Override acf_add_local_field

• bpdp

• July 7, 2015 at 4:13 am

Hello,
I’m wondering if there is a way to create a field group with acf_add_local_field() in a parent theme and then override it in a child theme.

what I’m trying to accomplish is changing the “location” array. something like this:

// parent
acf_add_local_field_group(array (
	'key' => 'group_55009056525c1',
	'title' => 'Layout',
	'fields' => array ( ... ),
	'location' => array (
		array (
			array (
				'param' => 'post_type',
				'operator' => '==',
				'value' => 'post',
			),
		),
		array (
			array (
				'param' => 'post_type',
				'operator' => '==',
				'value' => 'page',
			),
		),
	),
));

// child -- doesn't work, but this is my thinking
acf_add_local_field(array (
		'key' => 'group_55009056525c1',
		'location' => array (
			array (
				array (
					'param' => 'post_type',
					'operator' => '==',
					'value' => 'post',
				),
			),
			array (
				array (
					'param' => 'post_type',
					'operator' => '==',
					'value' => 'page',
				),
			),
			array (
				array (
					'param' => 'post_type',
					'operator' => '==',
					'value' => 'resources',
				),
			),
		),
	));

So I’d like to have this “Layout” group be present on all pages and posts as defined by the parent but then I’d like to be able to override that and add it to any custom post types created in the child…sort of like a acf_update_local_field_group instead of acf_add_local_field_group. Is this possible?

• Jonathan

• July 7, 2015 at 5:14 am

Hi @bpdp

Hmm.. If you look at the function acf_add_local_field_group it calls to add_field_group and in there you’ll find:

// don't allow overrides
		if( acf_is_local_field_group($field_group['key']) ) {
			
			return;	
			
		}

I’m not sure why this is there so I’m subbing in @elliot and perhaps he can explain it better and give you some tips.

• bpdp

• July 8, 2015 at 6:39 am

Thanks Jonathan!

I actually tried to comment those couple lines out (just to see if it would work) and still had no luck, but looking forward to finding out if there is a solution from elliot.

Thanks again

• Elliot

• July 8, 2015 at 10:19 am

Hi guys

@bpdp – your second code block is using the function acf_add_local_field – this should be changed to acf_add_local_field_group.

The function will not allow overrides to a field group. This is to prevent potential errors when adding 2 field groups with the same key by mistake.

I’m open to the idea of removing this validation, but not sure if it will cause any issues with existing developers.

Looking at the code, you could edit the field group data like so:

acf_local()->groups[ 'group_55009056525c1' ]['location'] = array( ... );

• bpdp

• July 11, 2015 at 6:43 am

Thanks @elliot

acf_local()->groups[ 'group_55009056525c1' ]['location'] = array( ... );

This snippet worked perfectly! Thanks again for a great product and amazing support!