WordPress Plugin To Bulk Edit Custom Fields

Some more advanced WordPress themes and post-based plugins make use of WordPress Custom Fields. Recently, whilst developing a custom WordPress plugin, I realised I needed to edit custom fields across 30 different posts.

I had two options:

  • Open each post separately and edit the custom field values
  • Use Phpmyadmin to access the database and make changes using MySQL queries

But then I found a plugin which would make it much easier, without having to edit each post individually – or get my hands dirty with Phpmyadmin.

Custom Field Bulk Editor by SparkWeb Interactive Inc is a free WordPress plugin which allows you to bulk edit custom fields from the WP-Admin backend interface.

Custom Fields Bulk Editor

The key features which make this plugin so good are:

  • Compatibility with custom post types
  • Bulk-set, bulk-delete and bulk-edit custom fields across multiple posts
  • Set a different value for different posts for the same custom field key
  • Rename custom field key across multiple posts
  • Clean, lightweight and simple to use

Example scenario

I created a custom post type called ‘Portfolio’ via a plugin. One of the custom fields was called ‘length’. It recorded a value as a string for the duration of the project (eg. 1 Week). However, in a second iteration of the plugin I needed to change the name of this custom field to ‘duration’.

Since the site where I was using this plugin already had 30 posts with the custom field ‘length’ I wanted a simple and automated process to change ‘length’ to ‘duration’ whilst keeping the varying custom field values.

By using Custom Field Bulk Editor I can change the custom field key ‘length’ to ‘duration’ in a matter of seconds. It also changed the values directly so there was no duplicated custom fields for each post. This was important for me to avoid unnecessary bloat in my WordPress database.

Custom Fields Bulk Editor Multiple Custom Fields

The benefits of Custom Fields Bulk Editor over alternative methods
My example scenario was very simple, and in all fairness it could have been achieved through MySQL queries and Phpmyadmin. But, for those who are not confident with MySQL, this plugin offers a clean and simple-to-use GUI to carry out the same tasks.

In addition, making multiple changes to multiple fields across multiple (selected) posts can become complicated when actioned through MySQL queries. Again, this custom fields editor plugin makes it easy to carry out the more complicated tasks.

Where can I use it?

  • I don’t see much use for this plugin for those who aren’t somewhat involved in the development or maintenance of WordPress websites
  • Useful for deleting multiple custom fields created by old plugins and themes
  • Can be used to update multiple custom field values in one go
  • Can be used to rename custom field keys
  • Useful for developers testing themes and custom plugins
  • Works with all Custom Post Types

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