Check If Custom Sidebar Exists

I made it way more complicated than it needed to be. I just needed to put

if ( ! is_active_sidebar( ‘sidebar_inside_pages’ ) ) :
if ( function_exists( “get_yuzo_related_posts” ) ) { get_yuzo_related_posts(); }
endif;

That way I check to see if the default sidebar is there and insert related posts, if it’s not the default sidebar, then don’t insert related posts.

Nevermind,

I found out that won’t work either way because if a custom sidebar is active it will still return true to is_active_sidebar(‘sidebar_inside_pages’) even if a custom sidebar is replacing it.

Any other ideas for how to check if a custom sidebar is active?

Hi Coleh3,
Try this code and let me know how you get on:

if ( ! class_exists( 'ECS_Frontend' ) ) :
	// Get frontend class.
	$ecs_frontend = ECS_Frontend->get_instance();

	// Check if the widget area replacement exists.
	// Replace parameter with the appropriate
	// sidebar id.
	if ( $ecs_frontend->get_widget_area_replacement( 'sidebar_inside_pages' ) && function_exists( 'get_yuzo_related_posts' ) ) {
		get_yuzo_related_posts();
	}
endif;

Cheers

Sunny

Thanks Sunny.

I’m getting a parse error on this part:

$ecs_frontend = ECS_Frontend->get_instance();

Sorry that line should be:

$ecs_frontend = ECS_Frontend::get_instance();

as that is a static function. Cheers

Sunny

That fixed the syntax error, however it doesn’t appear to want to output the get_yuzo_related_posts(); function.

I’m trying to mess with it a bit to see what could be the issue. It just doesn’t output anything at all on any page.

Thank you for helping me with this. I would really like to make this work some-how.

Hi coleh3,
I think this approach that you are taking is over complicated. I would just create a custom widget and put it in the default sidebar (then no conditional checks are needed). Here is the php class code I would write up for that custom widget:

class Coleh_Recent_Posts_Widget extends WP_Widget {

	/**
	 * Constructor Function
	 *
	 * Initialize the widget.
	 *
	 * @since 1.0.0
	 * @version 1.0.0
	 *
	 */
	function __construct() {

		parent::__construct(
			'coleh_recent_posts', // Base ID
			__( 'Coleh Recent Posts', 'text_domain' ), // Name
			array( 'description' => __( 'A custom widget to get related posts.', 'text_domain' ), ) // Args
		);
	}

	/**
	 * Register custom widget.
	 *
	 * @since 1.0.0
	 * @version 1.0.0
	 *
	 */
	public static function register_widget() {
		register_widget( 'Coleh_Recent_Posts_Widget' );
	}

	/**
	 * Front-end display of widget.
	 *
	 * @see WP_Widget::widget()
	 *
	 * @param array $args     Widget arguments.
	 * @param array $instance Saved values from database.
	 */
	public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
		if ( function_exists( 'get_yuzo_related_posts' ) ) {
			get_yuzo_related_posts();
		}
	}

}
add_action( 'widgets_init', array( 'Coleh_Recent_Posts_Widget', 'register_widget' ) );

Once you have copied this code a new widget will be available on the widgets screen called Coleh Recent Posts. This approach is better because it lets you reuse this functionality in any sidebar that you want. Let me know how you get on. Cheers

Sunny

Although I recommend the approach listed above. If you want to stick with the first approach, here is the modified code:

if ( ! class_exists( 'ECS_Frontend' ) ) :
	// Get frontend class.
	$ecs_frontend = ECS_Frontend::get_instance();

	// Check if the widget area replacement exists.
	// Replace parameter with the appropriate
	// sidebar id.
	if ( false !== $ecs_frontend->get_widget_area_replacement( 'sidebar_inside_pages' ) && function_exists( 'get_yuzo_related_posts' ) ) {
		get_yuzo_related_posts();
	}
endif;

Thanks Sunny. I went with the first option you provided that way the user as the control to easily take away the widget themselves but they don’t have to go through the hassle of setting up any of the widget settings for related posts to show.

I think it offers flexibility without complicating things.

I appreciate your help with this.

Hi Coleh3,
Great, glad I could help. I was wondering if you could rate this plugin when you get a moment please. Cheers

Sunny