IDM Post Date Archive Link

IDM Post Date Archive Link is a lightweight plugin that provides a dedicated block and a shortcode for dynamically displaying the publication date, or the last modified date, of a post or page.

Its core function is to offer display flexibility, allowing you to choose between the publication date or the last modified date. Furthermore, it enables linking the displayed date to different types of date archives.

This tool is perfect for Full Site Editing (FSE) themes and for users who require precise control over the date’s format and link destination within their templates and content.

Features

• Gutenberg Block: Fully compatible with the block editor and FSE themes.
• Date Selection: Choose to display the published date (default) or the last modified date.
• Archive Links: Option to link the date to the yearly, monthly, or daily archive of the current post, to its permalink, or display it as plain text.
• Custom Formatting: Supports date/time formatting using standard PHP formatting characters.
• CPT Support: Correctly handles archive links for Custom Post Types by appending their slug to the URL.
• Shortcode: Includes the shortcode for backward compatibility and use in widget areas or the Classic Editor.

Usage

Block

The block is registered as “IDM Post Date Archive Link” under the Theme category. Once inserted, you can customize it using the available settings in the Block Inspector sidebar:

• Use custom format: Override the default date format (set in the general settings) with a custom one.
• Enable date link: Make the date clickable by linking it to the post or a date archive.
• Display last modified date: If the post has been modified, display the last modified date instead of the publication date.
• Date prefix: Custom text prefix to add before the date (e.g., “Published on:”).

The block can be styled using the Styles panel of Block Inspector sidebar. To match the current theme style, apply the class “wp-block-post-date” to the block (same class of Post Date core block).

Shortcode

You can use the [ipdal] shortcode in any supported area (shortcode block, widgets, classic editor), or in a classic theme template with: <?php echo do_shortcode('[ipdal]'); ?>.
Available attributes are:

• link : Make the date clickable by linking it to the post or a date archive.
  Accepted Values: post, day, month, year, none
  Default: post

• modified : If the post has been modified, display the last modified date instead of the published date.
  Accepted Values: true, false
  Default: false

• format : Override the default date format (set in the general site settings) with a custom one.
  Accepted Values: Any date format string like “d/m/Y” or “timeago” for relative date format.
  Default: default

• text : Custom text prefix to add before the date.
  Accepted Values: Any string (e.g., “Published on:”)
  Default: '' (none – empty string)

Example:

[ipdal modified="true" link="month" format="m/d/Y" text="Updated:"]

( this sample will displays the last modified date linked to the monthly archive, with the format month/day/year, and “Updated:” as custom text prefix )

The shortcode can be styled with custom CSS by referencing its class: “idm-post-date-archive-link_shortcode“.