Title: Reference Page does not work with PHP 7
Last modified: August 30, 2016

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# Reference Page does not work with PHP 7

 *  Resolved [bemdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bemdesign/)
 * (@bemdesign)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/)
 * The Custom Content Shortcode reference page (/wp-admin/admin.php?page=ccs_reference)
   does not render when running under PHP 7. Debug does not show any errors. I tried
   a reduced test case: twentyfifteen theme with only Custom Content Shortcode plugin
   and debug enabled. Debug did not show any errors. When I view source of the rendered“
   empty” page (in a div with the classes of “inner-wrap tab-overview” I see the
   following message (not shown on screen – just in the source HTML):
    Uncaught 
   Error: Function name must be a string in …/wp-content/plugins/custom-content-
   shortcode/includes/docs/lib/markdown/lib/parsedown.php:900
 * So maybe the mardown parser isn’t yet compatible with PHP 7 yet?
 * [https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-content-shortcode/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-content-shortcode/)

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
 * (@miyarakira)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867444)
 * Interesting! Thank you for the information. I haven’t had a chance to set up 
   PHP 7 yet, so this will be a good opportunity. I’ll see what’s happening with
   the markdown parser.
 *  Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
 * (@miyarakira)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867446)
 * I found the cause: it’s one of the backward incompatible changes in PHP 7 ([reference](http://php.net/manual/en/migration70.incompatible.php#migration70.incompatible.variable-handling.indirect)).
   The markdown parser uses variables as function names in a couple places, and 
   PHP 7 interprets them differently than before. Fortunately, there is a simple
   workaround to make it compatible with both new and older versions of PHP. I’ll
   test the fix and make an update soon, including a few small fixes for backward
   incompatible changes in WP 4.4.
 *  Thread Starter [bemdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bemdesign/)
 * (@bemdesign)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867454)
 * Awesome! I was mainly doing some testing to prepare for eventual upgrades to 
   PHP 7 and ran into this issue. Glad to hear there’s a solution for it! Thanks
   for a such a useful plugin!
 *  [keyra](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keyra/)
 * (@keyra)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867541)
 * I’m also testing with PHP 7.0.1 and can’t wait for the next version.
 * I corrected it quickly on mine by following the noted reference.
 * Thanks.
 *  Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
 * (@miyarakira)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867552)
 * Please try the latest plugin update (v3.2.9) and let me know if that corrected
   the issue.
 *  [keyra](https://wordpress.org/support/users/keyra/)
 * (@keyra)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867553)
 * I had the same issue as OP.
 * This new version corrected it for me.
 *  Thread Starter [bemdesign](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bemdesign/)
 * (@bemdesign)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867554)
 * Tested and it looks like this fixes the issue – reference pages work again and
   all else appears to be working correctly. Marking this resolved. Thanks again!
 *  Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
 * (@miyarakira)
 * [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867557)
 * Great, thanks for the confirmation.

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

The topic ‘Reference Page does not work with PHP 7’ is closed to new replies.

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## Tags

 * [PHP7](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/php7/)

 * 8 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
 * Last activity: [10 years, 4 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/reference-page-does-not-work-with-php-7/#post-6867557)
 * Status: resolved