Splash of Style...Macs, Photography, Design, and other Passions

Structuring the Permalink Url in WordPress

July 26, 2004 by debbie T | WordPress

It is easy to edit how WordPress creates your archives and permalinks.

Optionally, if you would like your individual blog entry pages be created from a different template than the index page, complete these steps first.

Example: your index page displays a detailed background or side menu that you do not want included on the individual entry pages. The individual pages can be created from a separate template file without the background or menu.

  1. In the WordPress control panel, choose Templates. Copy the full coding from the index.php file. (Ctrl + A will Select All)
  2. Next create a new blank file in your favorite text editor, and paste in the coding. The coding will be used in the template temporarily.
  3. Save the file with the name you would like included in the permalink url for your entries. For example, “page.php,” “base.php,” “ramblings.php” – I chose to name my entry file “splash.php.”
  4. Upload the file to the main directory of your webblog.
  5. The file can be edited in your favorite editor, or through the Templates tab in the WordPress control panel. (More on editing templates another time.)

Once your file of choice is created, the permalink structure can be changed. Note: You do not have to utilize a separate file for permalinks. The index.php file is perfectly fine to use. The individual entry pages will be created from the index template.

  1. In the WordPress choose Options>Permalinks.
  2. Towards the bottom, you will find a text box to “create a virtual site structure”. Mix and match from the list of template tags to structure the permalink.
  3. Unless you understand how the mod_rewrite works, make sure to include the file name of either your index.php or the newly created file. My link structure looks like this:
    “/splash.php/%year%/%postname%”
  4. Make sure to click on the Update button

From your WordPress blog, click on an entry link, and check out the file structure. If it isn’t what you are looking for, return to the Permalink tab and edit the text box again.

Commments are closed for this article.