Random Image Generated Based On Category

Thanks for your question, and for taking the time to dig into the Support Forum archives and find the (much) earlier topic. Thanks as well for the details on what you’ve tried and for posting the source code you’re using. It looks like you haven’t made any changes to the /media-library-assistant/examples/random-feature.php.txt example plugin – is that right?

You wrote “I have multiple post categories“, and “I added each Att. Categories, and then assigned the image to one of these categories.

It looks like your problem is that the post has terms assigned in the WordPress “Categories” taxonomy but the images have terms assigned in the MLA “Att. Categories” taxonomy. The example plugin as written will only look in one taxonomy ( const TAXONOMY = 'category'; ) so no images will be found.

You can pursue one of two solutions:

1. You could activate MLA support for the “Categories” taxonomy and assign “Categories” terms to all your images.
2. You could modify the example plugin to look in “Categories” for the post/page and “Att. Categories” for the images.

Either alternative will work; the decision to use separate taxonomies for posts/pages Vs attachments is quite common, but some sites prefer using the same taxonomy for all objects. The second alternative will work just fine as long as you have the same terms (specifically, term slug values) in both taxonomies.

If you want the first solution I can give you more specific guidance. If you want the second solution I can update the example plugin and give working code. I may do that anyway as a useful exercise.

I will leave this topic unresolved until you post an update. Let me know which solution you would like to pursue. Thanks for your interest in the plugin.

Hello,

Thanks so much for getting back to me. You are correct. I have not made any changes to the /media-library-assistant/examples/random-feature.php.txt example plugin.

I would love to go with the second solution, and I have made the term slugs the same for the Att. Categories as well as the post categories.

I really appreciate your time, and help. This will help me so much.

Have a wonderful day

I have updated and tested the /media-library-assistant/examples/random-feature.php.txt example plugin to implement the second solution. The changes required are small.

First, define a second taxonomy slug constant:

/**
 * Select the taxonomies, e.g., 'category', 'post_tag', 'attachment_category', 'attachment_tag'
 */
const POST_TAXONOMY = 'category';
const ITEM_TAXONOMY = 'attachment_category';

Second, change the code in function rfi_save_post_action to separate the two taxonomies, using the new constants:

public static function rfi_save_post_action( $post_ID, $post, $update ) {
	/*
	 * Only assign a random image if (in this order):
	 * 1) The post has been published (avoiding "auto save" revisions)
	 * 2) The post has one or more terms assigned (but not the "default category")
	 * 3) There is no current Featured Image
	 */
	if ( 'publish' != $post->post_status ) {
		return;
	}

	$the_terms = get_the_terms( $post_ID, self::POST_TAXONOMY );
	if ( empty( $the_terms ) ) {
		return;
	}

	/*
	 * Optional - filter out the default category
	 */
	if ( 'category' == self::POST_TAXONOMY ) {
		$default_category_id= get_option('default_category');

		foreach( $the_terms as $index => $term ) {
			if ( $term->term_id == $default_category_id ) {
				unset( $the_terms[ $index ] );
				break;
			}
		}
	}

	/*
	 * Remove this if you want to assign a new random image each time the post is updated.
	 */
	if ( '' != get_the_post_thumbnail( $post_ID ) ) {
		return;
	}

	/*
	 * Pick the term, e.g. the first value or perhaps a random value
	 */
	$chosen_name = $the_terms[0]->name;

	/*
	 * Find the right [mla_gallery] parameter name for the taxonomy
	 */
	switch ( self::ITEM_TAXONOMY ) {
		case 'category':
			$taxonomy = 'category_name';
			break;
		case 'post_tag':
			$taxonomy = 'tag';
			break;
		default:
			$taxonomy = self::ITEM_TAXONOMY;
	}

	/*
	 * Use a shortcode to finish the job, or parse the image ID our of gallery output
	 */
	if ( self::USE_SHORTCODE ) {
		add_shortcode( 'random_featured_image', 'RandomFeaturedImage::random_featured_image_shortcode' );
		do_shortcode( sprintf( '[mla_gallery %1$s="%2$s" orderby=rand posts_per_page=1 mla_alt_shortcode=random_featured_image rfi_post_id="%3$d"]', $taxonomy, $chosen_name, $post_ID ) );
		remove_shortcode( 'random_featured_image' );
	} else {
		/*
		 * Compose a simple gallery and capture the output
		 */
		$gallery = do_shortcode( sprintf( '[mla_gallery %1$s="%2$s" orderby=rand posts_per_page=1 size=none link=none mla_style=none mla_caption="rfi_image_id={+attachment_ID+}"]', $taxonomy, $chosen_name, $post_ID ) );

		/*
		 * Find the ID of the random image, if there is one,
		 * then set the featured image.
		 */
		if ( preg_match( '/rfi_image_id=(\d+)/', $gallery, $matches ) ) {
			$success = set_post_thumbnail( $post_ID, absint( $matches[1] ) );
		}
	}
}

I have changed the plugin version number to 1.01 as well, and I will upload an MLA Development Version with the new code shortly. You can make the corresponding changes in your copy of the plugin, wait for the updated Development Version or I can send you a complete copy if You give me your contact information. If that’s of interest, you can use the Contact Us page at the FTJ web site:

Fair Trade Judaica/Contact Us

Do not post your e-mail address in the forum; personal details in a public forum violates WordPress guidelines. If you have trouble accessing the FTJ site, post a note here with your country of origin and I can temporarily unblock it.

Thanks for inspiring this new example and for your interest in the plugin.

Hello Dave,

Thanks so much. I implemented your code, and everything is working great! I can’t thank you enough for all your help, and time. I have contacted you through your website as well with my email address, and other info. Thanks again for everything Dave!

I have released MLA version 2.15, which contains the updated /media-library-assistant/examples/random-feature.php.txt example plugin.

I am marking this topic resolved, but please update it if you have any problems with the new release or further questions regarding the example plugin.

The only thing I can add is that you’re simply amazing Dave. Thanks for all your help, and time. Your plugin works perfect! God Bless.