Title: Auto set image Last modified: August 22, 2016 --- # Auto set image * Resolved [TLegenden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tlegenden/) * (@tlegenden) * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/) * Hi, i would like if the plugin took the first image in the post and sat it as featured image automatically šŸ™‚ * I saw this thread but it was closed without answer from the one who suggested it, so i thought i could answer those questions because i want that too šŸ˜› [https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automation-and-various-sizes](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/automation-and-various-sizes) * ā€œshould it be dynamic or could it be static? That is, imagine the first time you save the post, the first image is foo.jpg. We set that image as the featured image. Then, you go edit the post and change the first image of the post from foo.jpg to bar.jpg; what featured image should we use, now?ā€ * I would prefer if the image did not change when the first in the post is changed, but maybe someone else wants it to change, so why not make settings for it so people can choose? * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/external-featured-image/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/external-featured-image/) Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/page/2/?output_format=md) [ā†’](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/page/2/?output_format=md) * Plugin Author [David Aguilera](https://wordpress.org/support/users/davilera/) * (@davilera) * [11 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947646) * Hi! Thanks for the answer, TLegenden. Iā€™ll work on it as soon as I have some spare time (right now weā€™re pretty busy with our A/B Testing service for WordPressā€¦) * [MonkimoE](https://wordpress.org/support/users/monkimoe/) * (@monkimoe) * [10 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947719) * Hi.. Iā€™m looking for this feature also. This would be great and save our time rather than set external featured images manually. * I think static image link would be enough. But will be great if we update the post.. itā€™s recheck the first image in post then set the first image again. * Iā€™m try by put these code in my function.php child theme but doesnā€™t work: * ``` function auto_featured_image() { global $post, $posts; if (!has_post_thumbnail($post->ID)) { global $post, $posts; $first_img = ''; ob_start(); ob_end_clean(); $output = preg_match_all('//i', $post->post_content, $matches); $first_img = $matches [1] [0]; if(empty($first_img)){ //Defines a default image $first_img = "/images/default.jpg"; $attached_image = $first_img; if ($attached_image) { foreach ($attached_image as $attachment_id => $attachment) { set_post_thumbnail($post->ID, $attachment_id); } } } } // Use it temporary to generate all featured images add_action('nelioefi_post_meta_key', 'auto_featured_image'); ``` * I only get ā€œArrayā€ text in admin post external featured image. * If this will be a pro feature.. Yes.. of course I will buy for it šŸ˜€ Please make this plugin more powerfull very soon. * Thank you for this great plugin. * Plugin Author [David Aguilera](https://wordpress.org/support/users/davilera/) * (@davilera) * [10 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947720) * Hi MonkimoE, * I havenā€™t started working on it yet (the amount of work we have right now is crazy! I hope Iā€™ll have some spare time soon, during this summer :-D). * Anyway, your code looks quite good, but the thing is weā€™re not using attachments for inserting the external featured images. Once weā€™ve officially implemented the function, Iā€™ll let you know, guys! * [AnimeHorizon](https://wordpress.org/support/users/animehorizon/) * (@animehorizon) * [10 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947726) * I too would like to cosign on this. This would be the last piece of the puzzle that I need. I have multiple editors and donā€™t want to have to train them (to remember) to set the image each time. * I know youā€™re busy; I just want to show that I would be another person to use this great feature! * Thanks for your time! * [samy234](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samy234/) * (@samy234) * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947731) * Hi if found an easy workaround by chaining this plugin to the existing ā€œWP Autoset Featured Image Plusā€ plugin. * You have to manually change the Autoset plugin code to set the Meta information required by Nelio external image: * Original relevant code block in wp-autoset-featured-image-plus/wpautosetfeaturedimageplus. php: * ``` if ($extImgUrl!="") { $thumbId = wpasfiCreateThumb($extImgUrl, $post_id); if ($thumbId) { update_post_meta( $post_id, '_thumbnail_id', $thumbId ); } } ``` * New code block: * ``` if ($extImgUrl!="") { update_post_meta( $post_id, _nelioefi_url(), $extImgUrl); } ``` * thats it * Thread Starter [TLegenden](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tlegenden/) * (@tlegenden) * [10 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947732) * Thanks, it works šŸ˜€ Iā€™ll use this method until there is a real auto set for this plugin šŸ™‚ * [tunlin007](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tunlin007/) * (@tunlin007) * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947737) * hi samy234 and TLegenden, * Would it be possible to provide the plugin that you have put it together? I still canā€™t figure out and not working. * Thanks, Lin * [discere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thistlebean/) * (@thistlebean) * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947738) * Hi Samy234, * Could you help me trouble shoot why my setup isnā€™t working? * [samy234](https://wordpress.org/support/users/samy234/) * (@samy234) * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947739) * Hi thistlebean and tunlin007. I will check if i can use the code of the two plugins to build a new one that does this. What version of nelio and autoset are you using where it doesnā€™t work? I didnā€™t update the plugins since i changed them. * [discere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thistlebean/) * (@thistlebean) * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947740) * Hello samy234, * Thank you for the comment! * Versions: * Nelio : Version 1.2.0 WP Autoset : Version 3.0 * [PinkishHue](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pinkishhue/) * (@pinkishhue) * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947744) * This is a great workaround, thanks for sharing this! * I have edited the code as above and finding that the image is being set in the backend of WP but not showing on the front endā€¦not sure why. * Will update if I figure it out. * [discere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thistlebean/) * (@thistlebean) * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947745) * [@pinkishhue](https://wordpress.org/support/users/pinkishhue/), * Same issue for me. * Apparently what we desire is actually quite a complex problem to solveā€¦ * Plugin Author [David Aguilera](https://wordpress.org/support/users/davilera/) * (@davilera) * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947746) * Hey guys! * I just uploaded a new version of the plugin that implements the ā€œauto set imageā€. From now one, if a post doesnā€™t have a regular or external featured image set, itā€™ll use the first image in the content as such. And the best part is: thereā€™s no need to use a second plugin along with Nelio External Featured Image for doing this! * If you donā€™t want this behavior, you simply need to add the following line in your themeā€™s `functions.php` file: * ``` add_filter( 'nelioefi_use_first_image', '__return_false' ); ``` * [discere](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thistlebean/) * (@thistlebean) * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947747) * David, * Thank you. This is awesome! * Plugin Author [David Aguilera](https://wordpress.org/support/users/davilera/) * (@davilera) * [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/#post-5947748) * Glad to help, @thislebean! * And, please, [donā€™t forget to rate the plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/external-featured-image)! Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 20 total) 1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/page/2/?output_format=md) [ā†’](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/page/2/?output_format=md) The topic ā€˜Auto set imageā€™ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/external-featured-image_947a5f.svg) * [Nelio External Featured Image (discontinued) - Available in Nelio Content](https://wordpress.org/plugins/external-featured-image/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/external-featured-image/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/external-featured-image/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/external-featured-image/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/external-featured-image/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/external-featured-image/reviews/) * 20 replies * 9 participants * Last reply from: [tunlin007](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tunlin007/) * Last activity: [10 years, 3 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/auto-set-image/page/2/#post-5947753) * Status: resolved