Title: Using do_shortcode() with variables? Last modified: August 20, 2016 --- # Using do_shortcode() with variables? * [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/) * Posting here as unable to post in Advanced forum: * I’m using the “PHP Code for Posts and Pages” plugin at [http://www.AvengersCollectibles.com/wp](http://www.AvengersCollectibles.com/wp) to echo a shortcode (Amazon list from “Azon Pro Shopping List” in this case) if the in_category(Captain America) criteria is met and found 15 good product categories to offer. Unfortunately, Amazon limits API calls to something like 2000/hr. * With that said, I’m trying to have the script randomly select one of 3 shortcodes( 3 lists with 5 product categories each). I think I’m on the right track but can not seem to get the code correct: * Currently works: * ``` ``` * Example of random selection: * ``` ``` * but not quite sure how to combine the two. Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048831) * Can you show an example of several of the shortcodes you would like to select and describe in words how you would select them? * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048837) * I thank you for your fast reply and apologize for not providing such information. The program I am currently using allows me to build custom lists of Amazon products and adds the list to posts and pages with the shortcode [asle id={list number}]. * For the site mentioned [http://www.AvengersCollectibles.com/wp], I would like to show 5 different lists for each character/category (i.e. [asle id=1], [asle id=2], [asle id=3], [asle id=4], [asle id=5]) and idealy rotate them each time the visitor views a new post in that category (i.e. perhaps unset or similar to show [asle id=1] at the bottom of the first post they view, [asle id=2] at the bottom of the next post etc. then back to [asle id=1] at the bottom of the sixth post but would settle for each of the five being randomly selected from the array to be shown at the bottom of each post. * Hope this helps to clarify and, thouh this is a for profit site, I will be using what I learn for our local Block Watch site, a church site, and a fundraising site for “Feed Your Neighbor” as well and thank you for any and all advice you may be able to offer. * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048838) * I think what you want is this: * ` * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048839) * Sorry, omitted the closing backtick. * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048862) * Apologies for the delay as I am just now recovering from that nasty “Rebound Flu” going around. I copied the code into my “PHP Code for Posts and Pages” plugin and modified it for my site [ [http://www.avengerscollectibles.com](http://www.avengerscollectibles.com)]: * ``` ``` * then called it with my “Add To Post” plugin: * `` * but it’s not showing up for posts in the “Captain America” category. * I’ve also tried WP-Simple Insert for the PHP functionality but it still does not seem to (parse?) appear below the post. Any and all suggestions would be both welcome and appreciated. * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048863) * I don’t know what `[php snipped=1]` is supposed to do, but most times shortcodes return a value and you must echo them to output the value to the screen. Try this: * ``` ``` * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048865) * [php snipped=1] is the shortcode for the “PHP for Posts and Pages” plugin where I store: * ``` ``` * I tried adding the echo as you suggested for my “Add to Post” plugin: * `` * but it still does not seem to work. Perhaps the “Add to Post” plugin is not parsing/ processing the PHP? * Beginning to wonder if it would be easier to mod a child of the single post template? * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048866) * The documentation I found for ‘Allow PHP … ‘ indicates that snippets are called like this, using ‘function=id’ instead of ‘snippet=id’: * ``` [php function=1] ``` * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048867) * I’m actually using “PHP Code for Posts and Pages at: * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/php-code-for-posts/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/php-code-for-posts/) * but the plugin you mention “Allow PHP in Posts and Pages” at: * [http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/allow-php-in-posts-and-pages/](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/allow-php-in-posts-and-pages/) * appears to be far more robust and recommended. I’ll give it a try with the * `` * call you recommended and let you know how it works. * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048868) * It still didn’t seem to work but I may have found the problem. To simplify things, I removed both the “Add to Post” and “Allow PHP in Posts and Pages” plugins and placed the PHP code directly into the single.php template of a child theme – still didn’t work. However, when I tried just one of the shortcode options: * `` * it worked so the problem may be in the conditional or random portion of the code. * I’ve used WordPress conditional statements befor so that portion of the code looks good to me. Any suggestions on the random array (i.e. if it needs to be changed when I place it into the template)? * ``` ``` * Thinking that I will need to make an “If, Then, Else” for each of the 9 categories( characters) on my site – each with it’s own random array of 5 possible shortcodes. * [vtxyzzy](https://wordpress.org/support/users/vtxyzzy/) * (@vtxyzzy) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048871) * I think you could code it like this: * ``` ``` * Thread Starter [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * (@gwmo) * [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048872) * I tried posting the following into my single page template, before using the full code for all of the categories, but the list does not appear in the page: * ``` ``` Viewing 12 replies - 1 through 12 (of 12 total) The topic ‘Using do_shortcode() with variables?’ is closed to new replies. * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/) * 12 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [GWMO](https://wordpress.org/support/users/gwmo/) * Last activity: [13 years, 7 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/using-do_shortcode-with-variables/#post-3048872) * Status: not resolved ## Topics ### Topics with no replies ### Non-support topics ### Resolved topics ### Unresolved topics ### All topics