change the name of the pdf file name that is displayed on front end

Hi Brian,

Solution 1: adding a text field for file name.

You can do that by adding a text field into your meta box, or wrap the file_advanced and text field into a group, whatever convenient for you.

Then outputting the file using code like below (this is for the case when the file and the text field are not in a group):

$file = rwmb_meta( 'my_file' );
$file = empty( $file ) ? null : reset( $file ); // Just get the first file.
$title = rwmb_meta( 'my_file_title' );
if ( is_array( $file ) ) {
    echo "<a href='{$file['url']}'>{$title}</a>";
}

If they’re in a group, then you can do like this:

$group = rwmb_meta( 'my_file_group' );
$file_ids = isset( $group['file'] ) ? $group['file'] : null;
$file_id = empty( $file_ids ) ? null : reset( $file_id );
$file = RWMB_File_Field::file_info( $file_id );
$title = isset( $group['title'] ) ? $group['title'] : '';
if ( is_array( $file ) ) {
    echo "<a href='{$file['url']}'>{$title}</a>";
}

Solution 2: using a page builder

If you use a page builder, like VC or Beaver Builder, you need to fetch the data of the file to use in the plugin. Meta Box stores attachment ID, not file URL.

A quick solution for that is writing a shortcode to get file URL from the field, like this:

add_shortcode( 'your_file_url', function( $atts ) {
    $file = rwmb_meta( 'my_file' );
    $file = empty( $file ) ? null : reset( $file );

    return empty( $file ) ? '' : wp_get_attachment_url( $file );
} );

And use shortcode [your_file_url] in your page builder module to get the file URL.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the detailed reply! Ok slowly learning. For the first two snippets you provided. I’m not using a template file. I’d like to incorporate it into a shortcode in my functions.php file and then just use the shortcode to output those added values? Is that possible / what would that look like?

Yes, of course. Here is the modified code for the 1st snippet:

add_shortcode( 'your_shortcode', function( $atts ) {
    $output = '';
    $file = rwmb_meta( 'my_file' );
    $file = empty( $file ) ? null : reset( $file ); // Just get the first file.
    $title = rwmb_meta( 'my_file_title' );
    if ( is_array( $file ) ) {
        $output .= "<a href='{$file['url']}'>{$title}</a>";
    }
    return $output;
} );

But the link it generated was for the exact same page I was on. Not the pdf link? Not sure what went wrong there.

Can you check if the current page has PDF file in the my_file field?

Hi Brian,

1. Was that correct to do?

Yes! Sorry, my mistake. I missed the “s”.

1. How do you use Meta Box shortcodes to output group fields?

The shortcode only outputs list of data of sub-fields in a group. I’d not recommend using it for groups. Instead, write your own shortcode, like what you did with group_monthly_calendar shortcode.

1. Yes it was in the field. But now since I changed it to be in a group I don’t know what the ID would be to test again.

As you need to get the PDF file URL, try modifying your shortcode to this:

add_shortcode( 'group_monthly_calendar_pdf_url', function( $atts ) {
    $output = '';
    $group = rwmb_meta( 'group_cal_pdf' );
    $file_ids = isset( $group['cal_pdf'] ) ? $group['cal_pdf'] : null;
    $file_id = empty( $file_ids ) ? null : reset( $file_ids );
    $file = RWMB_File_Field::file_info( $file_id );
    if ( is_array( $file ) ) {
        return $file['url'];
    }
    return '';
} );

1. Are you having issues saving settings in the Group Field in Meta Box Builder?

I see. Thanks a lot for your video. I’ll check and fix it.

1. File Advanced showing “max number of files” even though I did not select the “show status” check box.

Thanks. Let me check and fix it.

1. If you remove the “Label” for the Group field – but then you add a “Group title text” it seems like that should then show up where the normal “Label” field showed. Currently all my “group” fields are blank. See the above video link.

I see. Thanks a lot for your video. I’ll check and fix it.