php code widget used to pull post from loop

[DannyGSmith]

I need to use a loop inside of a php code widget that will get a single post, with a given scientists (custom taxonomy) and a give category. I have gotten that to work fine, but the page will have more than one loop on it so I need to either reset the loop, clone it, or create a new query. I chose to try the later. For some reason, this code is not working. Can anyone see the problem?

<?php
   // we're looking at a page
   // get the current page's ID using the global $wp_query variable
   $ID = $wp_query->post->ID;
   
   // then get the permalink
   // so you can parse and get the last value
   // which is used as the value for the scientists taxonomy
   $permalink = get_permalink($ID);
   $stack = explode("/", $permalink);

   // permalink ends in / so you need to pop two
   $perm = array_pop($stack);
   $perm = array_pop($stack);   
   
   $contactPost = new WP_Query();
      
   // Get the only post that matches
   $contactPost->query_posts( array( 'scientists' => $perm, 'category_name' => 'contact-info', 'showposts' => 1 ) );
   while ($contactPost->have_posts()) : $contactPost->the_post(); 
      $contactPost->the_content();    
   endwhile;
?>

The problem is with the WP_Query, I don't know if I need to include something else or what. I am stumped.

[wpmuguru]

Try changing

'scientists' => $perm

to

'term' => $perm, 'taxonomy' => 'scientists' .

[DannyGSmith]

It seems strange, but that part works ok. It is when I have more than one loop on the page that I get into trouble, then only the first loop works ok. That is why I decided to create a new WP_Query. This is the error message I get:

 Error Code:                 php_code_error:1:/home/www/mockup/htdocs/wp-content/plugins/php-code-widget/execphp.php(43)  : eval()d code:20:Call to undefined method WP_Query::query_posts()                          Message:                 A fatal code error occurred. 
  

[Rarst]

I'd suggest get_posts() instead, but I am not too sure how it works with custom taxonomies. Google is bit confusing on the subject and I don't use taxonomies so can't test.

Error is correct, because WP_Query doesn't have query_posts() method.

query_posts() is separate function from WordPress query API http://codex.wordpress.org/Template_Tags/query_posts

Upd.

get_posts() can also take the parameters that query_posts() can since both functions now use the same database query code internally

Seems it should be safe to use with taxonomies. get_posts() creates WP_Query as local variable so it seems better choice for multiply loops.

[Otto]

This is wrong:

 $contactPost = new WP_Query();
      
// Get the only post that matches
   $contactPost->query_posts( array( 'scientists' => $perm, 'category_name' => 'contact-info', 'showposts' => 1 ) ); 
  

You can't do that. Try it like this instead:

 $contactPost = new WP_Query(array( 'scientists' => $perm,  'category_name' => 'contact-info', 'showposts' => 1 )); 
  

Also, this is wrong too:

 $contactPost->the_content(); 
  

It should just be "the_content();". It's not a member function of that class.

Finally, at the end of all that, you still need to make a call to wp_reset_query();, to avoid stomping on the main page's pre-existing Loop.

[Rarst]

Ok, more practical form of my morning ramblings.

 $ID = $wp_query->post->ID;
$permalink = get_permalink($ID);
$stack = explode("/", $permalink);
// two pops cut too much for me, no trailing slash in permalink
$perm = array_pop($stack);
 
//  btw whouldn't this give same thing? not sure what your permalink structure is
//    $perm=$wp_query->query_arguments->name;
//    or for page
//    $perm=$wp_query->query_arguments->pagename;
 
$contactPost = get_posts( array('scientists' => $perm,'category_name' => 'contact-info', 'showposts' => 1) );
echo $contactPost[0]->post_content; 
  

I've tested it except taxonomy part. I should look into those some day...

[DannyGSmith]

That works perfectly! Thank you very much. I hope someday the taxonomies work as easy for hierarchical as they do for non. It can really help for complex sites.

Thank you very much!!!

[Rarst]

You are welcome. :) Your logic was just fine, but choice of functions was wrong. Probably most common situation with coding for WP.