Custom data
Extend Basker's content model with custom fields and content types specific to your organization
Custom data lets you add fields and content types that are not part of Basker's built-in model. Use it when your site has structure that the standard fields on events, pages, or posts do not capture: sponsor tiers, pre-show dining options, accessibility services, donor levels, or anything else specific to your organization.
Plan availability
Custom attributes and custom objects are plan-controlled features. Check Choosing a Basker plan and the live pricing matrix if either area is missing from your site.
There are two kinds of custom data:
- Custom attributes: additional fields you add to existing content types like events, posts, or people. A custom attribute might be a "Program PDF" upload on every event, or a "Donor Level" select on every person.
- Custom objects: entirely new content types you define. A custom object might be "Sponsor", "Discount Code", or "Accessibility Service": a new kind of content, with its own fields and its own list of instances.
When to use custom attributes
Custom attributes are right when:
- Every event, post, or person needs the same extra piece of information.
- The information is a single value or simple structure (a piece of text, a date, a file, a link to other content).
- You want the field to appear in the existing content's editor, not in a separate area.
Examples: an "Approximate run time" field on every event, a "Program notes PDF" upload on every event, a "Pronouns" field on every person, a "Reading time" number on every post.
When to use custom objects
Custom objects are right when:
- You need a new kind of content, with multiple fields, that can stand on its own.
- The instances need their own list and admin area. A theme can render them publicly where needed.
- The instances are referenced from multiple places, so it makes sense to manage them centrally.
Examples: a "Sponsor" object with name, tier, logo, and link, referenced from several events, and an "Accessibility service" object that lists captioned, audio-described, and signed performances.
Working with custom data
The pages below cover each part of the custom data system. Most sites start with custom attributes (which extend existing content) and add custom objects later when they need a new content type that does not fit anywhere existing.
For developer-level information about data available to a theme, see Template context.