We’re pleased to announce the official release of Controlled Draft Publisher, a purpose-built WordPress plugin designed to automate the timed release of draft content. Whether you’re managing editorial workflows, marketing campaigns, or scheduled content drops, this plugin gives you full control over when and how your drafts go live.
Available now on the WordPress Plugin Repository, version 1.4 introduces robust scheduling logic, timezone-aware controls, and a streamlined dashboard for manual and automated publishing. Also a requested feature has been added, which is the ability to select Categories and how many posts to post within the selected timeframe.
What Is Controlled Draft Publisher?
Controlled Draft Publisher publishes one draft post at a time on a configurable interval – every X minutes – using WordPress’s built-in cron system or a server-level cron job for precision. It’s ideal for:
- Content creators who want to drip-feed posts over time
- Site admins managing bulk drafts or imported content
- Automation architects integrating publishing into broader workflows
Feature Overview
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Configurable Interval | Publish one draft post every X minutes |
| Start/Stop Controls | Pause or resume the scheduler instantly |
| Categories | Select categories to post from |
| Posts per timeframe | Input number of posts to post within the set timeframe. |
| Manual Publish Button | Trigger a draft release on demand |
| Activity Log | View timestamps, titles, permalinks of published posts |
| Basic Stats | See total published and last published post |
| Post Type Filtering | Choose which post types are eligible |
| CSV Export | Export activity logs for reporting or auditing |
| 7-Day History Chart | Visualize publishing activity over the past week |
| Translation-Ready | Includes .pot file for localization |
Dashboard Highlights
- Real-time scheduler status with next run preview
- Manual override for instant publishing
- Activity graph showing 7-day publish history
- Settings panel for interval, post types, and logging preferences
Screenshots
Screenshots of Controlled Draft Publisher in action.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| WP-Cron | WordPress’s internal scheduler triggered by site traffic |
| Server Cron | System-level scheduler for reliable timing |
| Draft Post | A saved but unpublished WordPress post |
| Activity Log | Database record of published drafts |
| Post Type | Content type (e.g., post, page, custom types) |
| Scheduler | Mechanism that triggers timed publishing |
| Publish Interval | Delay between each automatic release |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I control which post types are published?
Yes — select one or more post types in the plugin settings. Default is post.
Does it support custom intervals?
Absolutely. You can set the number of minutes between publishes. A minimum safe interval is recommended to avoid bulk releases.
Is publishing logged?
Yes. The plugin stores a rolling activity log (cdp_log) and updates counters for total and last published posts.
How does scheduling work?
It uses WP-Cron. For low-traffic sites, we recommend a server cron job:
*/5 * * * * wget -q -O - https://your-site.com/wp-cron.phpCan I manually publish a draft?
Yes. Use the “Publish Now” button on the dashboard to release a draft immediately.
Is it safe for production sites?
Yes. Tested up to WordPress 6.8, requires PHP 8.0+, and stores no user data.
Privacy and Compliance
Controlled Draft Publisher stores only post metadata (ID, title, timestamp, permalink, post type) in the WordPress database when logging is enabled. No user data is collected or transmitted externally. Logs can be cleared or exported via the dashboard.
Installation and Setup
- Install via WordPress admin or upload to
/wp-content/plugins/ - Activate the plugin
- Go to Draft Publisher → Settings to configure post types, interval, and logging
- Use the dashboard to start/stop the scheduler or manually publish drafts
Developer Notes
- Logs are stored in the
cdp_logoption - CSV export available for external reporting
- Translation-ready via
controlled-draft-publisher.pot - Fully modular for future automation integrations
Roadmap Highlights
- Bulk scheduling and queue management
- Available drafts count
- Log filtering
Download Now
Controlled Draft Publisher is available now on WordPress.org. Install it today and take control of your draft publishing workflow.
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