How to Fix WordPress Contact Form 7 Errors: A Developer's Guide
As a WordPress developer, you've likely encountered issues with the popular Contact Form 7 (CF7) plugin. One common problem is when the wp_update_post()
function stops the check functions from working correctly. In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through step-by-step solutions to diagnose and resolve these types of errors, ensuring your CF7 forms are functioning as intended.
Understanding the Problem
The scenario you described, where the wp_update_post()
function is causing issues with the check functions, is a common problem faced by many WordPress developers. The wp_update_post()
function is used to update post data in the WordPress database, and in some cases, it can interfere with the proper functioning of other plugin-specific functions, such as the check functions in Contact Form 7.
To better understand the issue, let's examine the code snippet you provided:
<?php
add_action( 'admin_init', 'init_cf7_privacy');
function init_cf7_privacy() {
if ((check_cf7_installation()) && (find_contact_form() != "")) {
$formContent = get_contactform_content();
$acceptance = '[acceptance acceptance-842]<small>Ich habe die <a href="/datenschutzerklaerung">Datenschutzerklärung</a> zur Kenntnis genommen. Ich stimme zu, dass meine Angaben zur Kontaktaufnahme und für Rückfragen dauerhaft gespeichert werden. </small>[/acceptance]';
add_acceptance( $formContent, $acceptance );
}
}
function check_cf7_installation() {
if (class_exists('wpcf7'))
return true;
}
function find_contact_form() {
$searchTitle = 'Kontakt';
$page = get_page_by_title( $searchTitle, OBJECT, 'wpcf7_contact_form');
return $page->ID;
}
function get_contactform_content() {
$my_postid = find_contact_form();
global $wpdb;
$content = $wpdb->get_var(
$wpdb->prepare( "
SELECT meta_value
FROM ".$wpdb->prefix."postmeta
WHERE post_id = %d
AND meta_key = %s
",
$my_postid, '_form' )
);
return $content;
}
function add_acceptance( $formContent, $acceptance ) {
if ( check_submit( $formContent ) && !check_acceptance( $formContent ) ) {
if ( preg_match('/.+\[submit\s["].+["]\].+/', $formContent, $matches) ) {
$formContentRep = str_replace( $matches[0], concatenate_acceptance_submit( $formContent, $acceptance ), $formContent );
//Write new Cotact Form Content to Database
global $wpdb;
$wpdb->query(
$wpdb->prepare( "
UPDATE ".$wpdb->prefix."postmeta
SET meta_value = %s
WHERE post_id = %d
AND meta_key = %s
",
$formContentRep, find_contact_form(), '_form' )
);
}
}
}
The code snippet you provided is a custom plugin that aims to add an acceptance checkbox to a Contact Form 7 form. It checks if the CF7 plugin is installed, finds the contact form, retrieves its content, and then adds the acceptance checkbox to the form. However, the issue arises when the wp_update_post()
function is used, causing the check functions to stop working correctly.
Resolving the Issue
To fix the problem, we'll need to take a closer look at the code and make some adjustments. Here's how you can address the issue:
-
Eliminate the Use of wp_update_post()
: The root cause of the problem seems to be the wp_update_post()
function, which is causing issues with the check functions. Instead of using this function, we'll use a direct database update to modify the contact form content.
-
Refactor the add_acceptance()
Function: The add_acceptance()
function can be simplified by using a single database query to update the contact form content directly, without the need for the wp_update_post()
function.
Here's the updated code that should resolve the issue:
<?php
add_action( 'admin_init', 'init_cf7_privacy');
function init_cf7_privacy() {
if ((check_cf7_installation()) && (find_contact_form() != "")) {
$formContent = get_contactform_content();
$acceptance = '[acceptance acceptance-842]<small>Ich habe die <a href="/datenschutzerklaerung">Datenschutzerklärung</a> zur Kenntnis genommen. Ich stimme zu, dass meine Angaben zur Kontaktaufnahme und für Rückfragen dauerhaft gespeichert werden. </small>[/acceptance]';
add_acceptance( $formContent, $acceptance );
}
}
function check_cf7_installation() {
if (class_exists('wpcf7'))
return true;
}
function find_contact_form() {
$searchTitle = 'Kontakt';
$page = get_page_by_title( $searchTitle, OBJECT, 'wpcf7_contact_form');
return $page->ID;
}
function get_contactform_content() {
$my_postid = find_contact_form();
global $wpdb;
$content = $wpdb->get_var(
$wpdb->prepare( "
SELECT meta_value
FROM ".$wpdb->prefix."postmeta
WHERE post_id = %d
AND meta_key = %s
",
$my_postid, '_form' )
);
return $content;
}
function add_acceptance( $formContent, $acceptance ) {
if ( check_submit( $formContent ) && !check_acceptance( $formContent ) ) {
$new_form_content = $formContent . "\r\n\r\n" . $acceptance;
global $wpdb;
$wpdb->update(
$wpdb->prefix . "postmeta",
array(
'meta_value' => $new_form_content
),
array(
'post_id' => find_contact_form(),
'meta_key' => '_form'
),
array(
'%s'
),
array(
'%d', '%s'
)
);
}
}
function check_submit( $formContent ) {
if ( preg_match('/\[submit\s["].+["]\]/', $formContent) )
return true;
}
function check_acceptance( $formContent ) {
if ( preg_match('/\[acceptance\s.+\]/', $formContent, $matches) )
return true;
}
In this updated code, we've made the following changes:
- Removed the
concatenate_acceptance_submit()
function and directly appended the acceptance code to the existing form content in the add_acceptance()
function.
- Updated the
add_acceptance()
function to use a direct database update using the $wpdb->update()
method, eliminating the need for the wp_update_post()
function.
With these changes, the check functions should now work correctly, and the contact form content should be updated without any issues.
Conclusion
Troubleshooting WordPress plugin issues can be a complex task, but by understanding the root cause of the problem and implementing a well-thought-out solution, you can effectively resolve these types of errors. In this guide, we've walked through a step-by-step process to diagnose and fix a common issue with the WordPress Contact Form 7 plugin, where the wp_update_post()
function was causing problems with the check functions.
By eliminating the use of wp_update_post()
and refactoring the add_acceptance()
function to use a direct database update, we've provided a solution that should ensure your CF7 forms are working as intended. Remember, as a WordPress developer, it's essential to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and techniques to maintain a reliable and high-performing website.
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