MatthiasAmacher.ch

Purpose of the plugin

The Wordpress Plugin “Meta Functions Shortcode” adds a Shortcode called ‘meta’. With it you can access the custom fields of your articles by a simple shortcode.

How it works

Shortcode Syntax: [meta func="" name="" alt=""]

The shortcode has three functions yet:

1. func=”url”
   Displays a link using your custom field in “name” as the link target and “alt” as the caption. If “alt” is empty the link target is used as the caption.
2. func=”plain”
   Simply displays the custom field in “name” as plain text. If the field is empty it displays the text in “alt”.
3. func=”img”
   Inserts the image at the url in your custom field “name” into the article. The “alt” argument is used as the images alternative text attribute.
4. More functions in later versions of the plugin… Or extend the plugin on your own. See Extending the Plugin for details.

Example

[meta func="url" name="download_url" alt="Download here"]

This little code in your article displays a link using your custom field “download_url” as the link target and “Download here” as the caption. If you leave the “alt” argument empty then it uses the link target as the caption.

The resulting html code is:

<a href='{download_url}'>{alt}</a>

Extending the Plugin (First Method)

You can extend the plugin by adding the PHP function

function meta_functions_shortcode_{func}($meta, $alt="") {
       return "your desired text or generated html content";
}

(to the plugins php source file) by writing your own plugin file with the function in it. Be sure to replace {func} with your desired function name (will result in the parameter “func” in the shortcode). $meta will be the value of the custom field and $alt the “alt” parameter.

The function should return the text by which the shortcode will be replaced. For example the “_plain” function simply returns $meta or $alt if $meta is empty.

Extending the Plugin (Second Method)

This method is more convenient and new in version 2 of the plugin. You can add new functions in the admin panel. For this go to the options page called “Meta Functions Shortcode”.

Here you can enter a new function name, specify parameter names and set the output html code with the parameters.
Example:

• Function Name: link

• Function Parameter Names: link_url, link_caption

• Function Result Code: <a href=’{link_url}’>{link_caption}</a>

If you now enter the shortcode

[meta func="link" link_url="download_url" link_caption="download_caption"]

then in the article/page, it will be replaced by <a href=’contents of custom field download_url‘>contents of custom field download_caption</a>.

Download

Dowload link is here (hosted by wordpress.org)

Questions? Comments?

If you have any comments or questions regarding the plugin, please write a comment.

Similar Posts:

• Wordpress Plugin: MultiWidget Class
• Wordpress Widget: Member Access Pages Widget