Dynamically Completing Selection Fields

NB: Make sure you do a back up of your theme, files and database before attempting the tutorials

Hard

Last modified : Oct 09 2022

Estimated reading time : 6 minutes, 9 seconds - 560 words

With this tutorial, we will show you how to complete fields dynamically for custom post types.

For this we’ll need to use the ACF: Advanced Custom Fields plugin.

This popular extension allows users to create custom fields for posts, pages and much more.

Advanced Custom Fields - Extension WordPress

Create group fields with ACF

We can create group fields and add the desired fields within these groups. Certain fields are available in the free version, and the Pro version .

For example, the Repeater field is available in the Pro version.

List of fields avalable in ACF

Here’s the list of custom fields available in the free and Pro versions.

Basic

Text
Text fields
Numbers
Set
Email
URL
Password

Content

Image
Files
Wysiwyg editor
oEmbed content
Gallery

Choices

Drop down list
Checkboxes
Radio button
Button group
True/False

Relational

Link
Objet de la publication
Hyperlink
Relation
Taxonomy
Account

JQuery

Google Maps
Date selector
Date & time selector
Time selector
Color selector

Layout

Message
Accordion
Tab
Group
Repeater
Flexible content
Clone

For our tutorial, we will create a new group and add a custom selectable field.

This group of fields can be displayed wherever you need it.

Réglages ACF pour un groupe de champs personnalisés

Furthermore, within this field, you can add custom values or display post results found within your dynamic selection field.

Display a selection of posts with ACF

Afficher un résultat d'articles dans un champ sélection - ACF

First we need to use a WP Query displayed with a acf/load_field/filter.

We will also use an argument called name which will serve as the name of the ACF custom dynamic field that you have created: acf/load_field/name=test.

Replace it with the name of your custom ACF field.

add_filter('acf/load_field/name=test', 'ThemespresspopulateActivites');
function ThemespresspopulateActivites($field)
{
    $field['choices'] = array();
    wp_reset_query();
    $query = new WP_Query(array(
        'post_type' => 'activites',
        'order' => 'ASC',
        'orderby' => 'title',
        'posts_per_page' => -1,
    ));
    $field['choices'] = array();
    foreach ($query->posts as $room_id => $matched_room) {
        $choices[$matched_room->ID] = $matched_room->post_title;
    }
    if (is_array($choices)) {
        foreach ($choices as $key => $choice) {
            $field['choices'][$key] = $choice;
        }
    }
    wp_reset_query();
    return $field;
}

Display a selection of result within an ACF selection field for Multisite

Let’s take a WP Query from a multisite website, we will use the switch_to_blog function.

In our query, we will fetch the website’s ID found within the multisite. (switch_to_blog(2))

It will then display inside our custom field all posts with an ID 2 and sorted by ascending title.

Finally replace the name of the field with yours: (acf/load_field/name=test)

add_filter('acf/load_field/name=test', 'ThemespresspopulateActivitesMultisite');
function ThemespresspopulateActivitesMultisite($field)
{
 $field['choices'] = array();
 wp_reset_query();
 
 switch_to_blog(2);
 $querytwo = new WP_Query(array(
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'posts_per_page' => -1,
  'order' => 'ASC',
  'orderby' => 'title',
    ));
    $field['choices'] = array();
    foreach ($querytwo->posts as $room_id => $matched_room) {
        $choices[$matched_room->ID] = $matched_room->post_title;
    }
    if (is_array($choices)) {
        foreach ($choices as $key => $choice) {
            $field['choices'][$key] = $choice;
        }
    }
    restore_current_blog();
    return $field;
}

ACF – Advanced Custom Fields is an efficient plugin that will diplays your data related to posts, pages, post types, etc…

If we don’t want to add a user field from ACF, we can create a selection field and create a query to display users with a specfic role.

You can change the role in the example and why not add additional roles in the author, subscriber, editor, contributor array.

add_filter('acf/load_field/name=partenaire', 'themepresspopulateUserGroups');
function themepresspopulateUserGroups( $field ){
// reset choices
$field['choices'] = array();
$users = get_users(array( 'role__in' => array( 'partenaire' ) ) );
foreach ($users as $user) {
$field['choices'][ $user->ID ] = $user->display_name;
}
return $field;
}

Finally, we need to change the name of the field: acf/load_field/name=partenaire

In conclusion, ACF – Advanced Custom Fields is a very useful plugin that will let you display data from posts, post types, pages, etc…

Des tutoriels et ressources WordPress