Title: If the loop doesn't exist
Last modified: August 31, 2016
---
# If the loop doesn't exist
* Resolved [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/)
* I’m using loop exists, and I was wondering if it was possible to execute code
if the loop doesn’t exist, along the lines of else/if. Thanks.
* [https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-content-shortcode/](https://wordpress.org/plugins/custom-content-shortcode/)
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
* Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
* (@miyarakira)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275671)
* In the latest plugin update, I added a way to display something when `[loop exists]`
returns empty.
* ```
[loop exists ...]
[the-loop]
..
[/the-loop]
[if empty]
Nothing found. <----
[/if]
[/loop]
```
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275672)
* Amazing, thank you.
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275675)
* I just realized something. In my code I have content before and after the [the-
loop]. For example:
* ```
[loop exists]
[the-loop]
| [field title] |
[/the-loop]
[/loop]
```
* In your example, where [if empty] is placed right after the [the-loop], what
would the right syntax be when there is content after [the-loop]? Would it make
more sense to put the [if empty] code after the [/loop]? of would you just put
it like:
* ```
[loop exists]
[the-loop]
| [field title] |
[/the-loop]
[if empty]
Nothing found.
[/if]
[/loop]
```
* Thanks.
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275676)
* Hmmm, I tried something like the above, but the problem is that I’m passing a
list to the loop exists, and it cycle through five times, and each time it’s
empty it shows me the code for when it’s empty. Is there a way to display a single
result for all five passes?
* Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
* (@miyarakira)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275678)
* The last code you posted looks good – if nothing exists, it will display only
what’s within [if empty] – so it will not display a table.
* As for passing a list and showing a single result.. You might be able to achieve
it with the Math module (enabled under Settings), to count the number of empty
loops.
* ```
[set total]0[/set]
[pass list..]
[loop]
..some loops..
[calc]total = total + 1[/calc]
[/loop]
[/pass]
[if var=total value=0 compare=more]
..One or more loops were empty..
[/if]
```
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275679)
* Interesting. That would work in this case because I know how many times the loop
goes around. But what if I only want to to show the content when all the loops
were empty? Something like?:
* ```
[if var=total value=0 compare=equals]
..If all loops were empty..
[/if]
```
* I couldn’t find compare=equals, so I’m guessing that’s not exactly right. What’s
the right way to do that?
* Thanks.
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275680)
* or is it simply:
* `[if var=total value=0]
..One or more loops were empty.. [/if]’
* Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
* (@miyarakira)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275681)
* Yes, that last one should work.
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275682)
* Hmm. Doesn’t seem to work. I have the [set] before [pass] and [loop exists] then
the [calc] +1 in [the-loop], and the [if var…] after the [/pass]. I then load
a page that has not children, which should mean the value of total is still zero,
but it doesn’t execute the if code.
* Plugin Author [Eliot Akira](https://wordpress.org/support/users/miyarakira/)
* (@miyarakira)
* [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275683)
* Oops, you’re right, the check for empty or zero value was not working right.
Please try it with the newest plugin update.
* Thread Starter [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* (@philipt18)
* [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275684)
* Now working, thanks.
Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
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## Tags
* [else](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/else/)
* [exists](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/exists/)
* [loop](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/loop/)
* 11 replies
* 2 participants
* Last reply from: [philipt18](https://wordpress.org/support/users/philipt18/)
* Last activity: [10 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/if-the-loop-doesnt-exist/#post-7275684)
* Status: resolved