Coding for multiple custom sidebars (elseif)

Assuming you want sidebar_custom123.php when the cat_ID is 123, this should work (UNTESTED!):

<?php
global $post;
foreach( (get_the_category($post->ID)) as $category) {
   if ($category->cat_ID == 168) {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
   } elseif ($category->cat_ID -- 123) {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom123.php");
   } else {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
    }
}
?>

Thanks vtxyzzy. Oh so close. It called the right one, but then kept repeating the primary sidebar. They just stacked on top of each other. Any idea why?

If the post is in multiple categories, that would happen. Or, if the code is in the loop, it is getting the sidebar for each post. In that case, you will need a counter. Try putting in a break like this:

<?php
global $post;
foreach( (get_the_category($post->ID)) as $category) {
   if (++$sidebar_counter > 1) break;
   if ($category->cat_ID == 168) {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
   } elseif ($category->cat_ID -- 123) {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom123.php");
   } else {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
    }
}
?>

The numbers in array() are comma seperated list of category IDs you want the sidebar to show up in.

<?php
$cat_id = get_query_var('cat');

if(in_array($cat_id,array("10","11","12"))){
 //show sidebar code
}

if(in_array($cat_id,array("15","16","17"))){
 //show sidebar code
}
?>

Thanks vtxyzzy and darrellonsite. Family obligations will keep me from trying these until Sunday or Monday, but I’ll report back here once I do.

@vtxyzzy –

Well, the second one (sidebar_custom123) shows up in the right place when I try that, but not the first one (sidebar_custom).

@darrellonsite – I tried this approach, but it’s not working. It could well be some sort of syntax error on my part. Here’s what I did…

<?php
$cat_id = get_query_var('cat');
if(in_array($cat_id,array("165","166"))){
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
   }
if(in_array($cat_id,array("163","164"))){
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom163.php");
   } else {
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
    }
?>

I also tried making the second if an elseif, but that didn’t seem to change things.

I wonder if the problem is that the post you are testing is in more than one category? If so, you would show the sidebar for the first category found, not necessarily the one you were looking for.

The code by darrellonsite should work (with your elseif change) if this for a category query, but not for other types.

Yes, most of the posts have multiple categories, typically a parent and a child.

And just to be clear, I’m looking to display the custom sidebars when a single post is displayed from the appropriate category. What I’m attempting has nothing to do with category view.

OK. Try this variation. It will loop through all the categories assigned to a post and include the sidebar for the first match it finds. If no matches are found, it will include the default.

<?php
global $post;
$counter = 0;
foreach( (get_the_category($post->ID)) as $category) {
   if ($category->cat_ID == 168) {
      ++$counter;
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
   } elseif ($category->cat_ID -- 123) {
      ++$counter;
      include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom123.php");
   }
   if ($counter) break;
}
if (!$counter) {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
}
?>

That did it. Woohoo! Thank you so much for taking the time to help folks like me. I greatly appreciate it.

A comment and question, if I may…

I believe that the line
} elseif ($category->cat_ID -- 123) {
should be
} elseif ($category->cat_ID == 123) {

Also, if I want to add a third custom sidebar, can I just add another elseif statement?

Betrayed by the flying fingers!! You are correct about the equal signs, and about adding another esleif.

If your problem is solved, please use the dropdown at top right to mark this topic ‘Resolved’.

BTW, if you are using this in the loop, this simpler code might work:

<?php
if (in_category(168)) {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
} elseif (in_category(123)) {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom123.php");
} else {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
}

Thanks. I had to check, but it is indeed outside the loop. I’ve marked the topic resolved. Thanks again for your help.

Hi there this is great thanks.

If I wanted to call the sidebar_custom.php in category 168, 356, and call sidebar_custom123.php in catergory, 25 , 74

How would i do this??

Thanks
Kindly

Try this:

<?php
if (in_category(array(168,356))) {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom.php");
} elseif (in_category(array(25,74))) {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar_custom123.php");
} else {
   include(TEMPLATEPATH."/sidebar.php");
}

You’ll also need to modify functions.php. Mine looks like this:

register_sidebar(array('name'=>'Sidebar Custom','before_title'=>'<h4>','after_title'=>'</h4>'));