[Resolved] Function to assign content template from API import

[Author]

Posts

[Paul]

Hi there,

I have an external XML feed setup which creates posts on my website. However, each time the import runs, the updated posts lose there association with the Single Post Content Template I've setup - it just goes back to "None".

Is there a way to force this. I.e. is there a hidden field / variable that I can set in the Post Fields Group? Or a PHP function which looks at when these specific Posts are first created and assigns it then?

Thanks in advance

Paul

[Christian Cox]

Yes, there is a hidden postmeta field associated with each post that determines which Content Template is applied to the post. It is _views_template. If you import posts and you want to assign a specific Content Template to those posts, you can set the postmeta value for the hidden _views_template field. If you update posts and delete or modify this template postmeta value, the original Content Template will no longer be assigned to the post.

[Paul]

PLease see attachment....

So is it as simple as applying the name of the CT to the hidden field?

Or would I need a function to run on Post Save - if so is there an example in the Support Library of this?

Many thanks

Paul

[Christian Cox]

The value should be the Content Template ID, not the slug. Here's a sample that saves the template ID for a "book" custom post:

function save_book_meta( $post_id, $post, $update ) {

    $post_type = get_post_type($post_id);

    // If this isn't a 'book' post, don't update it.
    if ( "book" != $post_type ) return;

    // - Update the post's metadata.
    update_post_meta( $post_id, '_views_template', 12345 );
}
add_action( 'save_post', 'save_book_meta', 10, 3 );