In the latest updated, in addition to the existing [download_page] shortcode, we have introduced a new shortcode [download_listing] to provide more flexible and customizable download listings. The original shortcode remains fully functional and unchanged.
Overview
- [download_page] groups downloads by categories and displays info pages.
- [download_listing] focuses on displaying downloads in a clean, customizable table or grid format. It includes extensive customization options and is designed to support advanced display needs.
- The default settings for the table’s/grid’s appearance and behavior can be controlled from Downloads > Settings > Document Library Manager in your WordPress dashboard.
- Per-page shortcode attributes override the global settings, allowing unique styles and functionality on different pages.
Usage
You can select a page to have downloads in WordPress search results link to your Page Addon page. Note that this page should have the [download_page] shortcode. To set this page go to your WordPress dashboard > Downloads > Settings > Advanced > Pages > Page Addon Page > Set there your page > Save changes.
There is also a ‘Hide Page Content’ option. It hides the content present on the page containing the [download_page] shortcode on the download’s info/category/tags/search pages.
Shortcode Usage
To start, simply add the [download_page] shortcode to one of your WordPress pages. Ensure it is not wrapped with any formatting (you can switch the visual editor to HTML mode to check this).
The following arguments can be added to the shortcode to customize the page:
format=pa | The format used to output downloads in the lists. By default this is content-download-pa.php. |
show_search=true | Show the search box on the front page. Set to true or false. |
show_featured=true | Show the featured downloads box on the front page. Set to true or false. |
show_tags=true | Show the tags box on the front page. Set to true or false. |
featured_limit=4 | How many featured downloads to list. Defaults to 4. |
featured_format=pa-thumbnail | The format to use to output featured downloads. By default this is content-download-pa-thumbnail.php. |
category_limit=4 | How many downloads to show per category on the front page. Defaults to 4. |
front_orderby=download_count | The order of downloads on the front page. It can be set to title, download_count, or date. |
default_orderby=title | The order of downloads in lists. It can be set to title, download_count, or date. |
posts_per_page=20 | The number of downloads to show in lists per page (in individual categories and tags). Defaults to 20. |
include_categories= | Comma-separated list of category IDs that should be included. Defaults to all (empty string). |
exclude_categories= | Comma-separated list of category IDs that should be excluded. Defaults to none (empty string). |
direct_download=true | Download the file directly without displaying its meta information |
Example
Show the download page with no tags, search, and 10 featured downloads:[download_page show_search=false show_tags=false featured_limit=10]
Template overrides
Files in this plugin’s ‘templates’ folder can be overridden via your theme. To do this, take a file from dlm-page-addon/templates/ and place it in yourtheme/download-monitor/
Styling
This plugin comes with basic styles that work with default WordPress themes. You may need to restyle the page to match other themes, in which case you should add the styles to your theme’s CSS files.
If you need to turn off Page Addon styles for any reason, including the above, you can do so with a snippet in your theme functions.php file:
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'dequeue_dlm_page_frontend_scripts', 99 );function dequeue_dlm_page_frontend_scripts(){ wp_deregister_style( 'dlm-page-addon-frontend' ); }
You can also remove the number that displays the download count. You will need to create a file in your theme in the folder: download-monitor. The file should be renamed to: content-download-pa.php and the following code should be added to it:
<?php
/***
* Default output for a download via the [download] shortcode
*/
// Exit if accessed directly
if ( ! defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) {
exit;
}
/** @var DLM_Download $dlm_download */
global $dlm_page_addon;
?>
<a href="<?php echo $dlm_page_addon->get_download_info_link( $dlm_download ); ?>" rel="nofollow">
<?php $dlm_download->the_title(); ?>
</a>Managing Files List Settings
Document Library Manager Settings are split into three main sections: Base Settings, Table Styling, and Grid Styling, available under Downloads > Settings > Document Library Manager section in your WordPress dashboard.
Base Settings
The Base Settings control global behavior and layout options.
- Select default Categories and Tags scope (e.g., All)
- Choose Text Direction (LTR or RTL)
Data Filters & Search
- Enable Filtering to allow users to narrow results
- Filter by Category
- Filter by Tags
- Filter by File Type
- Filter by Category
- Enable Sorting (applies to Table View only)
- Enable Search to include a keyword search bar
Pagination & Count
- Enable Pagination to break results into pages
- Downloads per Page – Set the number of items shown (default: 10)
Style & Layout
- Text Alignment – Align content inside download listings
- Button Alignment – Align download buttons (e.g., center)
- Button Width – Set fixed width (e.g., 100%) or leave blank for auto
- Download Button Template – Choose layout style
- Button Text – Customize the label text
- Button Background – Select background color
- Button Border – Choose border color
- Button Hover Text – Set text color on hover
- Button Hover Background – Set hover background color
- Button Hover Border – Set hover border color
- Button Padding – Define internal padding (Top/Bottom and Left/Right, in px)
Table Styling
- Image Type – Select the image type to display in the table
- Featured Image Dimensions – Set image size: Width (e.g., 100px), Height (e.g., 100px)
- Table Font Size – Adjust font size for all table content
- Border Color – Set the table border color
- Head Background Color – Background color for the table header
- Head Font Color – Font color used in the table header
- Row Background Color – Background color of the table rows
- Row Font Color – Font color used in table rows
- Zebra Stripe Color – Color for alternating row stripes
- Padding – Set padding for all sides of each table cell (e.g., 10px)
- Table Columns Order – Choose and reorder which columns appear. Options: Image, Title, Description, Size, File Type, Download Button
Grid Styling
- Image Type – Choose the type of image to display
- Featured Image Dimensions – Set image size: Width (e.g., 200px), Height (e.g., 50px)
- Columns Gap – Set the spacing between grid items
- Title Font Size – Adjust font size for download titles
- Description Font Size – Adjust font size for download descriptions
- Grid Columns – Define the number of columns on different devices: Desktop, Tablet, Mobile
- Header Background Color – Set background color for the header
- Border Color – Choose the border color for grid items
- Row Background Color – Set background color for grid rows/items
- Title Color – Choose font color for titles
- Description Color – Choose font color for descriptions
- Padding – Set padding on all sides (e.g., 15px)
- Last Row Alignment – Control alignment of the last row
Shortcode Usage [download-listing]
Add [download_listing] to any WordPress page to display your downloads with customizable filters, sorting, and styling options.
Shortcode Attributes Reference
The table below lists additional shortcode attributes you can use to fine-tune the functionality and behavior of the download table directly in your shortcode.
| Argument | Type | Description |
| tags | string (comma-separated) | List of tag IDs |
| categories | string (comma-separated) | List of category IDs |
| enable_search | bool | Enable the search bar |
| filter_by_tags | bool | Enable tag-based filtering |
| enable_sorting | bool | Enable column sorting |
| enable_preview | bool | Enable file preview |
| enable_filtering | bool | Enable general filtering |
| filter_by_category | bool | Enable category-based filtering |
| filter_by_file_type | bool | Enable filtering by file type |
| enable_pagination | bool | Enable pagination |
| downloads_per_page | int | Number of downloads per page |
| show_featured_image | bool | Show featured image |
| featured_image_width | int | Width of the featured image |
| featured_image_height | int | Height of the featured image |
Design Attribute
This table outlines shortcode attributes related to the visual layout and styling of the download table.
| Argument | Type | Description |
| row_bg_color | hex color | Background color of rows |
| zebra_color | hex color | Zebra striping color |
| border_color | hex color | Border color |
| head_bg_color | hex color | Header background color |
| row_font_color | hex color | Font color in rows |
| head_font_color | hex color | Font color in the header |
| button_bg_color | hex color | Button background color |
| button_font_color | hex color | Button font color |
| download_template | string | Download row template |
| button_border_color | hex color | Button border color |
| button_hover_bg_color | hex color | Hover background color for buttons |
| button_hover_font_color | hex color | Hover font color for buttons |
| button_hover_border_color | hex color | Hover border color for buttons |
| padding | string (CSS shorthand: e.g. 10px 20px) | Padding around the row |
| button_padding | string (CSS shorthand) | Padding inside buttons |
Gutenberg block
You can use the custom Gutenberg block to display downloads directly within your content. This gives you full control over where and how download details are rendered, using the native block editor.
Adding the Downloads Listing Block
To insert the block navigate to WordPress Dashboard > Pages > Add new > Click “+” (Add Block) in the editor > Search for Downloads Listing and click to insert the block into your page.
Customize the Downloads Listing Block
Once the block is inserted, you can customize its appearance and behavior using the settings panel on the right (Block tab). The available settings are organized into several collapsible sections:
- Base Settings: Control the view type (table or grid), text direction, categories and tags for the listing.
- Data Filters & Search: Enable search, filtering, and sorting options for your downloads.
- Pagination & Count: Enable pagination and control the number of downloads shown per page.
- Style & Layout: Adjust layout options, spacing, and alignment for your listed downloads..
- Table Styling (when using the table layout): Choose which columns to display (e.g. image, title, description, size, file type, download button) and the style for the table.
- Grid Styling (when using the grid layout): Choose image type, height, column gap, title and description font sizes, colors and padding for your grid.
- Advanced: Add custom CSS classes or make advanced adjustments for more control over block styling.