create a shortcode with a PHP include for use in WordPress posts and pages

Question

I am wondering if there is a way to create a shortcode to use in the visual page builder on a page in Wordpress that would allow me to use it as a PHP include. I need to add some PHP code from a file called form.php into my page and the visual page builder only let's you add HTML. I would prefer not to use a plug-in if possible. I need to use this code but it's not recognizing it.

<?php include 'form.php';?>

Answer 1

Absolutely - you can have a shortcode that takes one parameter (the file to include) and simply outputs its content:

add_shortcode('include', 'include_php_file');
function include_php_file($atts=array(), $content='') {
    $atts = shortcode_atts(array(
        'file' => ''
    ), $atts);
    if(!$atts['file']) return ''; // needs a file name!
    $file_path = dirname(__FILE__).'/'.$atts['file']; // adjust your path here
    if(!file_exists($file_path)) return '';
    ob_start();
    include($file_path);
    $html = ob_get_contents();
    ob_end_clean();
    return $html;
}

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

You can also edit the template for that page and conditionally include that file only for that post.

es:

if( is_page('contact') include('path/to/file.php');

if you need that file in more than one page pass an array to is_page:

if( is_page( array( 'about-us', 'contact', 'management' ) ) 
     //either in about us, or contact, or management page is in view
     include('path/to/file.php');
else
     //none of the page about us, contact or management is in view