<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Rotating Post Widgetizer
Description: Assists configuration and placement of rotating post plugin.
*/
/* Start Adding Functions Below this Line */
// Creating the widget
class rpost_widget extends WP_Widget {
function __construct() {
parent::__construct(
// Base ID of your widget
'rpost_widget',
// Widget name will appear in UI
__('Rotating Post', 'rpost_widget_domain'),
// Widget description
array( 'description' => __( 'Wrapper for rotating posts plugin.', 'rpost_widget_domain' ), )
);
}
// Creating widget front-end
// This is where the action happens
public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
$title = apply_filters( 'widget_title', $instance['title'] );
// before and after widget arguments are defined by themes
echo $args['before_widget'];
//if ( ! empty( $title ) ) // dont show the title here, let the shortcode bring the title in
//echo $args['before_title'] . $title . $args['after_title'];
// This is where you run the code and display the output
echo do_shortcode('[rotating-posts category_name="blog"]');
echo $args['after_widget'];
}
// Widget Backend
public function form( $instance ) {
if ( isset( $instance[ 'title' ] ) ) {
$title = $instance[ 'title' ];
}
else {
$title = __( 'New title', 'rpost_widget_domain' );
}
// Widget admin form
?>
<p>
<label for="<?php echo $this->get_field_id( 'title' ); ?>"><?php _e( 'Title:' ); ?></label>
<input class="widefat" id="<?php echo $this->get_field_id( 'title' ); ?>" name="<?php echo $this->get_field_name( 'title' );
?>" type="text" value="<?php echo esc_attr( $title ); ?>" />
</p>
<?php
}
// Updating widget replacing old instances with new
public function update( $new_instance, $old_instance ) {
$instance = array();
$instance['title'] = ( ! empty( $new_instance['title'] ) ) ? strip_tags( $new_instance['title'] ) : '';
return $instance;
}
} // Class rpost_widget ends here
// Register and load the widget
function rpost_load_widget() {
register_widget( 'rpost_widget' );
}
add_action( 'widgets_init', 'rpost_load_widget' );
/* Stop Adding Functions Below this Line */
?>
PHP traets strings in two differnt ways depending on the quotes that you use for them. It’s a little strange, but when you understand the difference you’ll find it easy.
When you use double-quotes, any variables inside it are parsed to the value of the variable. eg:
$val = "Hello World"
echo "$val"
This outputs Hello World.
When you use single-quotes, any variable sinside are not parsed, it’s taken as a literal string exactly as you’ve typed it in:
$val = "Hello World";
echo '$val';
This outputs $val.
In your case, you’d need to set up your call something like this:
echo do_shortcode('[rotating-posts category_name="' . $title . '"]');
As a foot note, I prefer doing it like this os that I can easily and clearly see where the variables are in the text. That lets you see where things are and there’s no problems with missing variables inside the string when you’re looking at it quickly.
Thank you for such a detailed answer. You went way above and beyond what i expected, and have solved my issue completely. I am in your debt.
I somewhat understand the difference between ‘ and “, but i never would have put it together with .’s to make “‘ . $var . ‘”
