Executing Shortcode from Tags

Hi there,

Can you check with the developer to see what's the code needed in order for it to work in a twenty series WP theme?

My guess is that the same code would work in GP as those are WordPress' core functions.

The plugin developer said that to have the shortcode execution in the "Description" of a tag, the theme developer needs to add the support. When you go to Tags and Add New, the description is where I would like the shortcode to work.

The theme developer has to use the below function to execute shortcodes which are present in the description.
https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/do_shortcode/

This may not be standard with wordpress to have shortcode run in the tag description but that's something I would like to have.

Do not that it was not working with my previous theme either. Just curious how I can make that happen.

GP does not control the category/tag description field as that's all handled by WordPress.

Can the plugin developer provide you with code that would work in a twenty series WP default theme? If so it should work in GP.

You can also give this a shot:
https://www.wpchunks.com/allow-html-in-category-description/

The plugin developer share this code. Seems pretty simple. Why is that not standard?

Somewhere in your theme under inc/structure/archives.php in your child theme/parent theme.

You should find a line something similar.

printf( '

', $term_description ); // WPCS: XSS ok, sanitization ok.

Replace $term_description with do_shortcode( $term_description )

So it looks something like this

printf( '

', do_shortcode( $term_description ) ); // WPCS: XSS ok, sanitization ok.

Now the tag description should execute the shortcode.

It's not standard as that field is handled by WordPress and that's not standard for WordPress.

Glad you found a solution :)

I am sorry, but it's not true that it's WordPress doing this.

This is the code from your theme in the archive.php. Could you just not add the support for shortcodes?

add_action( 'generate_after_archive_title', 'generate_do_archive_description' );
/**
* Output the archive description.
*
* @since 2.3
*/
function generate_do_archive_description() {
$term_description = term_description();

if ( ! empty( $term_description ) ) {
printf( '

', $term_description ); // WPCS: XSS ok, sanitization ok.
}

if ( get_the_author_meta( 'description' ) && is_author() ) {
echo '

'; // WPCS: XSS ok, sanitization ok.
}

/**
* generate_after_archive_description hook.
*
* @since 0.1
*/
do_action( 'generate_after_archive_description' );
}

Just to confirm, you are talking about executing shortcodes in this field correct?
https://www.screencast.com/t/AGBKR5LrGaxa

Can you temporarily switch to a twenty series WordPress theme and see if shortcodes work in there?

That is this function here:
https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/term_description/

So if it works in twenty series theme, then it should work in GP.

Yes that's the field in your image. I will try and see and get back to you.

Please do.

Let me know :)

It's the same.

My question then is why would you not want to make that one improvement and support shortcode if you are going through the trouble of having a function that handles it?

It seems that the concept is bothering you as opposed to see it as a shortcoming by wordpress and wanting to provide an improvement.

You would really have to ask this question to WordPress.

Things like Categories and Tags are handled 100% by WordPress' core functions.

The theme itself doesn't actually have the ability to alter those functionalities and it shouldn't either.

Therefore, when a plugin requires certain functionality to work (like executing in the description field), it's up to the plugin author to actually make it work.

GP can guarantee that if a plugin works with a default twenty series theme, then it will work with GP. Therefore if the plugin author can provide a method that works in a default twenty series theme, then the same method should work with GP.

This is a very important standard for all WordPress themes. For example, let's say GP alters the description field functionality to allow shortcode execution, then one day you decided to switch theme and the shortcode no longer works. I would think the better solution is for the plugin author to make it work with every theme, especially it needs to work with a default twenty series theme.

I hope this provides some clarification.

You could try adding the filters in this article and see if that works for you:
https://webgilde.com/en/shortcode-not-working-category-description/

I buy that. Thanks for explaining.

No problem :)

Found another solution here that might help as well:
https://generatepress.com/forums/topic/add-shortcode-to-category-description/#post-411697