Title: Problem with Paypal button
Last modified: August 30, 2016
---
# Problem with Paypal button
* Resolved [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/)
* This is a pretty significant problem which I’ve just been alerted to on a website
I created for this client.
* They have a membership page which offers the option of paying for a membership
with Paypal. I do not have access to the client’s Paypal account – they created
the button and then sent me the code.
* When I paste the code into the page on the text editing tab, the resulting Paypal
field looks fine, but the drop-down boxes for length of membership, whether they
are a new member or renewing, and which format they wish to receive their newsletter
in, do not work!
* [http://nysbs.org/membership/](http://nysbs.org/membership/)
* I did some sleuthing on the support site, and found some indications that a custom
template is required or something to that effect, but I have yet to make heads
or tails out of it. This is pretty time sensitive, since the client did not discover
the issue until AFTER the site went public (they’ve only had two weeks to review
the site).
Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)
1 [2](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/page/2/?output_format=md)
[→](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/page/2/?output_format=md)
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735435)
* This will more likely be a WordPress editor issue.
* I’m not sure what the code is that was used, but my guess is that if this was
added to the “text” view on the page editor, that the editor has stripped out
parts of it. After you add the code to the editor and then save it, look at the
code again and see if anything was stripped out. The WordPress editor is notorious
for doing that, even for basic HTML code elements.
* There are many who experience problems even with trying to insert a paypal pay
or donate button.
* Again, I don’t know what kind of code was being added, but this might be something
that could require a third party editor plugin that won’t strip out stuff, or
a custom template might be required in this situation and assigned to that page.
The “content” code would have to be placed above the PayPal code in the template.
* I’m not sure what other options there are for this…perhaps there are plugins.
This might even require using an actual Membership plugin for WordPress.
* Again, depending on what the code was that was put in, there could even be a
form or script conflict with another script from a plugin.
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735438)
* Quick follow up…I’m wondering if there is a forms plugin that can be used in
this situation where the form is created with it, then added to a page as a shortcode.
So when the page is viewed on the front-end, the shortcode converts to the full
form code, therefore not losing any code from the editor (if that is what is
happening).
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735439)
* I’m using TinyMCE Advanced as my editor. I did see something in one of the posts
about not switching back to the visual editor after inserting the Paypal code
in the text editor, so I tried that, but it didn’t seem to make any difference.
I’ll have to go back and try again, and see if when I update the page the editor
strips anything out.
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735441)
* Follow-up on your follow-up…interesting thought. Searching the plugin directory
for “forms” brings up a lot of contact form plugins, but that’s not what’s needed
here – more research needed…
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735447)
* I found this, referreed to in an old thread about the problem, but either I’m
suffering from Alzheimers or stress – I’m not GETTING it!
* [http://webenso.com/wordpress-custom-template-paypal/](http://webenso.com/wordpress-custom-template-paypal/)
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735451)
* I’m assuming then that some code is being stripped out from your test?
* I use TinyMCE advanced for my demo sites, but I also use HTML Editor Syntax Highlighter
so I can see colour coded html. Still, it does not prevent WordPress from still
stripping certain elements…extremely annoying.
* As for plugins, you won’t be using “Contact” form plugins, but rather you would
seek out actual form building plugins.
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735469)
* Like Form Maker Pro? Which I have, and which is already installed on this site?
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735472)
* That last link you posted is not quite what I would do, especially because that
plugin they mentioned has not been kept up to date (2 years old).
* For Longevity, you maybe try this:
* 1. Create a new page template using the page.php file as a “template” to make
a copy of. Name the file like: template-paypal.php and then in the top part,
replace:
* **\* The template for displaying pages**
* to
* **\* Template Name: PayPal Template**
* Then make sure this is saved to the page-templates folder.
* 2. Then the code that is between the container:
* ``
* Replace that with the code that is between the ` ... ` from the
template-full-width.php template file (you will need to open it to get that).
This will give the ability to add content to the page from the editor.
* 3. Then, after that code and just above the closing `` tag, the PayPal
code would go in that spot.
* 4. Assign this page template to the page in question, and see if the form works.
* This is only a possible solution because again, I don’t know what kind of code
is being used for the PayPal setup, but if it’s HTML code, there is a possibility
that this option could work.
* IMPORTANT: Make backups before doing anything in case you had to revert back.
Also, adding a new page template should be fine when theme updates come in, but
normally it’s better to make these kinds of changes or addons using a child theme
so you don’t lose anything custom.
* Remember….ALWAYS keep BACKUPS.
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735473)
* Form Maker Pro? If you have that, you can try that first and see if that works.
I’m not familiar with that plugin, but if it has the ability to add custom form
code, try it out first before making a page template (last resort)
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735496)
* Actually, your solution looks easier than the Form Maker Pro instructions, which
make no sense to me at all…
* So I’m trying your solution. I’ve done everything up to, but not including, step#
3 above – this is the code I have in my template-paypal.php file
* ` `
* Does that look right?
* Now, when you say:
* > Then, after that code and just above the closing tag, the PayPal code
> would go in that spot.
* , do you mean add it to the template-paypal.php page before I upload it? And
where would I upload that file to? The page-emplates directory? Or the root “
longevity” directory?
* And, yes, I am a backup fiend!
* Theme Author [Shaped Pixels](https://wordpress.org/support/users/shaped-pixels/)
* (@shaped-pixels)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735509)
* looks correct.
* the paypal custom code would go into that template between this:
* `endwhile; ?>`
* and the closing `` tag.
* This gets uploaded to the /page-templates/ folder where you see the others like“
template-fullwidth.php”
* Thread Starter [TeqToo](https://wordpress.org/support/users/teqtoo/)
* (@teqtoo)
* [10 years, 9 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/problem-with-paypal-button-1/#post-6735512)
* OK, I will give that a try, but probably not until tomorrow morning.
* By the way, the button code from Paypal begins with:
*