the content - Execute Closing Shortcode After the_content

I need to execute a short code on thousands of posts which don't already contain the short code as i've added some manually.

I'm using another function to add the opening short code after the 2nd paragraph which works.

I've written this code which outputs the closing short code after the content but it does't execute.

add_filter( 'the_content', 'closing_shortcode' );
function closing_shortcode( $content ) {

        if( !has_shortcode( $content, 'members') )
        return $content;

        $close_shortcode = do_shortcode('[/member]');

        return $content . $close_shortcode;
}       

Maybe i need to use echo do_shortcode.

I need to execute a short code on thousands of posts which don't already contain the short code as i've added some manually.

I'm using another function to add the opening short code after the 2nd paragraph which works.

I've written this code which outputs the closing short code after the content but it does't execute.

add_filter( 'the_content', 'closing_shortcode' );
function closing_shortcode( $content ) {

        if( !has_shortcode( $content, 'members') )
        return $content;

        $close_shortcode = do_shortcode('[/member]');

        return $content . $close_shortcode;
}       

Maybe i need to use echo do_shortcode.

• shortcode
• the-content

Share Improve this question edited Apr 18, 2015 at 3:02 fuxia♦ 107k3838 gold badges255255 silver badges459459 bronze badges asked Apr 16, 2015 at 15:44 Brad DaltonBrad Dalton 6,96722 gold badges3636 silver badges4747 bronze badges 8

• I think the problem is that you're calling do_shortcode() on only half the sortcode, the ending half which won't translate well. What happens whenever you remove do_shortcode() and just append the closing shortcode string? – Howdy_McGee ♦ Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 15:48
• @Howdy_McGee Still outputs the shortcode but doesn't execute. – Brad Dalton Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 16:05
• I created a simple shortcode which outputs container <div> and was able to use the above successfully ( both with do_shortcode() and with just appending the ending shortcode tag ). It could be that there's a bunch of junk content between your opening shortcode and ending shortcode ( maybe empty paragraph tags ) that's keeping it from operating properly. View Source / Dev Tools to see if this is the case. If your shortcode relies on JS check for console errors. – Howdy_McGee ♦ Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 16:19
• 1 Can't you use a single function to add the opening and closing shortcode at same time? – gmazzap Commented Apr 16, 2015 at 20:25
• 3 Stay cool, calm and collected - people are just trying to help you, right? – Nicolai Grossherr Commented Apr 18, 2015 at 11:13

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1 Answer 1

Sorted by: Reset to default 0

Maybe I misunderstand what you are doing, and I apologize if that is the case, but...

1. It looks like you are returning content if the post DOES NOT already have one, which looks backward to me based on my understanding of your problem.
2. It looks like you are trying to execute a broken (incomplete) shortcode.

I misunderstood the original question but based on comments below, you need to run do_shortcode() on the whole content block, not just on the closing section.

I think your code should look like:

add_filter( 'the_content', 'closing_shortcode' );
function closing_shortcode( $content ) {

        // return if the shortcode has already been added
        // Note the ! was removed
        if( has_shortcode( $content, 'members') )
        return $content;

        // Add the closing sortcode tag
        $close_shortcode = '[/member]';

       // and run do_shortcode() on the whole content block
        return do_shortcode($content . $close_shortcode);
}      

If that doesn't work, it will take some manipulation of the core content and shortcode execution systems and I will have to tackle later, when I have more time.