[Resolved] Update parent post author when creating or editing child post

[Author]

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[jamesR-13]

Trying to update parent post author when creating or editing child post

Here is my php code:

		if ( $form_data['id'] == 363 ) {
			$user_id = get_current_user_id();
        	        $parent_id = get_post_meta($post_id, '_wpcf_belongs_unit_id', true); // unit = your parent post type name
                     	update_post_meta($parent_id, 'post_author', $user_id); // wpcf-status = your field name
        	// user_id = your field new value  
        }

[Christian Cox]

Hello, I'll be glad to help. I see two main issues based on your comments and code sample so far:
1. Since Types 3, a new post relationships system is available. If you migrate to the new post relationships system, post relationships will no longer be stored using the _wpcf_belongs_{slug}_id meta key. After migration, you can no longer rely on this meta key/value pair to get the parent post, given the child post ID. I would need to know whether or not your site has migrated to the new post relationships system to determine whether or not this code will get the parent ID in a reliable way:

$parent_id = get_post_meta($post_id, '_wpcf_belongs_unit_id', true); // unit = your parent post type name

If you are unsure about whether or not your site has migrated to the new system, please go to Toolset > Relationships. If your site has already migrated to the new relationships system, you should see a list of all the post relationships you have currently set up on the site like the screenshot attached here relationships.png. If your site has not migrated yet, you should see a screen explaining the migration process and the steps you would need to take to migrate to the new system. Please take a screenshot of your screen at Toolset > Relationships and include it in your next reply, then I can give you some additional feedback about the best method for determining the parent post ID using PHP.

2. The standard WordPress post author information is not a custom field value, rather it is part of the post object itself. The function update_post_meta will not help you modify the standard post author, as it is only intended for modifying custom field values. I assume you want to update the standard WordPress post author, not a separate custom field like a User field created in Toolset Types. If this assumption is correct, you must change this line:

update_post_meta($parent_id, 'post_author', $user_id); // wpcf-status = your field name

Instead you must use the function wp_update_post to set the post author programmatically, since the post author is not stored in a custom field value. An example showing how to update the standard post author information:

$my_post = array(
  'ID'           => 123,
  'post_author' => 789
);
wp_update_post( $my_post );

You would replace 123 with the ID of the post (or more likely a variable representing that ID) whose author you would like to change. You would replace 789 with the ID of the User (again, more likely a variable representing that ID) you would like to set as the post author.

I'll stand by for your update and give you some additional feedback after reviewing your comments.

[jamesR-13]

It's a brand new site, so it would be built with the new relationships.

[Christian Cox]

To get the parent post ID, you can use the Post Relationships API function toolset_get_related_post:
https://toolset.com/documentation/customizing-sites-using-php/post-relationships-api/#toolset_get_related_post
Example:

$relationship_slug = 'your-post-relationship-slug';
$parent_id = toolset_get_related_post( $post_id, $relationship_slug );

Replace your-post-relationship-slug with the slug of this post relationship. You can find the slug in Toolset > Relationships when you edit the post relationship.

See #2 in my previous comment for an example showing how to update the post author.

[jamesR-13]

OK, based on your help so far, here's what I have:

		if ( $form_data['id'] == 350 ) {
			$user_id = get_current_user_id();
        	$relationship_slug = 'unit-to-document';
			$parent_id = toolset_get_related_post( $post_id, $relationship_slug );
        	wp_update_post($parent_id, 'post_author', $user_id); 
        }

Unfortunately, the parent post author is still not being updated when adding a child post. I'm sure i'm missing something simple or doing something wrong. Please advise. Thank you.

[Christian Cox]

Looks like you've changed the way wp_update_post is called, passing the post ID and author information into the function as different parameters:

wp_update_post($parent_id, 'post_author', $user_id); 

It looks like it would work, similar to how wp_update_postmeta works, but it's not formatted correctly so it won't work like this. The example I shared shows the proper format and syntax for wp_update_post. You must put the post ID and post_author ID information in an array, then pass that array into the wp_upate_post function as the first parameter:

$my_post = array(
  'ID'           => 123,
  'post_author' => 789
);
wp_update_post( $my_post );

You can review the documentation for the wp_update_post function here:
https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/wp_update_post/
The first parameter should be an array of post information, the second and third arguments are optional, but if used, should be booleans ( true or false ).

[jamesR-13]

I changed my parameters per your feedback, and still no joy. What am I missing?

	
		//update parent post author when adding or editing children
		if ( $form_data['id'] == 1531 ) {
			$user_id = get_current_user_id();
        	$relationship_slug = 'unit-to-document';
			$parent_id = toolset_get_related_post( $post_id, $relationship_slug );
        	wp_update_post($parent_id, 'post_author', $user_id); 
			$my_post = array(
				  'ID'           => $parent_id,
				  'post_author' => $user_id
				);
			wp_update_post( $my_post );
        }

[Christian Cox]

May I log in and see how this is set up? I think I must be missing something.

[Christian Cox]

I get an error when I try to log in with these credentials: "Unknown username. Check again or try your email address."

Can you double check?

[jamesR-13]

Oops! Try it again now. Same credentials. Thank you!

[Christian Cox]

Is it okay for me to create a new Unit Document to test this out? Or would you prefer to set up a staging site where we can run tests without disturbing the live site?

[jamesR-13]

You can create one. Just use unit 0000 please.

[Christian Cox]

Okay it looks like there was an extra closing bracket that was preventing this code from firing. I've fixed that and changed the code a bit:

//update parent post author when adding or editing children
		if ( $form_data['id'] == 1531 ) {
			$user_id = get_current_user_id();
        	$parent_id = $_POST['@unit-to-document_parent'];
        	$my_post = array(
				  'ID'           => $parent_id,
				  'post_author' => $user_id
				);
			wp_update_post( $my_post );
        }

Now I can see the parent Unit author being updated when I add a new Unit Document post. Can you confirm?

[Christian Cox]

Screenshot showing extra closing bracket is attached here.

[jamesR-13]

See... I knew it was something stupid I was doing.

:facepalm:

My issue is resolved now. Thank you!