to review the content before the…

Accessibility

Alt Text

Introduction: What is Alt Text? Alternative text (alt text) provides a written description of content for visually impaired users who may use a screen reader. Adding alt text for images is a foundational principle of web accessibility. It can be challenging to implement alt text correctly and in a way that most benefits end users.…

Block

Aside Widget Block

A part of the immersive template, the Aside Widget block is a sleek alternative to standard Fact and Pull Quote blocks. Instead of traditional center alignment, the Aside Widget affords site managers the option to left- or right-align chunks of important content to give the page a feature feel without distracting from the main body…

Block

Audio Player Block

This block allows content maintainers to embed audio content directly into their posts. This block is ideal for sharing a speech, a piece of music, or a conversation captured on a podcast. Not only does it allow for the upload of audio, this block also includes a custom header, title, teaser, and thumbnail along with…

Block

Big Fact Block

Use Cases The Big Fact block is a striking way for content creators to break up long bodies of text on a webpage. In addition to helping pace readers as they work through the text on a page, the Big Fact block is useful for drawing an audience’s attention to an interesting fact that is…

Block

Block Quote Block

The Block Quote block is designed for presenting longer excerpts from external sources, such as a research article, annual report or strategic plan. A good rule of thumb is to use a block quote if a quoted excerpt is going to be more than three lines of a paragraph when displayed on a desktop. In…

Block

Button Block

Use Cases The Button block provides a visually appealing way to include styled hyperlinks on a page or post. This block is good for grabbing a reader’s attention at the end of a paragraph or story, and it prompts them to dig deeper into a site and explore other relevant content. It’s important to be…

Block

Button Spotlight Block

The Button Spotlight block is a visually engaging way to highlight a call-to-action (CTA) within the NC State Theme. It combines a bold button with optional supporting content to draw attention and encourage user interaction. How to Use Best Practices Example Here’s how the Button Spotlight might appear: Accessibility Notes The Button Spotlight block makes…

Site Settings

Compact Masthead Option

The Compact Masthead is a shorter and more streamlined masthead and menu option for sites within the premium tier of the NC State Theme. Multiple color options are available including all white, red/white, and all red. See examples below. Enabling the Compact Masthead

Block

Contact Us Block

Use Cases The Contact Us block helps content creators give users relevant information on how a unit can be contacted, where it is located and its business hours. Within the Contact Us block, five types of information can be included: “Email,” “Hours,” “Phone,” “Mailing Address” and “Office Location.” These cards can always be added and…

Block

Course Catalog Block

After inserting the “Grad Catalog” block, the site maintainer will be presented with a settings panel asking for the catalog.ncsu.edu URL for the University Catalog page that presents the desired degree/program requirements or course listing. The maintainer will also need to indicate whether they are trying to add degree/program requirements or a course listing. Once…

Post Type

Courses Post Type

The Courses post type allows you to manually populate available courses on your website. Courses are filterable and sortable by category, department and semester. An individual course page is also created with fields for a course description, semesters usually offered and instructor. Coming Soon Currently courses must be manually populated, but a long-term plan is…

Site Settings

Creating and Editing Menus

Why Use Menus? Menus are useful for keeping a site better organized, and they help users navigate the site more easily. Most websites feature a navigation menu at the top of every page that directs users to specific pages across the website. Some examples of typical navigation menu items are “About,” “Contact,” “Help” and “News.”…

Block

Email Signup Block

Use Cases An effective way for content creators to ensure repeat visitors to their site, is through the use of an email signup. Whether that be for a monthly newsletter, quarterly departmental updates, or some other specific need, the Email Signup block offers site maintainers a way for them to intake user emails while having…

Block

Embed Block

Overview Including content from third-party platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter can help you better tell your story to users. The easiest way is to paste the content’s URL into the Embed block or just a paragraph block. WordPress will automatically import and format the content. Many platforms, such as YouTube, let…

Embedding Links

Embedding links on web pages is a fundamental aspect of building a website. and content creation. It contributes to seamless site navigation and user engagement. It is a crucial part of your site’s overall effectiveness of online communication. How to Embed a Link Embedding links in WordPress is easy. The video above and the instructions…

Block

Events Block

By default the Events block will display the next three events on your calendar, but it can also display the next six or nine events. It can pull data from Localist (the platform that hosts NC State’s University Calendar) or the Events Calendar plugin. The Events Calendar plugin allows you to import events from Google…

Block

Fact Row Block

Use Cases The Fact Row block can provide users with important information about a site while also breaking up paragraphs of text. This block is intended to catch a user’s eye as they skim a webpage, so it should contain information that site visitors must see before they navigate elsewhere. The Fact Row block can…

Block

Fancy Paragraph Block

Use Cases The Fancy Paragraph block presents basic text content and supplemental information in a two-column format. This block highlights content inline with your copy and ensures that it displays correctly across all devices. Benefits of the Fancy Paragraph’s two-column layout include: Benefit Concept Highlighting content Perfect for highlighting important information Visual balance Keeps the…

Block

Featured Content Block

Use Cases The Featured Content block is a useful tool for pointing users toward important or timely pages and stories; keeping users on their site for longer; and/or breaking up long chunks of text, all of which can create repeat visitors. See an example of a Featured Content block below: Features To add a Featured…

Block

Featured People Block

Use Cases The Featured People block provides an effective way to spotlight individuals. The block allows creators to display a person’s headshot, name and title, along with a link to an external resource. While it’s often used to highlight a single person, the block also supports the display of multiple profiles so creators can showcase…

Block

Floated Gravity Form

This block is only featured in the Landing Page Builder. Use Cases The Floated Gravity Form allows you to embed a colorful, eye-catching version of any Gravity Form on your landing page, “floated” to the side of your page content. This block is useful for pages built with the Landing Page Builder, where maximizing conversion…

Block

Form Block

Overview The Form block works with the Gravity Forms plugin. It allows you to embed a Gravity Form on a page. The block allows you to select which Gravity Form you would like to embed and whether you would like to display the form’s title and/or description. To build a form, navigate to the left-hand…

Block

Giving Form Block

Use Cases The Giving Form block utilizes the Advancement Online Giving Link Builder to embed a gift intake form directly into a WordPress site. This block can be an effective way to facilitate giving in association with a specific page or story. As seen in the example below, the giving form can even be floated…

Block, Third Party Plugin

Gravity Forms

Introduction This page provides a quick introduction to Gravity Forms, a powerful tool for creating professional looking forms embedded directly into a WordPress page or post. The easy to use form building platform helps to save time while also allowing users to preview their forms before taking them live on their site. Through its configuration…

Gravity Forms Slate Integration

You can submit prospective student leads to Slate by creating a Gravity Form on your site. The information below discusses how to implement this integration on your site.

Block

Heading Block

Heading blocks are used on almost all types of pages. This is mainly because most web users do not read everything on a web page word for word. Rather, they skim to try to find the section of content that might answer the question they have. Well-structured headings help with this navigation process. Web pages…

Block

Highlight Block

One of the most flexible blocks within NC State Stories, the Highlight block allows an author to link out to related stories, supplemental information and resources, or other online resources such as an event RSVP page. Almost all fields within the block are optional, other than a heading and URL. Additional fields include a subtitle…

Site Settings

Homepage Configuration

Content maintainers can easily build a homepage that looks custom-made through creative configuration of regular blocks and special homepage blocks through the Split Content block. Changing the Page Template Most pages in WordPress use the default template, but the homepage uses a designated homepage template that maintainers must choose during setup. To change a page’s template, take…

Block

Icon Links Block

Use Cases The Icon Links block can be a useful alternative to the Link List block, the Featured Content block and the Button block when trying to display an assortment of resources. The Icon Links block allows content maintainers to build out a grid of related links that help catch a reader’s attention via a…

Block

Image Block

Adding an Image Images contained within the image block can be sourced from three different locations: Alignments Several alignment options are available for images displayed in posts, which affects how widely (or narrowly) the image will display. Content Width (Default) By default, inserted images will display at the same width as the post content unless…

Accessibility, Third Party Tool

Image Format, File Name and Size

Formats An image’s format refers to its filetype. Common filetypes are .jpeg/.jpg, .png and .gif. In most cases, .jpeg/.jpg should be used. It is the most widely used image format and is far less likely to present any issues. The filetype, size and resolution all contribute to an image’s overall quality. WordPress offers a helpful…

Block

Image Grid Block

Overview This block allows you to display images in a grid format of one image across or two images side-by-side. You can add as many rows of images as you’d like. It is a good way to show a lot of prominent photography. The images within the Image Grid block can also become part of…

Post Type

In the News Post Type

The In the News custom post type allows colleges, units and divisions to curate and display instances where NC State appears in external news coverage. This is most commonly used to highlight subject matter experts who have been quoted or featured in media outlets. A long-standing example of this feature in use is on news.ncsu.edu, where media mentions…

Block

Instagram Feed Block

The Instagram Feed block is a good option for displaying visual content from an Instagram feed, as well as driving users to view and engage with Instagram channel content. This block depends on installation and configuration of the Instagram Feed Pro plugin from Smash Balloon. Feed Settings Source Users may select from one of a…

Third Party Plugin

Instagram Feed Pro Developer Plugin

With its super simple setup, the Instagram Feed Pro Devloper Smash plugin, when used in conjunction with the Shortcode block, is a quick and easy way to display your unit’s Instagram content directly on your website through the use of shortcodes. Completely responsive and mobile ready, this plugin allows you to embed Instagram feeds that…

Special Configuration

Jump Links

Jump links (also known as anchor links or page jumps) are links that direct to specific parts of a page, rather than the entire page itself. This may be useful for linking to elements farther down the page for faster access, or for linking from external pages to direct readers instantly to a specific part…

Block

List Block

While this is a fairly straightforward block, it can be an important part of your content. When interspersed with paragraph blocks, it can help users more easily skim your content to find a specific piece of information. User research has also shown that online readers are particularly drawn to lists when consuming content, so they…

Third Party Tool

Localist Calendar Widgets

Keeping one’s audience up-to-date about campus events on the web can be a challenge. And building web content that displays this information in a clear and concise manner can be a big time sink. The Localist Calendar Widget builder aims to address both of these issues. Posting relevant campus event information in a thoughtful manner…

Block

Magazine Preview Block

The Magazine Preview block is specially created for showcasing other content within a selected Magazine issue. Upon selecting a magazine issue to show posts from, this block will automatically populate with other stories from the same issue. The order of the stories is determined by the story ordering set within the issue configuration page relative…

Block

Media Divider Block

Use Cases The Media Divider block is best used to break up large chunks of text while simultaneously making a page more visually interesting to the reader. This block stylizes images in a wider, more eye-catching format than a standard Image block. This block can also be a nice way to highlight stunning photography, as…

Site Settings

Mega Menu

A mega menu is an expanded navigation panel that displays multiple categories and links in a single, organized dropdown. Unlike a standard menu, it reveals a broad overview of a website’s structure at once. It employs columns, headings, and grouped links, to help users quickly scan options and navigate your site with efficiency.

Site Settings

Menu Display Locations

To edit the items contained within any menu, navigate to the main Menu page, found via Dashboard > Appearance > Menus. From here, multiple menus can exist at the same time. Use the drop-down selector near the top of the page to select which menu to edit. Toward the bottom of this page, there is…

Block

Newswire Feed Block

Use Cases The Newswire Feed block allows content maintainers to more easily set up a feed of posts from Newswire directly on their web pages. The Newswire Feed block automates the process of pulling in numerous stories at once instead of sharing them each individually. The Newswire Feed block features an additional field where content…

Post Type

Noncredit Programs Post Type

The Noncredit Programs post type allows maintainers to create a filterable and searchable database of programs that do not provide credit toward an academic degree. This post type is a good option to showcase programs such as workshops and summer camps. Maintainers can change the post type’s name to something more precise for a specific…

Site Settings, Special Configuration

Page and Post Metadata

Search Engine The search engine meta description represents the blurb of text that will appear when search engines return that particular page as a search result. Describe the purpose of the page, including (in natural language) any keywords that might be of interest to a user searching for specific information that might be found in…

Page Header Options

With the NC State theme, there are three header options available: Default, Split, and Floating Box. Each header is treated as the page title. The page title is the beginning of the heading structure that should outline a site. In HTML, the page title is considered heading level one, or “H1”. All subsequent headings make up…

Post Type, Site Settings, Special Configuration

Pages vs. Posts: Understanding Content Types in the NC State Theme

WordPress Pages: The Foundation of Your Site Pages are the building blocks of your website’s permanent structure. Think of them as the “rooms” in your digital house that visitors will navigate through to find specific types of information. Characteristics of Pages When To Use Pages Page Header Options in the NC State Theme The NC…

Block

Paragraph Block

The Paragraph block is simple, but it plays an important role within your webpages. The bulk of your content will be presented within Paragraph blocks. Formatting Options The Paragraph block offers these formatting options, found in the block toolbar: Additional Functionality Statement Styling Within pages, a “Statement” styling variation is available for paragraphs. This styling…

Block

Parallax Divider Block

This block allows you to add a visually bold statement on top of an image. A parallax effect occurs when the user scrolls down the page. This striking alternative to a standard image or callout box catches users’ attention as they skim the content of a page. Block Customization In addition to the included image…

Patterns

With patterns, you can save sets of blocks to use later on any page or post on your site. This can mitigate the repetition of adding the same groups of blocks to new pages. Creating a Pattern In most cases patterns consist of a group of blocks, but patterns can also be a single block.…

Block

Photo Gallery Block

Use Cases The Photo Gallery block is a useful tool for displaying a set of photos in a gallery format. This block is easy to navigate and affords site maintainers the option to show multiple images in one space while keeping the page real-estate used at a minimum. This block can be particularly effective for…

Block

Post Summary Block

Use Cases The Post Summary block gives readers a summary of a post’s contents. This makes the post easier to skim and understand at a glance. By offering context beyond the headline, it provides clarity which can spark greater interest from readers. This in turn can help improve reader retention. Features Unlike other blocks, the…

Block

Posts Feed

Overview When building out a page you may want to include timely related news content. The Posts Feed block allows you to display the latest news from a specific set of categories or tags. This functionality also allows you to display content from a specific Newswire collection. The block allows you to choose how many…

Block

Pull Quote Block

Overview Many news posts and stories have memorable quotes and phrases that deserve additional attention. This content can be put into a pull quote so that it receives additional from both readers and skimmers. The Pull Quote block is center aligned and is displayed as a secondary brand color. Quotation marks can optionally be put…

Block

Quote Block

Overview Quotes from students, faculty, alumni and others affiliated with the university allow you to provide a different, third-party perspective to your website’s users. The Quote block provides an opportunity to display these supporting testimonials. The Quote block is similar to the Pull Quote block within the NC State Stories platform. It allows you to…

Block

Related Stories Block

The Related Stories block is one of several ways to link out from a news post to other related stories. It is the quickest block for linking to related stories because it doesn’t rely upon images or teaser text. When the block is added, you have the option to display one or two related stories.…

Post Type

Resources Post Type

This feature of the NC State Theme allows content maintainers to create filterable and searchable databases. It is the most generic of all the post types included within the NC State Theme. Primarily thought of as a way to list available resources, the post type is very flexible and can be renamed. This allows a…

Block

RSS Block

This easy to use block allows content maintainers to easily embed content from RSS feeds by simply copying and pasting in the URL of their favorite RSS source. Share numerous stories from outside sources (like the CNN news RSS feed provided in the example below) directly on pages with only a few clicks. Add an RSS Feed…

Block

Sandwich Narrative Block

Use a Sandwich Narrative block as a supplement that expands upon a specific point within a larger story. While the main Page or Post content sets the stage and gives full details on a particular topic, the Sandwich Narrative block allows users to present a secondary, shorter yet relevant story embedded directly within the original…

Block

Search Box Block

This block adds a search field for users to search entries within a specific post type. The block allows content maintainers to choose which post type should be searched. It automatically recognizes all custom post types registered within the site.

Site Settings, Special Configuration

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Best Practices

Built-in Metadata Fields Every page and post in the NC State Theme includes dedicated fields where site maintainers can enter search engine and social media metadata. These fields, which appear at the very bottom of the back-end editing page, strengthen SEO by providing crucial information that helps search engines and social platforms understand and display…

Setting Up Google Tag Manager

Google Tag Manager helps you include and manage snippets of code on your site. These snippets are often used for analytics and advertising services. As more and more of these code snippets need to be added sites, Google Tag Manager provides a standardized way to organize and add these codes to your site without a…

Site Settings

Sidebars

Sidebar navigation is automatically triggered based on the structure of the main menu assigned to the ‘Website Navigation’ display location, as well as the ‘Sidebar Start Depth’ settings option. Within the menu creation screen (Dashboard > Appearance > Menus), first select the menu assigned to the ‘Website Navigation’ display location, if not already displaying. Add…

Site Settings, Special Configuration

Site Search

By default, the search function in the top right of your website’s utility bar (magnifying glass icon) only shows results from all of NC State’s websites at once. By connecting a Google Programmable Search Engine to your website, users can see results specifically from your website. Follow the directions below to connect a create and…

Block

Slate Form Embed Block

The Slate Form Embed block makes it easier to embed Slate form code within pages. In some cases directly copying and pasting the embed code can be unsuccessful because of code sanitization functionality within WordPress, but this block allows you to embed a Slate form without that concern. When working with different admissions groups at…

Block

Split Content Block

This special homepage blocks sit within a container known as a Split Content block. Two of of the blocks can be put in the Split Content block because each block has a width of only 50% of the page. You will need to make sure your page has been adjusted from the “Default Template” to…

Block

Spotlight Block

Use Cases The Spotlight block provides content creators another visually interesting way to breakup long bodies of text while pointing their users to additional relevant content. The Spotlight also affords site maintainers the opportunity to showcase unique photography while promoting another page or story. Features In Gutenberg, adding a Spotlight block to a page is…

Block

Sticky Form

This block is only featured in the Landing Page Builder. Use Cases Visible to users on mobile devices only, the Sticky Form allows you to add an expandable form to your landing page that stays on the screen as your users scroll. This functionality is ideal for maintaining user engagement by providing easy access to…

Special Configuration

Synced Patterns: Strategic Implementation Guide

Synced patterns are reusable block collections in WordPress that maintain consistency across multiple pages. Unlike regular patterns that simply provide a starting template, synced patterns update automatically across your entire site when edited in one location. This powerful functionality helps maintain design consistency and significantly reduces content maintenance time. Creating a Synced Pattern Creating a…

Block

Table Block

Use Cases The Table block is a sleek, easy to use table builder. Creating tables from directly within WordPress has never been easier with Gutenberg. Create stylized tables to deliver charts and data to various audiences without having to use TablePress. See an example of the Table block below. Features In Gutenberg, adding a Table…

Accessibility, Special Configuration

Table of Contents Header Setting

Use Cases Toggling on the Table of Contents setting within a header can enhance the overall experience of visiting a webpage. Certain webpages benefit from the inclusion of a table of contents. In particular, pages that are long-form in nature. Some common examples are: The main goal of including a Table of Contents is to…

Third Party Plugin

Tables and Tabular Data

Table Block To present data in a relatively simple format — such as a set of columns with named headings — the Table block is easy to use, update and understand. By default, the Table block will fit to the width of the page content, but it can be extended wider by choosing the “Align…

Block

Text Links Block

Overview The Text Links block is most often used immediately below a paragraph block, and it provides a way to link out to resources that may have been discussed in the preceding paragraph(s). The block can display links in either one or two columns. It will automatically balance the links between the two columns so…

Third Party Plugins

Many websites use the same plugins because of their flexibility and ease of use. Below are several plugins that are often used on NC State websites. Gravity Forms Gravity Forms allows you to create and embed forms on your website. Additional documentation can be found at gravityforms.com. TablePress TablePress allows you to create semi-complex data…

Block

Thumbnail Gallery Block

Overview This block allows you to display many photos in a condensed amount of screen space. This is useful for cases where a large number of images are available for a particular story, but are topically relevant to eachother and best viewed in conjunction with other relevant images. Think a gallery of NC State Fair…

Block

Timeline Block

Use Cases The Timeline block is a styled list that grants site maintainers the option to build a custom timeline on their posts. Maintainers add dates and descriptions through its “Add an entry” feature, and can apply styling at the start and end of the timeline to signal the beginning or conclusion of a specific…

Block

Vertical Video Block

Use Cases This block is perfect for embedding a YouTube video that has a vertical orientation. Unlike a standard video embed, this block is optimized for sharing short-form video content created for YouTube Shorts. The block also allows you to introduce your video with a title and teaser copy, and features a myriad of colors…

Block

Video Block

The Video block can be used to create a clean video embed on a WordPress site. In addition to embedding the video, the Video block allows for a customizable thumbnail that features a play button icon and a wider styling option. At this time the Video block only supports YouTube videos. When uploading video from…