Title: including a PHP file via shortcode?
Last modified: June 29, 2020

---

# including a PHP file via shortcode?

 *  [thetoolman123](https://wordpress.org/support/users/thetoolman123/)
 * (@thetoolman123)
 * [5 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/including-a-php-file-via-shortcode/)
 * Hi there,
 * I am trying to use a shortcode to insert a PHP file, but can’t get the code right.
 * This is what I have:
 *     ```
       function nc_scroll( $atts, $content = null ) {
   
           extract( shortcode_atts( array(), $atts ) );
   
           $nc_scroll_c='INCLUDE FILE HERE';
   
           return $nc_scroll_c;
       }
       add_shortcode('nc_calendar', 'nc_scroll');
       ```
   
 * Can anyone tell me how I can add the included file here?
    `$nc_scroll_c='INCLUDE
   FILE HERE';`
 * The path is /wp-content/themes/jobseek-child/inc/new-competition-calendar.php.
 * Many thanks

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [Joy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/joyously/)
 * (@joyously)
 * [5 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/including-a-php-file-via-shortcode/#post-13051678)
 * I assume you want to execute the PHP file?
    Since it’s in the theme, you could
   use `get_template_part()` although this does a `require` not an `include`. But
   it does look in the active theme folder and child folder for you. [https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_template_part/](https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/get_template_part/)
   Otherwise, you would need to call `get_template_directory()` to get the theme
   folder. Themes often use `require get_template_directory() . '/inc/whatever.php';`
   Be aware that shortcodes should not output anything, though. So to be safe, you
   should turn output buffering on, then call it, then return the the buffer. Also,
   there is no need to extract attributes if you don’t expect any.
 * It might be better to refactor the code so there is a single function that builds
   the output. That function is called from the existing file, and also from the
   shortcode.
 *  [Sundar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phptechie/)
 * (@phptechie)
 * [5 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/including-a-php-file-via-shortcode/#post-13104625)
 * Use this code in functions.php
 * function PHP_Include($params = array()) {
 * extract(shortcode_atts(array(
    ‘file’ => ‘default’ **//Use the real file name
   here** ), $params));
 * ob_start();
    include(get_theme_root() . ‘/’ . get_template() . “/$file.php”);**//
   Choose which directory the file is located**
 * return ob_get_clean();
    }
 * add_shortcode(‘include’, ‘PHP_Include’);

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘including a PHP file via shortcode?’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Developing with WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/wp-advanced/)
 * 2 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Sundar](https://wordpress.org/support/users/phptechie/)
 * Last activity: [5 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/including-a-php-file-via-shortcode/#post-13104625)
 * Status: not resolved

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