While Query Loop Builder was made to build queries from post types, there are many other dynamic, repeatable data sources in WordPress that you may want to retrieve. They are options, users, taxonomies, comments, repeater fields from extra plugins, and even external repeaters.
Here are just a few examples where it can be used
Attaching repeatable offers to Product pages
Attaching related items from other post types (accessories, reviews)
Attaching associated items from the same post type
Making cross-links between different post types
Listing repeatable items or attached Groups from custom fields
Rendering data from ACF repeater fields and repeater field types of third-party plugins
Rendering the Relationship type of fields
Making custom Taxonomy archives
Making custom offer templates for Content Egg plugin
Building custom taxonomy archive templates
Building Comment listings
Building User listings
Building loops from external files and services
Making sliders from images added in Options
This block supports Arrays, multi-dimensional arrays of data, arrays of post objects and single post object. Next types are available for data storage
ACF Repeater field
ACPT Repeater field
Arrays that are saved in custom fields from other plugins (repeater, groups)
Relationship Post objects (for example, ACF-related posts, which are saved as post objects
Relationship Post Ids (for example, ACF-related posts which are saved as post ids)
Taxonomy
JSON Format file saved in custom field
Comments
Users
Option pages made with ACF or natively
External JSON file
Design options from Query Builder are also supported. You can set column numbers, merge, span columns, add borders, shadows, spacing, colors, etc.
You can also convert repeatable items to slider.
The principles of work for repeater builder are very simple. Enable Dynamic Repeater data in DIV block (or any other) or add Dynamic Repeater block. Then select source where you store your repeater data. All data will be merged into context of block, now, when you enable dynamic fields for any of inner blocks, you can get repeater data from this context.
Inside the repeater builder, you can use any blocks that supports dynamic values.
This block can also be nested, or it can be used inside Query Builder to make nested loops inside your items.
It’s important to know that when you construct an inner item in the repeater, the latest item will be used. Ensure the latest item has all the data you want to show in the repeater. For example, if you build users listing and you want to show user meta data, make sure that latest user in your repeater data has this user meta. This is required only for first configuration and design building.
Test Data
When configuring repeater, it’s good to know which data is returned in response. So, we added test data tool
Screenshot
You can see which subfields are populated in each repeated item. You can use these names for your inner blocks inside repeater. However, top level names are automatically detected when you choose repeater as source for inner blocks
Screenshot
Check video
Nested Repeaters
The repeater builder also supports various types of nested and cross repeaters.
If your data has inner arrays, simply put repeater inside another repeater to retrieve such data. Use the Repeater Field type in the Repeater to get nested data from the parent repeater.
Nested data can be not only as an array but also as post IDs or objects. This can be useful, for example, when you use the Repeater field in ACF and inside the repeater field you use a relationship field
Cross repeaters
Cross repeaters allow the retrieval of specific data based on another repeater. Currently, this is available in the Taxonomy and User types of repeaters. Examples of when it’s useful
You want to show featured categories and in each category card, you want to show latest posts.
You want to show featured users and the latest 5 products for each user
Cross repeaters use just one database request. So, if you have 10 users in repeater, it doesn’t fetch 10 database requests to get products for each user. It has only one request.
How to use Cross repeaters?
Enable specific options in the parent repeater.
Take note that the limit of items in the cross repeater is controlled from the parent and not inside the nested repeater.
Now, put another repeater inside and select to use “crossposts” as source
Now, inside this nested repeater you can show details of latest items. All regular fields are available: title, image, permalink, etc.
As results, you can show something like this – Featured vendors with their latest products. This can be also latest Brands, featured categories, etc
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<p><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">While <a href="https://greenshiftwp.com/query-builder/" target="_blank">Query Loop Builder</a> was made to build queries from post types, there are many other dynamic, repeatable data sources in WordPress that you may want to retrieve.</span> They are options, users, taxonomies, comments, repeater fields from extra plugins, and even external repeaters.</p>
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<p>Here are just a few examples where it can be used</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Attaching repeatable offers to Product pages</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Attaching related items from other post types (accessories, reviews)</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Attaching associated items from the same post type</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Making cross-links between different post types</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Listing repeatable items or attached Groups from custom fields</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Rendering data from ACF repeater fields and repeater field types of third-party plugins</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Rendering the Relationship type of fields</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Making custom Taxonomy archives</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Making custom offer templates for Content Egg plugin</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Building custom taxonomy archive templates</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Building Comment listings</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Building User listings</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Building loops from external files and services</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Making sliders from images added in Options</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item --></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This block supports Arrays, multi-dimensional arrays of data, arrays of post objects and single post object. Next types are available for data storage</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>ACF Repeater field</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>ACPT Repeater field</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Arrays that are saved in custom fields from other plugins (repeater, groups)</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Relationship Post objects (for example, ACF-related posts, which are saved as post objects</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Relationship Post Ids (for example, ACF-related posts which are saved as post ids)</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Taxonomy</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>JSON Format file saved in custom field</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Comments</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Users</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Option pages made with ACF or natively</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>External JSON file</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item --></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Design options from Query Builder are also supported. You can set column numbers, merge, span columns, add borders, shadows, spacing, colors, etc.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>You can also convert repeatable items to slider.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The principles of work for repeater builder are very simple. Enable Dynamic Repeater data in DIV block (or any other) or add Dynamic Repeater block. Then select source where you store your repeater data. All data will be merged into context of block, now, when you enable dynamic fields for any of inner blocks, you can get repeater data from this context.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:greenshift-blocks/video {"id":"gsbp-e5b502b","videoid":5772,"src":"https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/RepeaterforSiteOptions.mp4","provider":"video","postDate":"2023-03-15T15:45:13+00:00"} -->
<div class="wp-block-greenshift-blocks-video gs-video video gspb_video-id-gsbp-e5b502b" id="gs-video-gsbp-e5b502b"><div class="gs-video-wrapper" itemscope><div class="gs-video-element" data-src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/RepeaterforSiteOptions.mp4" data-autoplay="false" data-playsinline="false" data-controls="true" data-loop="false" data-mute="false" data-poster="" data-provider="video" data-overlay="false" data-lightbox="false"></div></div></div>
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<p>Inside the repeater builder, you can use any blocks that supports <a href="https://greenshiftwp.com/dynamic-fields/" data-type="post" data-id="2246">dynamic values</a>. </p>
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<!-- wp:greenshift-blocks/infobox {"id":"gsbp-086fb344-bb7e"} -->
<div class="wp-block-greenshift-blocks-infobox gspb_infoBox gspb_infoBox-id-gsbp-086fb344-bb7e" id="gspb_infoBox-id-gsbp-086fb344-bb7e"><div class="gs-box info_type icon_type"><div class="gs-box-icon"><svg x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 512 512"> <g><g> <path d="M256,0C114.497,0,0,114.507,0,256c0,141.503,114.507,256,256,256c141.503,0,256-114.507,256-256 C512,114.497,397.492,0,256,0z M256,472c-119.393,0-216-96.615-216-216c0-119.393,96.615-216,216-216 c119.393,0,216,96.615,216,216C472,375.393,375.384,472,256,472z"></path> </g> </g> <g> <g> <path d="M256,214.33c-11.046,0-20,8.954-20,20v128.793c0,11.046,8.954,20,20,20s20-8.955,20-20.001V234.33 C276,223.284,267.046,214.33,256,214.33z"></path> </g> </g> <g> <g> <circle cx="256" cy="162.84" r="27"></circle> </g> </g> </svg></div><div class="gs-box-text"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>This block can also be nested, or it can be used inside Query Builder to make nested loops inside your items.</p>
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<div class="wp-block-greenshift-blocks-infobox gspb_infoBox gspb_infoBox-id-gsbp-1fd5a97" id="gspb_infoBox-id-gsbp-1fd5a97"><div class="gs-box notice_type icon_type"><div class="gs-box-icon"><svg x="0px" y="0px" viewBox="0 0 486.463 486.463"> <g> <g> <path d="M243.225,333.382c-13.6,0-25,11.4-25,25s11.4,25,25,25c13.1,0,25-11.4,24.4-24.4 C268.225,344.682,256.925,333.382,243.225,333.382z"></path> <path d="M474.625,421.982c15.7-27.1,15.8-59.4,0.2-86.4l-156.6-271.2c-15.5-27.3-43.5-43.5-74.9-43.5s-59.4,16.3-74.9,43.4 l-156.8,271.5c-15.6,27.3-15.5,59.8,0.3,86.9c15.6,26.8,43.5,42.9,74.7,42.9h312.8 C430.725,465.582,458.825,449.282,474.625,421.982z M440.625,402.382c-8.7,15-24.1,23.9-41.3,23.9h-312.8 c-17,0-32.3-8.7-40.8-23.4c-8.6-14.9-8.7-32.7-0.1-47.7l156.8-271.4c8.5-14.9,23.7-23.7,40.9-23.7c17.1,0,32.4,8.9,40.9,23.8 l156.7,271.4C449.325,369.882,449.225,387.482,440.625,402.382z"></path> <path d="M237.025,157.882c-11.9,3.4-19.3,14.2-19.3,27.3c0.6,7.9,1.1,15.9,1.7,23.8c1.7,30.1,3.4,59.6,5.1,89.7 c0.6,10.2,8.5,17.6,18.7,17.6c10.2,0,18.2-7.9,18.7-18.2c0-6.2,0-11.9,0.6-18.2c1.1-19.3,2.3-38.6,3.4-57.9 c0.6-12.5,1.7-25,2.3-37.5c0-4.5-0.6-8.5-2.3-12.5C260.825,160.782,248.925,155.082,237.025,157.882z"></path> </g> </g> </svg></div><div class="gs-box-text"><!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>It's important to know that when you construct an inner item in the repeater, the latest item will be used. Ensure the latest item has all the data you want to show in the repeater. For example, if you build users listing and you want to show user meta data, make sure that latest user in your repeater data has this user meta. This is required only for first configuration and design building. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph --></div></div></div>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="test-data">Test Data</h3>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>When configuring repeater, it's good to know which data is returned in response. So, we added test data tool</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":5773,"width":"300px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/[email protected]" alt="" class="wp-image-5773" style="width:300px"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screenshot</figcaption></figure>
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<p>You can see which subfields are populated in each repeated item. You can use these names for your inner blocks inside repeater. However, top level names are automatically detected when you choose repeater as source for inner blocks</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":5774,"width":"300px","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/[email protected]" alt="" class="wp-image-5774" style="width:300px"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Screenshot</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Check video </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://youtu.be/K62P8EjsQlo","type":"video","providerNameSlug":"youtube","responsive":true,"className":"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
https://youtu.be/K62P8EjsQlo
</div></figure>
<!-- /wp:embed -->
<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="nested-repeaters">Nested Repeaters</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>The repeater builder also supports various types of nested and cross repeaters.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>If your data has inner arrays, simply put repeater inside another repeater to retrieve such data. Use the Repeater Field type in the Repeater to get nested data from the parent repeater.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":4822,"width":"263px","height":"713px","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/nestedrepeater.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4822" style="width:263px;height:713px"/></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Nested data can be not only as an array but also as post IDs or objects. This can be useful, for example, when you use the Repeater field in ACF and inside the repeater field you use a relationship field</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:heading -->
<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="cross-repeaters">Cross repeaters</h2>
<!-- /wp:heading -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Cross repeaters allow the retrieval of specific data based on another repeater. Currently, this is available in the Taxonomy and User types of repeaters. Examples of when it's useful</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} -->
<ol class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>You want to show featured categories and in each category card, you want to show latest posts.</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item -->
<!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>You want to show featured users and the latest 5 products for each user</li>
<!-- /wp:list-item --></ol>
<!-- /wp:list -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Cross repeaters use just one database request. So, if you have 10 users in repeater, it doesn't fetch 10 database requests to get products for each user. It has only one request.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p><strong>How to use Cross repeaters</strong>?</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Enable specific options in the parent repeater.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":4823,"width":"274px","height":"325px","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/repeatercross.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4823" style="width:274px;height:325px"/></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Take note that the limit of items in the cross repeater is controlled from the parent and not inside the nested repeater.</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Now, put another repeater inside and select to use "crossposts" as source</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:image {"id":4824,"width":"273px","height":"671px","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"none"} -->
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/crossposts.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-4824" style="width:273px;height:671px"/></figure>
<!-- /wp:image -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>Now, inside this nested repeater you can show details of latest items. All regular fields are available: title, image, permalink, etc. </p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:paragraph -->
<p>As results, you can show something like this - Featured vendors with their latest products. This can be also latest Brands, featured categories, etc</p>
<!-- /wp:paragraph -->
<!-- wp:greenshift-blocks/image {"id":"gsbp-29cc105","originalWidth":1956,"originalHeight":556,"mediaurl":"https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/latestvendors.jpg","mediaid":4827,"alt":""} -->
<div class="wp-block-greenshift-blocks-image gspb_image gspb_image-id-gsbp-29cc105" id="gspb_image-id-gsbp-29cc105"><img src="https://greenshiftwp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/latestvendors.jpg" data-src="" alt="" loading="lazy" width="1956" height="556"/></div>
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