Password protect pages/posts with searchable content?

June 15, 2017 4:16 AM

I would like to make a WordPress site with an area only accessible via password. This area will feature a catalog of pages or posts that needs to be searchable by keyword or category or tag (preferably all three). It would also feature a couple of private forums (which would have separate passwords). What is the best method for creating this kind of site?

In setting up some test runs, I’ve noticed that making a page or post private or password protected also effectively removes the content of that page/post from any search queries on the site (via the standard search field), even when searching after using the password.

I’d like to avoid having anyone who wants to use the site to have to register a user account. I’d much prefer a simple password entry, if possible.

posted by jammy to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

How much of the site will be public vs private? If there is just a few pages that are public you could do them outside of Wordpress, then put the entire Wordpress site in a password protected directory via .htacess.
posted by COD at 5:37 AM on June 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

In Wordpress there's a plugin for everything you can dream up. Via this Google search (which may point to some other possibilities), this one looks like it does what you're asking for.
posted by beagle at 5:38 AM on June 15, 2017 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: COD - That's an excellent idea. The site really only needs a page or two that are public. Most of the site will need to be private. I am going to try it out.

beagle - I will give that plugin a try too. It looks promising.

Thank you both for the good suggestions!
posted by jammy at 7:40 AM on June 15, 2017