How We Automated Migrating Thousands Of Blog Posts From ACF Flexible Content To The Block Editor

Before the introduction of the block editor, the Advanced Custom Fields flexible content field was one of the main ways developers could build custom layouts while giving clients control over the content. While the introduction of the block editor in WordPress 5.0 was rocky initially, it wasn't long before it offered a far more powerful experience than the flexible content field could provide. But what do you do when you want to move to the block editor on a website already has thousands of posts? Learn how we were able to automate the process with just a few lines of code.

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Transcript

1. How We Automated Migrating Thousands Of Blog Posts From ACF Flexible Content To The Block Editor Cameron Jones
2. The Block Editor
3. The Block Editor
4. The Dark Ages Before The Block Editor
6. ACF Flexible Content
7. Why Migrate To Blocks
8. Why Migrate To Blocks Core Blocks & Settings • Extensive number of core blocks including multi column layouts • Built in utility classes for padding, margin, borders, colour scheme and more • Actual WYSIWYG
9. Why Migrate To Blocks Plugin Compatibility • Instantly add gazillions of new content blocks • Using the same editor as core
10. Why Migrate To Blocks Flexibility & Recursion • Block variations and styles • Nested blocks • Block patterns & templates • Block parent/child relationships & locking • Easy to build new blocks with ACF
11. The Brief
12. The Brief About The Site Site originally built in 2015 Niche blog (mostly listicles) Undergoing redesign Over 2,000 articles Handful of pages - recreated manually Important Context Not involved in original build Site under new ownership No longer working with client Content is fake, code is real
13. How Did We Migrate
14. How Did We Migrate 1. Map 2. Convert 3. Automate 4. Scale 5. Polish 6. Cleanup
15. Step 1 - Map
16. Step 1 - Map Check what flexible content layouts are actually being used
17. Step 1 - Map Replicate flexible content layouts in the block editor
18. Step 2 - Convert
19. Step 2 - Convert
20. Step 2 - Convert
21. Step 2 - Convert
22. Step 2 - Convert
23. Step 2 - Convert
24. Step 2 - Convert single.php
25. Step 3 - Automate
26. Step 3 - Automate
27. Step 3 - Automate
28. Step 3 - Automate
29. Step 3 - Automate
30. Step 4 - Scale
31. Step 4 - Scale
32. Step 4 - Scale
33. Step 4 - Scale
34. Step 4 - Scale
35. Step 4 - Scale
36. Step 5 - Polish
37. Step 5 - Polish
38. Step 5 - Polish
39. Step 5 - Polish
40. Step 5 - Polish
41. Step 6 - Cleanup
42. Step 6 - Cleanup
43. Demo Time Please bring a sacrifice for the live demo gods before we proceed
44. Download The Code cameronjonesweb.com.au/wde2025
45. About Me Cameron Jones Shortie Designs Websites and software for local, national and international brands
46. Thank You shortiedesigns.com