Secondary Genesis Loop for Related Posts in single.php

[preahkumpii]

I am trying to create a custom grid loop to display related content (related, that is, to the main post) in single.php, after the main content. I want this loop to display a specified number of random posts (each with title, thumbnail, excerpt, date, etc.) that have the same category as the main post. I have some experience in php code, but not enough to do this. Thanks for the help.

Adam

http://pintsizedtreasures.com

[Brad Dalton]

Try this https://wordpress.org/plugins/same-category-posts/

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Tutorials for StudioPress Themes.

[preahkumpii]

Thanks. I was actually hoping to streamline this process by not using a plugin. We already have dozens of plugins and I don't really want to add to the bloat. So I'm hoping for a code snippet with the basics...

Adam

[Brad Dalton]

I spent 3 hours working on this for my members.

If you have any questions, please use the contact form on my site.

---

Tutorials for StudioPress Themes.

[preahkumpii]

I figured it out. Maybe it will help someone else.

All of the code was put into the functions.php file. I did not have to touch the single.php file.

add_image_size( 'pst-related-posts-thumb', 250, 250, array( 'center', 'top' ) );  //for related posts
add_action( "genesis_loop", "pst_related_posts" );

function pst_related_posts() {
    if ( is_single() ) {  //make sure related posts only shows on single posts
        $my_cats = get_the_category();
        $my_cat_id = $my_cats[0]->cat_ID;  //gets the current post category id; must be done in loop
        $args = array(  //sets arguments for get_posts() function, including get only posts with current post category id
            'posts_per_page'   => 12,  //this number should be several more than the number of posts to show
            'category'         => $my_cat_id,
            'orderby'          => 'rand'
        );
        $posts_array = get_posts( $args );
        echo "<div class='pst-related-posts'>";
        echo "<h3>We think you'll love this momspiration too!</h3>";
        echo "<ul>";
        $count = 0;
        foreach ($posts_array as $my_post) {
            if ( !has_post_thumbnail( $my_post ) ) {
                continue;
            }
            //cycle through each matched post and get needed info (title, url, thumbnail, etc.)
            $title = $my_post->post_title;
            $link = get_permalink($my_post);
            $thumb = get_the_post_thumbnail($my_post, "pst-related-posts-thumb");
            echo "<li>";
            echo "<h4><a href='" . $link . "' target='_self' title='" . $title . "'>" . $title . "</a></h4>";
            echo "<a href='" . $link . "' target='_self' title='" . $title . "'>" . $thumb . "</a>";
            echo "<a href='" . $link . "' target='_self' title='" . $title . "'><div class='pst-related-posts-button'>Read it now &rarr;</div></a>";
            echo "</li>";
            $count++;
            if ( $count == 6 ) {  //this is the number of posts to show
                break;
            }
        }
        echo "</ul>";
        echo "</div>";
    }
}

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