Skip to main content

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about ThemeRuby Multi Authors.

General Questions​

What is ThemeRuby Multi Authors?​

ThemeRuby Multi Authors is a WordPress plugin that allows you to assign multiple authors to a single post, page, or custom post type. It's lightweight, fast, and integrates seamlessly with WordPress.

Why do I need this plugin?​

If you have collaborative content, guest posts, or multiple contributors to your articles, this plugin lets you properly credit all authors instead of just one.

Is it free?​

Yes, ThemeRuby Multi Authors is completely free and open source.

Does it work with the Block Editor (Gutenberg)?​

Yes! The plugin has native integration with both Block Editor and Classic Editor.

Compatibility Questions​

Will it work with my theme?​

Yes! The plugin works with any WordPress theme. However, some themes may need minor customization to display multiple authors properly.

Does it work with page builders?​

Yes, it works with:

  • ✅ Elementor
  • ✅ Beaver Builder
  • ✅ Divi
  • ✅ WPBakery
  • ✅ Oxygen

Is it compatible with SEO plugins?​

Yes, built-in support for:

  • ✅ Yoast SEO
  • ✅ Rank Math
  • ⏳ All in One SEO (coming soon)

Does it work on WordPress Multisite?​

Yes! You can network-activate or activate per-site.

What about WooCommerce?​

Yes, you can enable multi-author support for Products if needed.

Technical Questions​

Does it create new database tables?​

No! The plugin uses WordPress's built-in taxonomy system. No custom tables means better performance and easier maintenance.

Will it slow down my site?​

No. The plugin is optimized for performance with:

  • Efficient database queries
  • Smart caching
  • Minimal code footprint

What are the requirements?​

  • WordPress 5.8 or higher
  • PHP 7.4 or higher
  • Standard WordPress hosting

Can I use it with object caching?​

Yes! The plugin supports:

  • Redis
  • Memcached
  • APCu
  • Any WordPress-compatible object cache

Usage Questions​

How many authors can I assign to a post?​

Unlimited! Assign as many authors as you need.

Can I set an author order?​

By default, authors are displayed alphabetically. You can customize order using filters (see Hooks & Filters).

Can authors edit each other's posts?​

Standard WordPress capabilities apply. By default:

  • Administrators can edit all posts
  • Editors can edit all posts
  • Authors can only edit their own posts

How do I display authors on the frontend?​

Several ways:

  1. Enable "Author Box" in settings (automatic)
  2. Use template tags in your theme
  3. Your theme may already support it

Can I have guest authors who don't have WordPress accounts?​

Yes, but they must have a WordPress user account. Create a user with "Contributor" role for guests.

Author Archive Questions​

Do author archives show all posts by that author?​

Yes! When you enable "Archive Filtering" in settings, author archives automatically show ALL posts where that user is an author (primary or co-author).

Can I customize the author archive page?​

Yes, through your theme's author.php template file or using WordPress template hierarchy.

How do I filter posts by multiple authors?​

Use WP_Query with author__in parameter:

new WP_Query( array(
    'author__in' => array( 1, 5, 8 ),
) );

Data & Migration Questions​

What happens to my data if I deactivate the plugin?​

All settings and author assignments are preserved. You can safely reactivate later.

What happens if I uninstall/delete the plugin?​

  • Plugin files are deleted
  • Settings are deleted
  • Author taxonomy data is preserved (to prevent data loss)

To completely remove all data, you'll need to manually delete the taxonomy terms.

Can I migrate from Co-Authors Plus?​

Yes! Contact support for migration assistance or see the migration guide.

How do I export/import author assignments?​

See General Settings for export/import code examples.

Permission Questions​

Who can assign authors?​

By default:

  • Administrators - Can assign anyone
  • Editors - Can assign anyone
  • Authors - Can only assign themselves
  • Contributors - Cannot assign authors

Can I customize who can assign authors?​

Yes, using the tmauthors_user_can_assign_authors filter.

Can Authors assign other Authors?​

Not by default, but you can enable this with a filter (see Capabilities).

Display Questions​

Authors aren't showing on my site. Why?​

Common reasons:

  1. Your theme doesn't automatically display multiple authors
  2. You need to add template tags manually
  3. Author box is disabled in settings

Solution: Enable "Author Box" or add template tags to your theme.

How do I customize the author display?​

Multiple ways:

  1. CSS customization
  2. Template tag parameters
  3. Hooks and filters
  4. Custom template files

See Display Options for details.

Can I show author avatars?​

Yes! Use get_avatar() function with the author's user ID.

Performance Questions​

Does caching work with object cache?​

Yes! The plugin uses WordPress object cache, which works with any caching backend.

Should I enable caching?​

Yes, unless you're debugging. Caching significantly improves performance.

How do I clear the cache?​

Go to Settings > ThemeRuby Multi Authors > Clear Cache button.

Or programmatically:

do_action( 'tmauthors_clear_cache' );

Troubleshooting Questions​

The Authors meta box doesn't appear. Why?​

Possible causes:

  1. Post type not supported (check Settings)
  2. Screen Options has it disabled
  3. JavaScript error

Solution: Enable the post type in settings, check Screen Options (top right of editor).

Authors aren't saving. Why?​

Possible causes:

  1. Permission issue
  2. JavaScript error
  3. Plugin conflict

Solution: Check browser console for errors, try disabling other plugins.

Author archives show wrong posts. Why?​

Possible causes:

  1. Archive filtering is disabled
  2. Theme has custom archive query
  3. Caching issue

Solution: Enable archive filtering in settings, clear cache.

SEO Questions​

Does it affect my SEO?​

Positively! Multiple authors can improve:

  • Content credibility
  • Author authority
  • Rich snippets
  • Social signals

How does it integrate with Yoast SEO?​

When enabled, the plugin:

  • Updates author meta tags
  • Adds all authors to Schema.org markup
  • Maintains author archives for SEO

Will it create duplicate content issues?​

No. Each post has a canonical URL regardless of how many authors it has.

Support Questions​

Where can I get help?​

How do I report a bug?​

  1. Go to GitHub Issues
  2. Search existing issues first
  3. Create new issue with:
    • WordPress version
    • PHP version
    • Plugin version
    • Steps to reproduce
    • Screenshots (if applicable)

Can I request a feature?​

Yes! Submit feature requests on GitHub or the support forum.

Is there premium support?​

Currently, support is community-based. Premium support options coming soon.

Developer Questions​

Is there an API?​

Yes! Complete API with:

  • 15+ template tag functions
  • 20+ hooks and filters
  • WP_Query integration

See Developer Guide.

Can I extend the plugin?​

Yes! The plugin is designed to be extended with:

  • Hooks for customization
  • Filters for modification
  • Clean, documented code

Where's the code?​

Can I contribute?​

Yes! Contributions welcome:

  • Code contributions via pull requests
  • Translations via WordPress.org
  • Documentation improvements
  • Bug reports

Upgrade Questions​

How do I update the plugin?​

Through WordPress admin:

  1. Dashboard > Updates
  2. Check for updates
  3. Click Update

Or enable automatic updates.

Will updating break my site?​

No. We follow semantic versioning and test thoroughly. Always backup first (good practice).

Do I need to do anything after updating?​

Usually no. The plugin handles updates automatically. If required, you'll see an admin notice.

Specific Use Cases​

Can I use it for guest posts?​

Yes! Create WordPress users for guest authors with "Contributor" role.

Can I use it for company/organization authors?​

Yes! Create user accounts for organizations and assign them as authors.

Can I show different authors for different post types?​

Yes! Enable multi-author support only for specific post types in settings.

Can I have co-editors or co-publishers?​

The plugin handles author attribution. WordPress capabilities handle editing permissions separately.

Still Have Questions?​

If your question isn't answered here:

  1. 📖 Check the full documentation
  2. 🔍 Search the support forum
  3. 💬 Ask in the support forum
  4. 🐛 Open an issue on GitHub

Didn't find what you're looking for?