WP Manifestindependent plugin directory
manifest / content / content-trees

Content Trees

Content Trees is a ground-up modernization and intended successor to my WP-dTree plugin, which is now in maintenance mode for bug fixes and security updates only. It replaces the legacy JavaScript library with native browser features and WordPress APIs, with a focus on security, performance, accessibility and simpler configuration.

by ulfben · github.com/ulfben/content-trees

★ 0stars

Install

Download source zip No release zip yet

This is the repository archive. It installs, but the folder name will carry the branch suffix and updates will not flow.

Install straight from GitHub with WP-CLI:

wp plugin install https://github.com/ulfben/content-trees/archive/refs/heads/main.zip
No built-in updater. New versions won't appear under Dashboard → Updates. Install new releases yourself, or let Git Updater track the repository.
Readme github.com/ulfben/content-trees ↗

Collapsible archive trees with on-demand post loading, live editor previews and keyboard-friendly navigation.

Description

Content Trees makes your site's content easier to explore through compact, collapsible navigation.

Content Trees is the modern successor to WP-dTree, rebuilt using native browser features and WordPress APIs. It replaces the aging dTree library with lightweight JavaScript, loads post titles on demand, and offers a live preview in the block editor. Built with accessibility in mind, it supports keyboard navigation, touch-friendly controls, and screen-reader announcements.

Version 0.7 introduces the archive tree. Page, category and tag trees are planned for 1.0.

Available now

  • Archive trees: Browse posts by year and month, or display a simple list of months.
  • On-demand loading: Posts are loaded only when a month is expanded, with no pagination or arbitrary limits. Previously loaded titles are cached for faster navigation.
  • Flexible display: Show or hide posts and post counts, choose newest or oldest first, and optionally link years and months to their archives.
  • Current-post navigation: Highlight the current post and optionally expand its branch automatically.
  • Post exclusions: Search for and exclude individual posts from both the tree and its post counts.
  • WordPress integration: A block with live preview, a classic widget, and shortcode support.
  • Accessible navigation: Native disclosure controls, keyboard navigation, touch-friendly controls, and screen-reader loading announcements.

Coming next

  • Page trees: Navigate hierarchical pages and their parent-child relationships.
  • Category trees: Browse categories and the posts within them.
  • Tag trees: Browse posts organized by tag.

These three tree types are planned for version 1.0, which is intended to become the recommended upgrade path for most WP-dTree users.

Future possibilities include support for custom taxonomies, custom post types, and category-filtered archives, depending on user demand.

Installation

  1. Upload the supplied plugin folder to wp-content/plugins/, or install a supplied ZIP through Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
  2. Activate Content Trees.
  3. Add the Content Trees: Archive block in Appearance > Widgets. With a block theme, add it to a template or template part in Appearance > Editor.
  4. Choose a title and display options, then save. Classic widget areas can use the archive widget instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this alongside WP-dTree?

Yes. Content Trees installs separately and leaves WP-dTree's widgets and settings intact. Add a new archive tree to try it; existing widgets are not converted automatically.

Can I add a tree with a shortcode?

Yes. Use [content_trees_archive title="Archives"]. The block and classic widget offer the easiest way to configure a tree.

Screenshots

  1. Configure the archive tree in the Widgets editor, with a live preview and controls for grouping, ordering, counts and branch behaviour.
  2. An archive tree on a sample blog, expanded to the current post with its title highlighted.

Changelog

0.7

  • Introduce the archive tree with complete-month loading, current-post highlighting and configurable year/month navigation.
  • Add a block with live preview, a classic widget and shortcode support.
  • Include post counts, ordering, searchable exclusions, Open All / Close All and optional closing of branches at the same level.
  • Rebuild navigation with native browser controls, on-demand requests, cached archive counts and keyboard, touch and screen-reader support.