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Location Rules for WordPress Custom Fields

Updated On : November 12, 2026By : Reading Time : 2 minutes

Key Takeaways

  • Location Rules in Nexter Extension match an editing screen, and a field group appears on every screen that matches the parameter, operator, and value.
  • Nexter Extension 4.9.0 offers 21 parameters, but only 18 are functional; widget, nav_menu, and nav_menu_item are present but do nothing.
  • Troubleshooting uses AND and OR logic: rules in one group all must match, while a second rule group widens the match for cases like “Post Type equals Post” or “Post Type equals Page.”
Table of Contents

A field group appears nowhere until you tell it where to appear. Location rules are that instruction: they match an editing screen, and the group shows up on every screen that matches.

What It Does

Each rule is three parts — a parameter, an operator and a value. Rules in the same group combine with AND: all must match. Add a second rule group and the two combine with OR: either set matching is enough.

Before You Start

  • Nexter Extension is installed and active.
  • Content Fields is enabled under Nexter → Content Fields.
  • You have a field group, or are about to create one.

Set a Location Rule

  1. Open the field group and find the Location Rules panel.
The Location Rules panel on a field group
  1. Choose a parameter — for example Post Type.
  1. Choose an operator — Equals or Not Equals.
  1. Choose a value — for example Properties.
  1. Click And to narrow the same rule group further, or Add Rule Group for an alternative set.
  1. Click Update, then open a matching post to confirm the group appears.
The field group appearing on a matching post

When to Use It

  • Property details on the Properties post type only.
  • A subtitle field on pages using one particular template.
  • Extra profile fields on administrators only.

Limitations

  • Nexter Extension 4.9.0 offers 21 parameters, of which 18 are functional. widget, nav_menu and nav_menu_item are present but do nothing.
  • The options page context does not use location rules. A group shown on an options page is placed there directly.
  • A group with no rules appears nowhere. That is the expected behaviour, not a bug.

Troubleshooting

The group does not appear anywhere

Either it has no rules, or the rules contradict each other. Rules in one group are ANDed, so “Post Type equals Post” AND “Post Type equals Page” can never match. Put them in two rule groups instead.

The group appears on too many screens

Add a second rule with And to narrow it, rather than starting a new rule group — a new group widens the match, it does not narrow it.

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Related Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t my WordPress custom field group showing up anywhere?

A field group appears nowhere until a location rule matches an editing screen. In Nexter Extension, rules in the same group are combined with AND, so conflicting rules can cancel each other out. A common mistake is setting something like Post Type equals Post and Post Type equals Page in one group, which can never match. Split those into separate rule groups if you want either screen to work.

How do location rules decide where custom fields appear in WordPress?

Location rules match an editing screen, and the field group shows up on every screen that matches. Each rule has three parts: a parameter, an operator, and a value. Nexter Extension combines rules inside one group with AND, while separate rule groups combine with OR. That difference matters because AND narrows placement and OR widens it.

What’s the best way to show custom fields only on one WordPress post type?

Use a location rule with Post Type as the parameter, Equals as the operator, and the target post type as the value. That keeps the field group tied to one editing screen instead of spreading across unrelated content types. The page gives Properties as the example value, which is the right pattern when you want something like property details to appear only on the Properties post type.

Can I use location rules for user profile fields in WordPress?

User profile fields are one of the intended use cases for location rules. The page specifically calls out extra profile fields on administrators only, which means you can target a narrow editing context instead of exposing the same fields to every user profile. For that setup, Show fields on user profiles is the related doc that matches this use case.

What are the limits of location rules in Nexter Extension?

Nexter Extension 4.9.0 offers 21 parameters, but only 18 are functional. The page also notes that widget, nav_menu, and nav_menu_item are present but do nothing. Another important limit is that the options page context does not use location rules at all, because a group shown there is placed directly rather than matched by rules.

Why does my custom field group appear on too many screens?

That usually means you widened the match instead of narrowing it. A second rule inside the same group uses AND, which tightens placement, while Add Rule Group creates an alternative set with OR and expands where the group can appear. If you want fewer screens, add another rule to the same group rather than starting a new one.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026

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