Got false bool when using update_field()

• drew321

• September 15, 2023 at 4:34 pm

Hi,

I am currently trying to pass a json string into a text area field using the field key, but I am getting a false. Does anyone know any common reasons why this would fail?

• drew321

• September 15, 2023 at 4:35 pm

This is done from a custom admin menu page if that distinction helps.

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 4:23 am

Hello Drew!

Please, give us the part of the code when you try update a field and give us more details about where is your field. Does it is from a group? A repeater ? Other? What is the exact structure?

Best regards!

• drew321

• September 17, 2023 at 5:17 am

Thanks for responding Sam! So I’m currently trying to update the field with text input from a key and value input text box when a submit button is being pressed in an admin menu page. The field I’m trying to update is a text area. Here is the code:

	    <form action=""  method="POST">
            <input type="text" name="key" id="key">
	    <input type="text" name="value" id="value">
            <input type="submit" name="Submit" value="send" >
            </form>

                <?php
		if(isset($_POST['Submit']))
		{
			$key = $_POST["key"];
			$value = $_POST["value"];
                        $array = array($key,array($value));
                        $out = json_encode($array);
			update_field('field_key',$out);
		}
		?>

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 6:39 am

Yo!

I writen you a really nice tutorial from my hands, but ACF has block me because I take to much time or I don’t know and my text has been removed… Just wooow… Nice!

Wait me!

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 6:55 am

Ok,

(btw ACF, I have takes 45 minutes-1 hour for writing my shit. I’m crying.)

So, I started by telling you that it was going to be a little hard for me to help you without knowing the structure of your field group.

For this reason, but also seeing that there is a lack of knowledge on your part, I preferred to show you how I would do it from A to Z.

Oh! I started by telling you a big sorry for my bad english too hehe.

So it start like this:

First of all, create your HTML structure without your PHP:

(I purposely used a different structure than yours to show other possible ways)

<form id="mySuperForm" action=""  method="POST">
    
    <input type="text" name="key" id="key">
    <input type="text" name="value" id="value">
    
    <button type="submit">
        <span>Send</span>
    </button>
    
</form>

Right after, manage your form with JavaScript like that (I am more concise than before. To do so, ACF really pissed me off.):

<form id="mySuperForm" action=""  method="POST">
    
    <input type="text" name="key" id="key">
    <input type="text" name="value" id="value">
    
    <button type="submit">
        <span>Send</span>
    </button>
    
</form>

<script>
    const formElement = document.getElementById("mySuperForm");
    if(!formElement) return;
    
    
    /*
    * Recup field
    */
    const k = document.getElementById("key");
    const v = document.getElementById("value");
    
    /*
    * Create a variable for prevent multiple submits
    */
    let canSubmit = false;
    
    formElement.addEventListener("submit", (e) => {
            
        if(!canSubmit) return;
        
        /*
        * Prevent form to be automaticly submit on "Enter press" or button "Send" click
        */
        e.preventDefault();
        
        
        /*
        * Do your field verifications here
        *
        * Add an error CSS class when a field is not good ...
        */
        
        
        /*
        * If error found, return
        */
        if(formElement.querySelector(".error")) return;
        
        canSubmit = false;
        
        formElement.style.opacity = .6;
        formElement.style.pointerEvents = "none";
        
        
        /*
        * If no error, send with fetch.
        *
        * The ajaxurl variable exist from the back-end. You need to create it if you when play with ajax from front-end
        */
        const formData = new FormData();
        formData.append("action", "save-something");
        formData.append("key", k.value);
        formData.append("value", v.value);
        
        fetch(ajaxurl, {
            post: "post",
            body: formData
        })
        .then(resp => resp.json())
        .then(data => {
            
            canSubmit = true;
            
            formElement.style.opacity = 1;
            formElement.style.pointerEvents = "initial";
            
            console.log(data);
            
        });
        
        
    });
    
</script>

Ok cool, you send your data in the air, but you want play with it, do some verifications and save your data if all is good. Go in your functions.php and add this code. (don’t forget change $post_id by yours or by “option” and do your verifications):
https://pastebin.com/P7CUpT1h

If you put a look to my code, you see some wp_ajax_{action} hook…. with my first text, I explain that to you, but right now, sorry, but I don’t want. (Fuck ACF…)

All done!

Don’t hesitate if you have some questions 💪

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 7:01 am

And now, I just update my second post and he deleted himself.

Hahaha. Hey lol, just no.

I’ll help you when ACF’ll correct there Forum. The hell.

• John Huebner

• September 17, 2023 at 9:52 am

Update_field() has the same return as the WP function update_postmeta().

When using update_field() the way you are using it you must tell ACF the post ID to be updated

update_field('field_key',$out,$post_id);

If it is returning false then either the value was not updated or the value has not changed. To check if the value is updated look in the _postmeta table in the database for the value of the field name on the post_id being updated.

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 10:07 am

Hey @hube2!

Do you have correct the probleme? If yes, are you able to see my second post before this big tutorial? It’s an other big tutorial, but better hehe.

If yes, could you replace it and remove my messages? Thanks!

• John Huebner

• September 17, 2023 at 10:33 am

@deuxparquatre I can see all the post, all posts should now be visible to everyone. If there is one missing then it does not exist.

The simple answer to the OP and their original code is that the post ID is required when using update_field() in the manner that it is being used because ACF cannot detect the correct post ID when using a form created outside of ACF.

• Sam

• September 17, 2023 at 10:49 am

Thanks @hube2

@drew321 On my example, I write let canClick = false; But need to be true.

• drew321

• September 17, 2023 at 9:04 pm

Oh dang, I just hopped back and saw the posts and currently reading through! So I have a quick question on the postid for update_field. Is there a post id for custom admin menu pages? When I look at the url, all it says is page=<page name>. I don’t see a numerical value that would correlate to a post id.

• drew321

• September 17, 2023 at 9:10 pm

Hi @deuxparquatre, thanks for the indepth post! I have a quick question on the ajax part. I am unfamiliar with the fetch function. Is that a php or wordpress function?

• Sam

• September 18, 2023 at 8:29 am

@hube2 I don’t know why, my answer don’t display. Do you see it? ….

For real please, put a look on the forum. The hell I post and I can’t see my post or the forum said I’m a bot if I back and foward forum and Google for some search.

• John Huebner

• September 18, 2023 at 8:45 am

@drew321

Is there a post id for custom admin menu pages? When I look at the url, all it says is page=<page name>

Is this an ACF options page that we’re talking about? If yes then the post ID would be “options” or whatever you used for post_id when adding the options page.

• Sam

• September 18, 2023 at 8:47 am

So @drew321, I try again maha…

(In fact, it’s my third test. I think the URL I share break my send, but I have no notice…)

For your question about post_id, you have multiple ways. Just, all depend of your structure. How you have set that? …

Since I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you again how I would do it hehe.

With WordPress you can create admin pages, but with ACF Pro, you can do it in a simpler way.

Put a look here: advancedcustomfields[dot]com/resources/options-page/.

If you manage your admin pages with ACF Options Pages, you’ll be able to use update_field with “option” value for your $post_id instead of a specific post ID.

For your question about Fetch: Fetch has coming with modern browsers. But Fetch is like Ajax and it’s JavaScript. Not related with WordPress. Put a look here: w3schools[dot]com/js/js_ajax_intro.asp

But with WordPress, you can manage Ajax/fetch with security. You need to use the hook wp_ajax_{action} or wp_ajax_nopriv_{action} for that. Put a look here: developer.wordpress[dot]org/reference/hooks/wp_ajax_action/

• Sam

• September 19, 2023 at 12:29 am

With my last message, I forgot to tell you what you could do when it’s not an options page. For example, you save a publication in a CPT and you don’t have the ID before publishing.

Use the “save_post” hook for this: https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/acf-save_post/

• drew321

• September 19, 2023 at 3:25 am

@hube2

I don’t believe this is an ACF option page. This is a page I made with the add_menu_page() and add_submenu_page() function calls. Are these still considered option pages?

• drew321

• September 19, 2023 at 3:26 am

@deuxparquatre

I see. Is it easy to convert admin pages to acf option pages?

• Sam

• September 19, 2023 at 3:44 am

To know if the difficulty of transferring to an options page is complicated, I would have to know your project.

I also thought of another idea. You may also be able to integrate an ACF form into your WordPress admin page with “acf_form()”. Put a look here: https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/acf_form/

(But it’s just one idea among others.)

Just know, you have several possibilities, but I can’t know if what I’m saying is well thought out because I don’t know your project.

• Sam

• December 15, 2023 at 9:08 am

@drew321 Probably, you want use “option” for the $post_id but I can’t be specific without more details. Maybe I’m wrong.

For your question about fetch: fetch is like Ajax and it’s appear with modern browsers. Its JavaScript, not WordPress or PHP. You can put a look on this page for quick details: https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_ajax_intro.asp (scroll to bottom of the page for fetch info instead of Ajax)

But with WordPress, you can manage Ajax/Fetch with security. With the wp_ajax_{action} hook. Put a look here: https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/wp_ajax_action/

• Sam

• December 15, 2023 at 9:08 am

So @drew321, I try again maha…

For your question about post_id, you have multiple ways. Just, all depend of your structure. How you have set that? …

Since I don’t know the answer, I’ll tell you again how I would do it hehe.

With WordPress you can create admin pages, but with ACF Pro, you can do it in a simpler way.

Put a look here: https://www.advancedcustomfields.com/resources/options-page/.

If you manage your admin pages with ACF Options Pages, you’ll be able to user update_field with “option” value for your $post_id instead of a specific post ID.

For your question about Fetch: Fetch has coming with modern browser. But Fetch is like Ajax and it’s JavaScript. Not related with WordPress. Put a look here: https://www.w3schools.com/js/js_ajax_intro.asp

But with WordPress, you can manage Ajax/fetch with security. You need to use the hook wp_ajax_{action} or wp_ajax_nopriv_{action} for that. Put a look here: https://developer.wordpress.org/reference/hooks/wp_ajax_action/