Trouble applying Dynamic Templates with add_post_meta() - Support

Tagged: add_post_meta, create post, dynamic template, post, post type, update_post_meta

Viewing 5 posts - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

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September 19, 2013 at 12:59 am #163244
FarenAgency
Participant
I have a page template which allows a user to create a new post from the front end. This is being used for a business directory on a client site. The post is adding successfully and showing up entirely as expected except in one regard..

The post type needs to display with a specific dynamic template (“dynamic_template_listings”) and I haven’t been able to successfully manipulate the post meta to apply this.

I’ve attempted copying the meta key / value of a successful post (created by an admin in the back end) like so:
```
$options = 'a:7:{s:6:"layout";s:25:"dynamic_template_listings";s:17:"dynamic_templates";s:8:"listings";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:15:"_slideshow_type";s:4:"fade";s:19:"_slideshow_position";s:3:"big";s:19:"_slideshow_autoplay";s:5:"false";s:19:"_slideshow_duration";s:1:"5";}';
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_avia_options_replete", $options);
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_theme_compatibility_mode", $options);
```
The post meta shows up on the Edit Post page, but with a “s:307:” string fixed to the beginning of the $options string and no template applied to the post.

If there is a known way around this, I could really use a hand! Thanks!
September 19, 2013 at 4:05 pm #163639

Devin
Inactive Moderator

Hello FarenAgency!

I’m not sure if this is doable but I’ve tagged the head of support who should at least be able to shed a bit of light on it one way or another.

Regards,
Devin

September 19, 2013 at 4:48 pm #163662

FarenAgency
Participant

I’ve used a work-around for the time being by adding a blanket Category (‘listings’) to the post type on creation and filtering to a single-listings.php file housing the dynamic template – outlined here: https://kriesi.at/support/topic/set-custom-template-for-all-posts-in-category/.

Had to add a filter hook in functions.php to route the category templates correctly (as I have been dealing with several similar post types), but it is working now.

Still curious if there is a more proper way of doing this.

Thanks.

September 20, 2013 at 9:07 am #163963
Dude
Moderator
Hi,
Kriesi uses serialized data to store the post meta. You need to unserialize it to use it. I.e. replace your code
```
$options = 'a:7:{s:6:"layout";s:25:"dynamic_template_listings";s:17:"dynamic_templates";s:8:"listings";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:15:"_slideshow_type";s:4:"fade";s:19:"_slideshow_position";s:3:"big";s:19:"_slideshow_autoplay";s:5:"false";s:19:"_slideshow_duration";s:1:"5";}';
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_avia_options_replete", $options);
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_theme_compatibility_mode", $options);
```
with
```
$options = 'a:7:{s:6:"layout";s:25:"dynamic_template_listings";s:17:"dynamic_templates";s:8:"listings";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:27:"on_save_layout_dynamic_save";s:15:"_slideshow_type";s:4:"fade";s:19:"_slideshow_position";s:3:"big";s:19:"_slideshow_autoplay";s:5:"false";s:19:"_slideshow_duration";s:1:"5";}';
$options = maybe_unserialize($options);
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_avia_options_replete", $options);
add_post_meta($id, "_avia_elements_theme_compatibility_mode", $options);
```
and it should work because it saves a proper array.
September 20, 2013 at 3:18 pm #164080

FarenAgency
Participant

Awesome, thanks Dude. I will give that a shot.
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