Celestial Web Development
Celestial Web Development
Celestial Web Development

Newsletter Plugin

Celestial Newsletter Library

A WordPress plugin for creating a clean, organized PDF newsletter archive.

Celestial Newsletter Library helps WordPress site owners upload, organize, and display PDF newsletters using a custom newsletter library, responsive archive layout, recent-newsletters widget, and simple shortcode.

What the Plugin Does

This plugin creates a dedicated newsletter library inside WordPress. Each newsletter can include a PDF file, publication year, and volume number. Visitors can browse newsletters in a compact archive layout and open PDF issues directly from the page.

Key Features

  • PDF newsletter upload field
  • Newsletter year and volume number fields
  • Custom newsletter post type
  • Responsive newsletter catalog display
  • Automatic PDF thumbnail support when available on the server
  • Fallback display when PDF thumbnails are unavailable
  • Thumbnail and title links directly to the PDF file
  • Recent newsletters sidebar widget
  • Theme-friendly styling that inherits fonts and colors from your WordPress theme
  • Shortcode for adding the newsletter catalog to any page

Who It Is For

  • clubs and associations
  • astronomy clubs and science organizations
  • nonprofits
  • churches and schools
  • historical societies
  • community groups with PDF newsletter archives

Example Use Cases

  • publish monthly or quarterly newsletter PDFs
  • replace a manually maintained list of PDF links
  • create a searchable archive of past issues
  • show recent newsletter issues in a sidebar
  • organize newsletters by year and volume number

How It Works

After activation, the plugin adds a newsletter content area in WordPress. Site editors can upload a PDF, enter the year, add a volume number, and publish the newsletter. The plugin then displays those newsletters using the archive shortcode or recent-newsletters widget.

Shortcode

Add the newsletter catalog to any page or post with:

[celestial_newsletters]

Installation

  1. Download the plugin ZIP file.
  2. In WordPress, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin.
  3. Upload and activate the plugin.
  4. Add newsletter entries in the WordPress admin area.
  5. Place the shortcode on the page where the catalog should appear.

PDF Thumbnail Support

WordPress may automatically generate preview images for uploaded PDF files when the server supports PDF previews. This usually requires Imagick and Ghostscript. If thumbnails are unavailable, the plugin displays a clean fallback design so the archive remains usable.

Support

Need help with setup, customization, troubleshooting, or feature requests?

  • report display issues
  • request new features
  • ask for customization help
  • get assistance integrating the plugin into your website

When requesting support, please include:

  • your WordPress version
  • your PHP version
  • the plugin version
  • your theme name
  • a description of the issue
  • screenshots if available

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this plugin send newsletters by email?

No. This plugin is designed to organize and display PDF newsletter archives on a WordPress website.

Can visitors download the PDF newsletters?

Yes. Newsletter titles and thumbnails can link directly to the uploaded PDF files.

Can I use this for more than newsletters?

Yes. It can also be used for bulletins, reports, magazines, meeting packets, or other recurring PDF publications.

Can this plugin be customized?

Yes. Celestial Web Development can help with styling, layout adjustments, custom fields, and additional functionality.

About Celestial Web Development

Celestial Web Development builds WordPress websites, plugins, hosting solutions, and custom web tools for businesses, organizations, educators, and specialty projects.

Contact

Celestial Web Development
Email: john@celestialwebdevelopment.com
Phone: (507) 251-6519