Wordpress Custom Post Type Landing Pages

gistfile1.php

/**
 * Wordpress Custom Post Type Landing Pages
 * In all examples $rewrite and $args are simplified to the discussed settings.
 */

/**
 * 1. Custom Post Type has archives and the slug is rewritten.
 * In this case a visit to /post-type-name will use archive-$posttype.php, $archive.php, index.php.
 * Pagination will work by default assuming $rewrite[ 'pages' ] is also true (default).
 * It's not possible to create a landing page called /post-type-name as the archive page controls the template hierarchy.
 * If a specific landing page is required the landing page will need a different slug or the $rewrite slug needs to be different.
 * If creating a landing page ensure a custom wp_query object is used and is still in use when calling pagination links or these
 * won't work.
 */

$rewrite = array(
 'slug' => 'post-type-name'
);
		
$args = array(
 has_archive	=> true,
 'rewrite'	=> $rewrite,
)
register_post_type ( 'post_type_name', $args )

/**
 * 2. Custom Post Type has archives and the slug is not rewritten.
 * In this case a visit to /post_type_name will use archive-$posttype.php, $arhvice.php, index.php.
 * Pagination will work by default assuming $rewrite[ 'pages' ] is also true (default).
 * A landing page can be created with the slug /post-type-name...
 * A template can be applied using a custom loop to replace wp_query and ensure pagination works.
 */
		
$args = array(
 has_archive => true
)
register_post_type ( 'post_type_name', $args )

/**
 * 3. Custom Post Type doesn't have archive.
 * The slug rewrite is irrelevant as the custom post type archives are not available.
 * Therefore a visit to /post-type-name will return a 404 or a landing page if one is created.
 * A landing page can be created and a template applied using a custom loop to replace wp_query and ensure pagination works.
 * See notes above regarding pagination of this.
 */
		
$rewrite = array(
 'slug' => 'post-type-name'
);
		
$args = array(
 has_archive	=> false,
 'rewrite'	=> $rewrite,
)
register_post_type ( 'post_type_name', $args )

/**
 * Useful reading...
 * http://callmenick.com/2014/02/21/custom-wordpress-loop-with-pagination/
 * http://code.tutsplus.com/articles/custom-post-type-pagination-chaining-method--wp-21444
 * http://css-tricks.com/snippets/wordpress/paginate-custom-post-types/
 * http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/register_post_type
 */