PHP - adding function to string

Question

I'm relatively new to PHP and don't even really know how to ask the question for which i need help with, so please excuse my lack of technical knowledge - or referring to terms correctly for that matter.

I cannot figure out a way to add the "if(function_exists("the_ratings"))" code below to a string as in the PHP i have below. I know that the way it is below is not correct, but i've placed it there to show how and where i need it to display - help is greatly appreciated.

function latestreleases()   {

$args = array( 'posts_per_page' => 30, 'cat' => '-1, -2' );                  
$last_5_posts_query = new WP_Query( $args );
while($last_5_posts_query->have_posts()) : 
    $last_5_posts_query->the_post();
    $link = get_permalink();
    $title = get_the_title();
    $description = excerpt(16);
    $details = 'Watch ';
    $readmore = 'Read more...';                  

    $content .= '<div class="all-latest-movies">';
    $content .= '<h3><a href='.$link.' target="_top">'.$title.'</a></h3>';
    $content .= '<div class="thumbnail"><a href=" '.$link. ' ">'
    . get_the_post_thumbnail( null, "home-movie-thumbnail") 
    . '</a></div>';
    $content .= '<div class="description">' .$description. '&nbsp;<a href= '.$link.' >' .$readmore. '</div>';
    $content .= '<div class="view-listing"><a href= '.$link.' target="_blank" >' .$details. $title. '</a></div>';
    $content .= '<div class="ratings">' if(function_exists("the_ratings")) { the_ratings(); } '</div>';
    $content .= '</div><!-- .fetured-movies -->';
endwhile;

return $content;
}

add_shortcode('LatestReleases', 'latestreleases' );

bwoebi · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-02 23:33:45Z

1

Use a ternary operator:

$content .= '<div class="ratings">'. ( function_exists("the_ratings") ? the_ratings() : '' ) .'</div>';

edited Jul 2, 2013 at 23:33

bwoebi

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answered Jul 2, 2013 at 23:32

elclanrs

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2 Comments

bwoebi Over a year ago

I just added parenthesis as else the div won't be added if the function exists

Nikki Mather Over a year ago

Thanks elclanrs. This works as does the other answer - as i asked the other guy, i was wondering if there is any reason the ratings are posted to the top of the page as per maverick.n8geeks.com. This happens to be when using, for example the_title isntead of get_the_title.

cryocide · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-03 00:13:42Z

0

If you want to do it inline you can use the ternary operator

$content .= '<div class="ratings">'.(function_exists("the_ratings")?the_ratings():'').'</div>';

If you want to use the if syntax

$content .= '<div class="ratings">';
if(function_exists("the_ratings")){
 $content.=the_ratings();
}
$content.='</div>';

edited Jul 3, 2013 at 0:13

answered Jul 2, 2013 at 23:36

cryocide

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3 Comments

Nikki Mather Over a year ago

That works, thanks! One question i have though, as per maverick.n8geeks.com the ratings are now being added to the top of the page - is this a PHP issue or am i getting in to plugin territory here?

cryocide Over a year ago

Removed a grave (`) from the second code block, that should fix it. I'm not sure what framework you're using but I would guess if it shows at the top of the page maybe the_title() is actually echoing the result instead of returning it (i.e. that line would put the title into the HTML immediately instead of appending it to the $content variable).

Nikki Mather Over a year ago

Actually checked the WP Post Ratings plugin files and replaced the first 3 echo's for returns and it seems to work exactly as i need. Thanks a lot buddy.

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