WP PHP Coding, switching out Header Images as Category Changes

kilanw

Hey Guys,

First time poster, I'm kind of a PHP n00b, I'm real good with HTML and CSS, but my employer wants me to develop our latest site with WordPress, so I guess I'm learning some PHP.

Anyway, I'm trying to switch the header image everytime the category changes. So far, the code properly places the original header on the homepage, and every category that is supposed to have a DIFFERENT header has the SAME header.

</head>
<body><div id="wrapper">
<div id="main_content">

<a href="<?php bloginfo('url'); ?>">

<?php
if ( is_category(america-wants-peace) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat01">');
}
elseif ( is_category(world-peace) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat02">');
}
elseif ( is_category(religion-peace) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat03">');
}
elseif ( is_category(wise-want-peace) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat04">');
}
elseif ( is_category(non-violence-solves-problems) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat05">');
}
elseif ( is_category(american-militarization) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat06">');
}
elseif ( is_category(world-militarization) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat07">');
}
elseif ( is_category(war-propaganda) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat08">');
}
elseif ( is_category(war-economy-fails) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat09">');
}
elseif ( is_category(war-is-hell) ) {
echo('<div id="headercat10">');
}
else {
echo('<div id="header">');
}
?> 

<h1></h1>
<div class="description"></div>            

</div></a>

The only one that's working is the "IF" statement, meaning that no matter which category I click on, it is currently showing me the header image for category one (america-wants-peace).

I'm pretty sure this code can't be too far off from being right. I just can't figure out what the problem is. I'd appreciate any help offered. Thanks guys.

cahva

I dont use WP but i'm pretty sure that value inside of is_category function should be inside of quotes eg:

if ( is_category('america-wants-peace') ) {
echo('<div id="headercat01">');
}
elseif ( is_category('world-peace') ) {
...

kilanw

Hey man, thanks for replying. Actually I already tried that and it works the same either way.

The non-category pages work properly and the first category america wants peace works properly too, but all the "elseif" statements show me the same header (america wants peace) i tried changing them all to if statements, and if I do that, the categories show me the image for the if statement closest to the php closing tag.

I've had some php people look at it on a few forums and they can't see any inherent problems with my coding, so not sure what's going on......

If you'd like to see it in action test.peacepaint.com and the categories are on the right side in red.

Thanks guys.

cahva

Ok I had a little looksee to the wordpress.
This should work:

</head>
<body><div id="wrapper">
<div id="main_content">

<a href="<?php bloginfo('url'); ?>">

<?php
$c = get_query_var('cat');
$cat = get_category ($c);

$headers = array(
	'america-wants-peace' => 'headercat01',
	'world-peace' => 'headercat02',
	'religion-peace' => 'headercat03',
	'wise-want-peace' => 'headercat04',
	'wise-want-peace' => 'headercat05',
	'non-violence-solves-problems' => 'headercat06',
	'american-militarization' => 'headercat07',
	'american-militarization' => 'headercat08',
	'world-militarization' => 'headercat09',
	'war-is-hell' => 'headercat10'
);

$divid = isset($headers[$cat->slug]) ? $headers[$cat->slug] : 'header';

?>
<div id="<?php echo $divid ?>">

<h1></h1>
<div class="description"></div>            

</div></a>

If you are wondering about that "mysterious" $divid line, its just another way of saying:

if (isset($header[$cat->slug]))
{
    $divid = $cat->slug;
}
else
{
    $divid = 'header';
}

bradgrafelman

cahva wrote:
I dont use WP but i'm pretty sure that value inside of is_category function should be inside of quote

kilanw wrote:
Actually I already tried that and it works the same either way.

Actually, it's entirely different (e.g. it actually works). The values for is_category() are strings (unless those are all named constants created with [man]define/man and you're trying to perform the subtraction operation on them), so they must be quoted. Example:

echo(america-wants-peace);

outputs:

Notice: Use of undefined constant america - assumed 'america' on line 3

Notice: Use of undefined constant wants - assumed 'wants' on line 3

Notice: Use of undefined constant peace - assumed 'peace' on line 3
0

cahva

And to clarify, it "worked" either way because the error reporting level is low(no notices).