Screen # Limited by # of Posts

[ForbesOS]

Premise:

With a new installation of WordPress, the number of posts that you have tends to be low.

When using static screens, the number of screens that will be displayed will equal the number of posts in the categories selected, or the number limited to in the the "Number of Posts" to show; which ever is lower.

Example:
Regardless of which Post Selection is selected:

• The number of posts in category filtered = 3
• Number of Posts = 4
• Custom Screens = 4
  

Result: Only the first 3 screens will be displayed.

To correct this, you need to either add more posts, or deselect the filtered category (so the total # of posts is greater or equal to the number of screens you are using)

[rinogo]

Hi there!

Thanks for your message, and for your detailed description of the problem. The behavior you've noted is actually present by design instead of by accident. Featurific is primarily intended to be used with dynamic screens, so there is a 1:1 ratio between posts selected and <screen> elements to display these posts. When using static screens, this 1:1 ratio still applies, but none of the post-specific data is injected into the <screen>. In other words, in your scenario with 4 <screen> elements and 3 posts, Featurific attempts to inject metadata from the first three posts into the first three screens. Then, since there is no fourth post, the fourth screen remains unused.

There might be a workaround for what you need. Some possibilities off the top of my head:
1. Use a user-specified post selection list with a dummy post used repeatedly since the actual post id is irrelevant for static screens (e.g. in your scenario of needing four screens, you could use: "1, 1, 1, 1")

2. Create a dummy post that is only visible to Featurific (i.e. not displayed on your blog's main page) that will cause the fourth screen to be displayed.

3. Use the 'manual data.xml' option. Configure Featurific (e.g. by removing the category filter) so that the slideshow displays as desired. Then, save the resulting data.xml file (to get the data.xml file, you'll have to inspect the HTML source generated by Featurific using Firebug or something similar, or directly access the data_xml.php file). Then, upload this file to your web site, and enter the path to it into the 'manual data.xml' field.

4. We have a new version of Featurific in the works that will natively (i.e. without hacks) support static screens. If none of the preceding options work for you, this version will certainly resolve the problem.

Hope this helps, and have a great day!
-Rich

[ForbesOS]

Rich,

Thank you for your reply. Your are correct:

Quote:2. Create a dummy post that is only visible to Featurific (i.e. not displayed on your blog's main page) that will cause the fourth screen to be displayed.

This is how I worked around the issue.

It works great, just too a bit to figure out why only so many screens were being displayed.

I'm excited for the next version of Featurific!!

-Matt

[rinogo]

Good to hear, Matt! Let us know what questions you may have in the future.

Have a great day!
-Rich