Creating a Category-Specific Template

This guide will show you how to design a custom layout that’s applied only to posts in a specific category within Spectra One, a Full Site Editing (FSE) theme in WordPress.

You’ll learn how to set up a unique template for a particular category to display posts just the way you like, using blocks and customization options available in the Site Editor.

So, let’s walk through the steps to create and style a category-specific template.

How Do I Access the Site Editor?

• In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Editor (or Site Editor).
• Once inside the Site Editor, select Templates from the left sidebar. This is where you can create and manage your custom templates.

How to Create a New Template for a Specific Category?

• Under Templates, click Add New Template.

• Choose Category Archive as the template type.

• After selecting the Category Archive option, you’ll be prompted to choose a specific category from your list. This will apply the template to the selected category only.

How to Design the Template Structure

1. Add Core Blocks:
   • Begin setting up your template by adding essential blocks like:
     • Header
     • Post Title
     • Post Content
     • Featured Image
     • Post Meta
   • To pull in posts from your selected category, use the Query Loop block.
2. Customize the Query Loop Block:
   • Within the Query Loop settings, make sure it’s displaying posts from your selected category. You can adjust layout and sorting options here too, based on how you’d like the posts to appear.
3. Add Spectra-Specific Blocks (Optional):
   • For more customization, you can add Spectra-specific blocks such as:
     • Advanced Heading
     • Button
     • Container
   • These blocks help to add unique design touches and call-to-action elements to your category-specific template.

How Do I Save and Preview My Template?

1. Save the Template:
   • When your design is ready, click Save to publish the template. This will make the new layout live for that category.
2. Preview Your Template:
   • Visit the category archive page that you set up to see your custom layout in action. You should see your new design applied only to posts in that specific category.

If you need to make adjustments later, return to Templates in the Site Editor, find your category-specific template, and edit it as needed.

For a visual walkthrough of creating a category-specific template, check out this video:

We hope this guide helps you create a category-specific template in Spectra One theme. If you have any questions or need further help, please leave a comment below.