Settings

2. Settings

The Post Views Counter plugin enables users to configure its general settings and display settings from the Settings screen. From the WordPress admin panel, navigate to Settings > Post Views Counter to access the Settings screen.

2.1 General Settings

Users can configure general settings for the Post Views Counter plugin by navigating to the General tab form the Settings screen. Here’s a preview of the default General Settings screen followed by a detailed explanation of the different settings you can configure.

2.1.1 Post Types Count

The Post Types Count setting enables users to select which post type to enable counting on. Once enabled, the post views will be counted for that particular post type.

• When a page is viewed, the counter will be incremented.
• When a post is viewed, its counter will be incremented.

The plugin allows users to select either one or multiple post types at a time.

2.1.2 Counter Mode

The Counter Mode configuration option enables users to select the method of collecting post views data. The JavaScript option is recommended for users who have a caching plugin installed on their site. If you’re not using a caching plugin then you can select either option.

2.1.3 Post Views Column

If you’d like to enable displaying post views count column for the post types you selected above, tick this box. It will display a column next to your post and/or page with the post views count.

2.1.4 Restrict Edit

Enabling this option allows users to restrict post views editing to admin members only. Leaving it disabled allows all user roles to edit post views from your site’s back end.

2.1.5 Time Between Counts

Users can set the time between single user visit counts in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

For instance, if you set the Time Between Counts to 24 hours then if a user visits thrice within that time it will only be recorded as one post view. However, if the user visits once in that time interval then revisits after 24 hours, it will count as two post views.

2.1.6 Reset Data Interval

This option allows users to set a reset interval by deleting the counter once it reaches a specified age. The Reset Data Interval is the time after which the post views counter is reset. Enter 0 (number zero) in the Reset data Interval box to preserve the post views counter data.

Users can set the Reset Data Interval value in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

2.1.7 Flush Object Cache Interval

The Flush Object Cache Interval option determines how often to flush cached view counts from the object cache into the database. This feature is used only if a persistent object cache is detected and the interval is greater than 0 (number zero).

When you set an interval, view counts will be collected and stored in the object cache instead of the database and will then be asynchronously flushed to the database according to the specified interval.

Potential data loss may occur if the object cache is cleared or unavailable for the duration of the interval. Users can set the Flush Object Cache Interval in minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years.

2.1.8 Exclude Visitors

The Exclude Visitors option allows users to hide the post views counter when a specific type of visitor or selected user role views the post and/or page. Users can select one or multiple types of users to hide the post views counter from:

• Robots.
• Logged in users.
• Guests.
• Selected user roles (administrator, author, contributor, editor, and subscriber).

2.1.9 Exclude IPs

The Exclude IPs option allows users to create a list of IPs to exclude from the post views counter. This means that when a user with the specified IP address accesses the post and/or page, the counter will not be incremented.

2.1.10 WP-PostViews

If users have been using the WP-PostViews plugin, they can import the post views data from that plugin. Doing so ensures that you don’t lose the data of post and/or page views when you install the Post Views Counter plugin.

Ticking the Override existing Post Views Counter data box allows users to override any existing post views data or implementation that might be present.

2.1.11 Deactivation

Selecting the Deactivation option ensures that the plugin’s data will be deleted from your website’s files upon deactivation. This option should be selected to prevent any incompatibility problems and clear space on your server.

2.2 Display Settings

Post Views Counter’s Display Settings enable website owners to configure how the counter is displayed on their WordPress website. These settings can be accessed by navigating to Settings > Post Views Counter from the WordPress admin panel and then clicking on the Display tab from the Post Views Counter screen.

2.2.1 Post Views Label

This option allows users to select the label that’s displayed next to the post views counter field on their website. The Post Views Label configuration option is an HTML text box.

2.2.2 Post Type

The Post Type option allows users to select which post types to display the Post Views Counter on. Users can select to have the counter displayed on either pages, posts, or both.

2.2.3 Page Type

The Page Type display option allows users to select which page types to display the counter on. The available options include:

• Home.
• Archives.
• Single pages.
• Search results.

Users can select a one page type or multiple page types from the list of available options.

2.2.4 User Type

The User Type setting allows users to select the users they’d like to hide the post views counter from. The available options include:

• Logged in users.
• Guests.
• Selected user roles (administrator, author, contributor, editor, and subscriber).

Users can select a one user type or multiple user types from the list of available options.

2.2.5 Position

Users can select where on the page and/or post they’d like to display the post views counter. The available options include:

• Before the content. The counter will be displayed at the beginning of the page and/or post.
• After the content. The counter will be displayed at the end of the page and/or post.
• Manual.The user can enter the [post-views] shortcode anywhere on the page and/or post for manual display.

2.2.6 Display Style

The Display Style determines how the post views counter will be displayed on your website. Users can select icon, label, or both.

2.2.7 Icon Class

Users can select the Icon Class from the list of available Dashicons.

The selected icon will be displayed next to the post view counter on the page and/or post.