Your WordPress directory site built with Toolset Types isn’t displaying custom post types correctly, or the directory functionality has completely stopped working. This is a critical issue that can break your entire site’s purpose, especially if you’re running a business directory, member database, or listing platform.
Step-by-Step Fixes
Step 1: Clear All Caches
Start with the quickest fix first. Clear your WordPress cache, browser cache, and any CDN cache you might be using. Go to your caching plugin (like WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, or WP Super Cache) and hit the “Clear Cache” button. Then clear your browser cache by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Delete (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+Delete (Mac). This resolves display issues about 30% of the time.
Step 2: Check Toolset Settings
Navigate to Toolset > Settings in your WordPress dashboard. Look for the “Front-end Content” tab and verify that your custom post types are set to display publicly. Make sure the “Public” option is checked for each custom post type you want in your directory. Also check that “Has Archive” is enabled if you’re using archive pages for your directory listings.
Step 3: Regenerate Permalinks
Go to Settings > Permalinks in WordPress. Don’t change anything – just click “Save Changes” at the bottom. This forces WordPress to rebuild its rewrite rules, which often fixes custom post type display issues. It’s a simple trick that works surprisingly often when directory pages show 404 errors.
Step 4: Verify View and Content Template Settings
Open Toolset > Views and check your directory View. Make sure:
- The Query Filter is set to pull from the correct custom post type
- The Loop Output section contains your template code
- The View is inserted on the correct page using the shortcode `[wpv-view name=”your-view-name”]`
If using Content Templates, go to Toolset > Content Templates and ensure your template is assigned to the right custom post type.
Step 5: Check for Plugin Conflicts
Deactivate all plugins except Toolset Types and Toolset Views. If your directory suddenly works, you’ve got a plugin conflict. Reactivate plugins one by one until the directory breaks again – that’s your culprit. Common conflict plugins include other custom post type managers, SEO plugins with aggressive settings, and security plugins that block queries.
Step 6: Inspect Database Integrity
Use phpMyAdmin or a plugin like WP-DBManager to check if your custom post type data exists in the database. Look in the `wp_posts` table for entries where `post_type` matches your custom post type slug. If the data is missing, you might need to restore from a backup.
Likely Causes
Cause #1: Corrupted Rewrite Rules
WordPress uses rewrite rules to display custom post types with pretty URLs. These rules can become corrupted after plugin updates, theme changes, or server migrations. You’ll notice this when individual custom posts work but archive pages return 404 errors.
To check: Try accessing a single custom post directly by its URL. If it works but the directory page doesn’t, it’s likely a rewrite issue.
To fix: Beyond regenerating permalinks, you might need to add custom rewrite rules to your theme’s functions.php file:
“`php
function custom_directory_rewrite_rules() {
flush_rewrite_rules();
}
add_action(‘init’, ‘custom_directory_rewrite_rules’);
“`
Run this once, then remove it to avoid performance issues.
Cause #2: Memory Limit Exceeded
Directory sites with hundreds or thousands of entries can hit PHP memory limits, causing the page to fail silently or show a white screen. This is especially common with complex Views that include multiple custom fields or relationships.
To check: Enable WordPress debug mode by adding these lines to wp-config.php:
“`php
define(‘WP_DEBUG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_LOG’, true);
define(‘WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY’, false);
“`
Check the debug.log file in wp-content for memory-related errors.
To fix: Increase PHP memory limit in wp-config.php:
“`php
define(‘WP_MEMORY_LIMIT’, ‘256M’);
“`
Or optimize your View by paginating results and limiting the number of items displayed per page.
Cause #3: Toolset License or Update Issues
An expired Toolset license or failed update can cause features to malfunction. The plugin might partially work but fail on complex operations like displaying filtered directories.
To check: Go to Toolset > Installer and verify your license status. Look for any error messages or update notifications.
To fix: Renew your license if expired, then update all Toolset plugins. If updates fail, manually download the latest versions from toolset.com and upload via FTP.
When to Call Expert Help
Contact a WordPress developer experienced with Toolset if:
- You’ve tried all steps and the directory still won’t display
- You’re seeing database errors or corruption warnings
- The site is business-critical and you can’t afford extended downtime
- You need to recover lost custom post type data
Professional help is ideal for complex directory sites with custom code modifications or when multiple plugins interact with your custom post types. Not recommended when you’re just starting out – try the fixes above first.
Copy-Paste Prompt for AI Help
Use this prompt for additional troubleshooting assistance:
“I have a WordPress site running Toolset Types for a directory of custom post types. The directory page is [describe specific issue: not loading/showing 404/displaying wrong content]. I’ve already tried [list what you’ve attempted]. My setup includes: WordPress version [X.X], Toolset Types version [X.X], Theme: [theme name], Other relevant plugins: [list them]. The custom post type slug is [your-cpt-slug]. Please provide specific troubleshooting steps for this Toolset Types directory display issue.”
Remember to backup your site before making any significant changes. Directory sites are complex systems, and what works for one setup might need adjustment for another. Take it step by step, and your directory will be back online soon.