Page Toolswordpress_update_page

wordpress_update_page

Update a WordPress page using Respira's duplicate-first safety workflow.

wordpress_update_page

Update a WordPress page. Respira automatically creates a duplicate for safety - your live page stays untouched until you approve changes.

Parameters

13 parameters, 1 required.

NameTypeRequiredWhat it is
idnumberyesPage ID
expected_versionstringnoOptional. The content_version from your last read or write of this page. The write is refused with respira_version_conflict (409, nothing written) if the page changed since, e.g. another agent or an editor saved it. Read again, reapply your change, and retry with the new content_version.
titlestringnoNew page title
contentstringnoNew page content (HTML)
statusstringnoPage status (publish, draft, pending)
slugstringnoURL slug (post_name). Example: "about-us" produces /about-us/.
excerptstringnoPost excerpt (wp_posts.post_excerpt) — the "Excerpt"/"Zajawka" panel, RSS summaries and archive teasers. Do NOT pass this inside meta: an excerpt written as post meta reads back fine and renders nowhere.
custom_cssstringnoCustom CSS for the page. Auto-detects builder: Divi → _et_pb_custom_css, Elementor → _elementor_page_settings.custom_css.
metaobjectnoPost meta data
post_parentnumbernoParent page ID. Pass 0 to detach from any parent (make a root page). Accepts parent, parent_id, or post_parent.
edit_targetstringnoChoose ask, live, or duplicate when the target is an original page. One of: ask, live, duplicate.
forcebooleannoBackward-compatible alias for explicit live editing when direct editing is enabled.
skip_security_checkbooleannoAdvanced: bypass Respira content security checks and sanitization for this update. Use only with trusted content.

Example call

The smallest valid call, with the required parameters only:

{
  "name": "wordpress_update_page",
  "arguments": {
    "id": 123
  }
}

Response

{
  "id": 43,
  "title": "Updated Title",
  "status": "draft",
  "respira_message": "Respira says: ✅ Created duplicate for safe editing",
  "duplicate_created": true,
  "duplicate_id": 43,
  "original_id": 42,
  "approval_url": "https://yoursite.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=respira-approvals",
  "preview_url": "https://yoursite.com/?page_id=43&preview=true&respira_preview=43.1790276757.…",
  "preview_expires_at": "2026-09-24T19:05:57+00:00"
}

When the edit is staged on a duplicate, preview_url is a share preview link: it opens the staged page with no WordPress login for 14 days by default, and the response message repeats it as "Share preview (no WordPress login needed, valid until …)". See Share preview links.

What it changes

It removes or overwrites something on the site, so treat it as the careful kind of call. Respira takes a snapshot before the write, and the change can be undone from that snapshot for 90 days. On a page or post the edit lands on a copy first. The live page changes only when a person approves the copy in wp-admin. Calling it twice with the same arguments leaves the site in the same state as calling it once. On a connection set to read-only it is refused with respira_scope_denied.

When it fails

The failures seen most often on real sites in the last 30 days, most common first:

  • respira_direct_edit_disabled: The site only allows edits on a copy, never on the original page. Create a duplicate with wordpress_create_page_duplicate and edit that. A person approves it in wp-admin.
  • respira_duplicate_exists: A copy of this page is already waiting for review. Edit that copy (its ID is in the error), or approve or reject it first.
  • respira_security_validation_failed: The content contains a pattern the security check blocks, such as a script tag or an inline event handler. Remove it. If it is meant to be there, the error names the pattern and how to allow it.
  • rest_no_route: The WordPress site has no such endpoint. Almost always an old plugin version, or a security plugin blocking the REST API. Update Respira for WordPress on the site and try again.

How long it takes

A typical call takes about 2.9 seconds. 19 in 20 finish within 5.6 seconds. Measured on real sites over the last week, so it includes the site's own hosting.

Availability

Works on any WordPress site, whichever page builder it uses. Available since Respira 1.0.0.

Safety Workflow

By default, Respira never edits live pages directly:

  1. You request an update to page 42
  2. Respira creates a duplicate (page 43)
  3. Changes are applied to the duplicate
  4. You review in WordPress Admin → Respira → Approve Edits
  5. Approve: duplicate replaces original
  6. Reject: duplicate deleted, original untouched

Full Example

Prompt: "Update the homepage title to 'Welcome to Acme Corp'"

Response:

{
  "id": 156,
  "title": "Welcome to Acme Corp",
  "slug": "home-respira-draft",
  "status": "draft",
  "respira_message": "Respira says: ✅ Created duplicate of 'Home' for safe editing. Review and approve at Respira → Approve Edits.",
  "respira_instructions": "Go to WordPress Admin → Respira → Approve Edits to review and publish changes.",
  "duplicate_created": true,
  "duplicate_id": 156,
  "original_id": 2,
  "approval_url": "https://yoursite.com/wp-admin/admin.php?page=respira-approvals"
}

The force Parameter

Setting force: true bypasses the safety workflow and edits the live page directly.

Requirements for force editing:

  1. "Allow Direct Editing" must be enabled in Respira settings
  2. Three separate confirmations are required
  3. Not recommended for production sites

Updating Page Builder Content

For pages built with Divi, Elementor, etc., use:

Direct content updates work best for Gutenberg/classic editor pages.

Notes

  • Always creates a duplicate unless force: true and direct editing is enabled
  • Preserves all page meta, featured images, and builder data
  • Original page remains published and unchanged until approval

Example Prompts

  • "Update the homepage title to 'Welcome Home'"
  • "Change the about page content to include our new mission statement"
  • "Set the contact page to draft status"
  • "Update page 42 with the new pricing information"
Was this page helpful?