By default, WordPress doesn't allow searching on dynamically generated pages, but if a search matches the title then it will not display any content in the search results! There are many plugins that can improve this but so can a little bit of PHP code.
The following code allows standard WordPress to search within the extended fields (which is stored as meta data):
//=======================================================function AddCustomFieldsToSearchText($query)
// https://wordpress.org/support/topic/default-wordpress-search-does-not-work/
// This allows Wordpress Search to search pods fields as well as it's normal content.
//=======================================================
{
//--- Abort if we shouldn't perform the following code ------------------
//if (! is_main_query() ) //Function is_main_query was called <strong>incorrectly</strong>. In <code>pre_get_posts</code>, use the <code>WP_Query->is_main_query()</code> method, not the <code>is_main_query()</code> function. See https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/functions/is_main_query/. Please see <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/article/debugging-in-wordpress/">Debugging in WordPress</a> for more information. (This message was added in version 3.7.0.) in /home/wcipporg/public_html/wp-includes/functions.php on line 5865
// return;
if (! $query->is_main_query())
return;
if (! is_search() )
return;
add_filter( 'posts_join',
function( $join )
{
global $wpdb;
return $join .' LEFT JOIN ' . $wpdb->postmeta . ' ON '. $wpdb->posts . '.ID = ' . $wpdb->postmeta . '.post_id ';
}
);
add_filter( 'posts_where',
function ( $where )
{
global $wpdb;
$or = array(
"(".$wpdb->posts.".post_title LIKE $1)",
"(".$wpdb->postmeta.".meta_value LIKE $1)",
);
if ( is_main_query() && is_search() )
{
$where = preg_replace(
"/\(\s*".$wpdb->posts.".post_title\s+LIKE\s*(\'[^\']+\')\s*\)/",
implode( ' OR ', $or ),
$where
);
}
return $where;
}
);
add_filter( 'posts_distinct',
function ()
{
global $wpdb;
return "DISTINCT";
}
);
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'AddCustomFieldsToSearchText', 9 );
Now, for the excerpt, you need to make sure it is enabled/supported (PODS Advanced). That adds the field allowing you to manually enter it, but we will automatically add it after the POD (page) is saved.
In the following code, I use a PODS-specific hook but with a little variation to the code, you could also use the WordPress "save_post" hook:
//==============================================
function PLANT_post_save_function($pieces, $is_new_item, $PlantId)
// https://stackoverflow.com/questions/38049208/set-wordpress-excerpt-and-post-thumbnail-based-on-custom-field
//=============================================={
//$post_excerpt = get_the_excerpt( $PlantId ); //Get Excerpt
//--- Work out the New Excerpt ------------------------------------------
$PrevBotanicalNames = $pieces['fields']['plant_previous_botanical_names']['value'];
$CnArray = $pieces['fields']['plant_common_names']['value'];
$Size = trim( $pieces['fields']['plant_size']['value'] );
$Flowers = trim( $pieces['fields']['plant_flowers']['value'] );
$GeneralComments = trim( $pieces['fields']['plant_general_comments']['value'] );
$AKA = PlantAKA($PrevBotanicalNames, $CnArray);
$NE = "Australian native plant";
if ($AKA != '')
$NE = 'An ' . $NE . ', also known as: <b>' . $AKA . '</b>';
if ($Size != '')
$NE = $NE . '<br><b>SIZE:</b> ' . $Size;
if ($Flowers != '')
$NE = $NE . '<br><b>FLOWERS:</b> ' . $Flowers;
if ($Flowers != '')
$NE = $NE . '<br><b>COMMENTS:</b> ' . $GeneralComments;
//--- Set up the array to save the Excerpt ------------------------------
$post_array = array(
'ID' => $PlantId,
'post_excerpt' => $NE,
);
//--- Saving ------------------------------------------------------------
remove_action('pods_api_post_save_pod_item_plant', 'PLANT_post_save_function');
wp_update_post( $post_array );
add_action('pods_api_post_save_pod_item_plant', 'PLANT_post_save_function', 10, 3);
}
add_action('pods_api_post_save_pod_item_plant', 'PLANT_post_save_function', 10, 3);
