Can I change a custom post type label from a child theme?

Question

I'm developing a child theme of a premium template, this comes with a custom post type with the label name of "Projects" but I'd like to change it to something else, I know that if I go to the functions.php file of the main theme I can change it easily but I'd like to change it from my child theme so I don't have to edit any of the original files, is it possible?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

There is a global array $wp_post_types. You can change $wp_post_types[$post_type]->labels after the parent theme has set the CPT.

So … if the parent theme registers the CPT on 'init' like this:

add_action( 'init', 'register_my_cpt', 12 );

Then you need a later priority:

add_action( 'init', 'change_cpt_labels', 13 );

… or a later hook. I would use wp_loaded:

add_action( 'wp_loaded', 'change_cpt_labels' );

Example for custom post type place changed to location

add_action( 'wp_loaded', 'wpse_19240_change_place_labels', 20 );

function wpse_19240_change_place_labels()
{
    global $wp_post_types;
    $p = 'place';

    // Someone has changed this post type, always check for that!
    if ( empty ( $wp_post_types[ $p ] )
        or ! is_object( $wp_post_types[ $p ] )
        or empty ( $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels )
        )
        return;

    // see get_post_type_labels()
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->name               = 'Locations';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->singular_name      = 'Location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->add_new            = 'Add location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->add_new_item       = 'Add new location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->all_items          = 'All locations';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->edit_item          = 'Edit location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->name_admin_bar     = 'Location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->menu_name          = 'Location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->new_item           = 'New location';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->not_found          = 'No locations found';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->not_found_in_trash = 'No locations found in trash';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->search_items       = 'Search locations';
    $wp_post_types[ $p ]->labels->view_item          = 'View location';
}