[Resolved] Multiple shortcodes in Sections don't appear

[Daniel Walker]

Hi there,

When I add a shortcode to multiple Sections on my home page, only one generates the corresponding HTML when the page is loaded in a browser. Is this a issue with the Sections add-on?

It is a simple shortcode that generates a call-to-action button-style link using two attributes: link text and URL. Just a quick and convenient way to add CTAs to a page.

For reference, I am using a child-theme, adding Sections to my ‘Front Page’. I copied page.php from GeneratePress into my child theme and renamed it front-page.php, so nothing complicated there.

Thanks,
Dan

[Tom]

Hmm, I’m using multiple shortcodes on my homepage on this site using Sections with no issues.

Would you be willing to send me temporary admin login details to support@generatepress.com so I can take a look?

Thanks!

[Daniel Walker]

Hi Tom, I would but I’m running WP locally, so it’s all sitting on my PC at the moment. I can send you details of the shortcodes, if that helps? Is there anything else you’d want to see, in terms of code/screenshots?

Thanks,
Dan

[Tom]

Can you try adding a new regular page to see if the shortcodes work? Maybe it’s an issue with your front-page.php template.

[Daniel Walker]

Yes, that worked. So, something about my front-page.php perhaps…although it really is just a copy of page.php. I’ll investigate more tomorrow and let you know if I find the problem.

Thanks,
Dan

[Tom]

But everything else works on the front-page.php template? Just not the shortcodes? Bizarre..

If the front-page.php is just a copy of page.php, then what’s the point? There must be something custom going on?

[Daniel Walker]

I was using front-page.php for the home page because I was anticipating adding some custom php, but then I discovered the Sections add-on and decided to use sections on my home page instead.
Anyway, I’ve re-created my home page as just a regular page, default template, and added sections to it. When you add shortcodes to multiple sections and publish the page, the HTML appears as expected, but if I then go and edit any of the sections’ content and update the page, none of the shortcodes generate their HTML when the page is viewed.
I tested this again by creating a new test page without Sections. I added a couple of shortcodes in the content editor and published. The HTML appeared as expected. I then went back and edited the content – in both visual and text mode – and updated, and the HTML was again generated by the shortcodes.
So the issue seems to be with editing and updating section content containing shortcodes.

Dan

[Tom]

Looking into this deeper – will report back ASAP.

[Tom]

What shortcode are you using? I can’t seem to reproduce this.

Can you try with my columns plugin?: https://wordpress.org/plugins/lightweight-grid-columns

[Daniel Walker]

Hi Tom, thanks for the link to the columns plugin (very useful, btw!). I added some columns to a few Sections and, as you’ve said, it works fine after updating.

Then it hit me. I was looking at the column shortcode and my link button shortcode in the rich editor and saw this:

[lgc_column grid="25" tablet_grid="50" mobile_grid="100" last="false"]

   [do action=”call-to-action” buttonurl=”http://435.html” text=”Learn More”/]

[/lgc_column]

Whenever I update the page WordPress changes the quotes around the attributes for my shortcode to curly double-quotes, like ‘smart quotes’. Actually it changes them in the rich editor as soon as the page is first published. And it only does that when I use Sections.

My shortcode has two attributes: buttonurl and text, both set to text.

Custom HTML code (copied and pasted from WP shortcode def) is:

<p class="green_button"><a> href="%%buttonurl%%">%%text%%</a></p>

So now we know why my shortcodes aren’t working after publishing, but I can’t think why the attribute quote marks are being changed on my shortcode and not the lcg_column shortcodes.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dan

[Tom]

Excellent, that will help me figure out a fix for this.

Will update you ASAP 🙂

[Tom]

Can I send you the latest version to see if it’s fixed?

If so, send me an email to support@generatepress.com and I’ll send it over 🙂

[Tom]

Just released an update that should fix this 🙂

[Daniel Walker]

Yes, that’s fixed it. Many thanks, Tom.

Dan

[Tom]

Awesome, thanks for reporting it 🙂

[Author]

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