Events Grid

A WordPress plugin that replaces hardcoded HTML event cards with dynamic event posts managed from the admin area. Outputs a responsive CSS Grid via a shortcode — works anywhere, including Elementor's shortcode widget.

Version: 1.2.4 | Requires: WordPress 6.0+, PHP 7.4+ | License: GPLv2

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Installation

1. Upload the events-grid folder to /wp-content/plugins/.
2. Activate the plugin in WordPress Admin → Plugins.
3. Add events under the new Events menu.
4. Place [events_grid] in any page, post, or Elementor shortcode widget.

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Shortcode

[events_grid]

Attributes

Attribute	Default	Description
columns	3	Desktop column count
tablet_columns	2	Tablet column count
mobile_columns	1	Mobile column count
posts_per_page	24	Max events to show
show_past	no	no · yes · only · merged
orderby	start_date	Sort field
order	ASC	ASC or DESC
category	(all)	Filter by event category slug
upcoming_label	(default)	Custom heading for upcoming section
past_label	(default)	Custom heading for past section

show_past values

Value	Behaviour
no	Upcoming events only (default)
yes	Upcoming section, then past section below
only	Past events only
merged	Upcoming then past in a single grid

Examples

[events_grid]
[events_grid columns="4" tablet_columns="2" mobile_columns="1"]
[events_grid posts_per_page="6" show_past="yes"]
[events_grid category="conference" upcoming_label="Upcoming Conferences"]

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Event Fields

Each event post supports the following meta:

Field	Description
Start Date	Event start date
End Date	Event end date
Venue	Location / venue name
Booth Number	Stand or booth reference
Speaker Badge	Badge label for speakers
URL	External link for the event card

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Settings

Events → Settings exposes:

Setting	Description
Hide past events after N days	Auto-hide past events after N days (0 = never hide)
Load Roboto from Google Fonts	Toggle the external Google Fonts request

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CSV Importer

Bulk-import events from a CSV file via Events → Import.

• Validates file content (not just extension)
• 5 MB file size limit
• 2,000-row import cap
• Duplicate detection via pre-loaded hash set
• Cache invalidation flushed once at the end of the import

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Performance & Caching

• Shortcode output is cached as a 1-hour transient, keyed by attributes, date, locale, and a version counter.
• Cache is auto-invalidated whenever any event is saved or deleted.
• All event meta loaded in a single query per grid (no N+1).

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Files

events-grid/
├── events-grid.php              # Plugin entry point
├── uninstall.php                # Cleanup on uninstall
├── includes/
│   ├── class-events-grid.php              # Core singleton
│   ├── class-events-grid-cpt.php          # Custom post type & taxonomy
│   ├── class-events-grid-meta-boxes.php   # Event meta fields
│   ├── class-events-grid-shortcode.php    # Shortcode rendering & cache
│   ├── class-events-grid-settings.php     # Settings page
│   ├── class-events-grid-importer.php     # CSV importer
│   ├── class-events-grid-admin-columns.php # Admin list columns
│   ├── class-events-grid-helpers.php      # Shared utilities
│   ├── class-events-grid-help.php         # Admin help tab
│   └── class-events-grid-updater.php      # Auto-updater (SHA-256 verified)
└── assets/css/                  # Plugin stylesheets

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Changelog

1.2.4

• Fix: bust_cache() now calls nitropack_sdk_purge_all() when NitroPack is active, clearing NitroPack's device-specific full-page cache (desktop/tablet/mobile) whenever an event is saved or deleted.

1.2.3

• Fix: Reverted stylesheet registration to wp_register_style() so CSS is only enqueued when the shortcode renders.
• Fix: Shortcode now injects an inline <link> when wp_head has already fired (covers AJAX / NitroPack lazy-load contexts).

1.2.2

• Fix: Cache key includes the current date so past events are excluded after midnight without a manual save.

1.2.0

• Security: CSV upload validates actual file content via finfo/mime_content_type.
• Security: 5 MB file size limit and 2,000-row cap on CSV imports.
• Security: Auto-updater verifies SHA-256 checksum from update server.
• Performance: CSV duplicate detection uses a single pre-loaded hash set.
• Performance: Bulk import suspends cache invalidation during insert, flushes once at end.
• Performance: show_past="merged" uses a single database query.
• New: "Load Roboto from Google Fonts" toggle in Settings.

1.1.2

• Added Hide past events after N days setting.

1.1.1

• Added Modified By column to the Events admin list table.

1.1.0

• Added Event Categories taxonomy with category shortcode attribute.
• Added upcoming_label and past_label shortcode attributes.
• Fixed N+1 database query — all meta loaded in a single query.
• Added shortcode output caching (1-hour transient).
• Added Start Date, End Date, Venue, and Country admin columns.
• Registered all meta fields with the REST API.

1.0.0

• Initial release.