Halloween Sale 15% off Ends in See the plans
PHP

Unlock Posts a Number of Days After Joining

Adds an "Unlock after" field to the post editor so a post's content only appears to members a set number of days after they registered, perfect for e-mail-course style sites.

Don’t have WPIDE yet? Install it on your site

Code

// Post types that get the field.
$wpide_drip_post_types = array( 'post', 'page' );

add_action( 'add_meta_boxes', function () use ( $wpide_drip_post_types ) {
    add_meta_box( 'wpide-drip', 'Drip schedule', function ( $post ) {
        wp_nonce_field( 'wpide_drip', 'wpide_drip_nonce' );
        printf(
            '<p><label for="wpide-drip-days">Unlock this many days after a member joins</label><br><input type="number" min="0" step="1" id="wpide-drip-days" name="wpide_drip_days" value="%s" style="width:6em"></p>',
            esc_attr( get_post_meta( $post->ID, '_wpide_drip_days', true ) )
        );
    }, $wpide_drip_post_types, 'side' );
} );

add_action( 'save_post', function ( $post_id ) {
    if ( ! isset( $_POST['wpide_drip_nonce'] ) || ! wp_verify_nonce( sanitize_key( $_POST['wpide_drip_nonce'] ), 'wpide_drip' ) || ! current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post_id ) || wp_is_post_revision( $post_id ) ) {
        return;
    }

    $days = isset( $_POST['wpide_drip_days'] ) ? sanitize_text_field( wp_unslash( $_POST['wpide_drip_days'] ) ) : '';

    if ( '' === $days ) {
        delete_post_meta( $post_id, '_wpide_drip_days' );
    } else {
        update_post_meta( $post_id, '_wpide_drip_days', absint( $days ) );
    }
} );

add_filter( 'the_content', function ( $content ) {
    $post = get_post();

    if ( ! $post ) {
        return $content;
    }

    $days = get_post_meta( $post->ID, '_wpide_drip_days', true );

    if ( '' === $days || current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post->ID ) ) {
        return $content;
    }

    if ( ! is_user_logged_in() ) {
        return '<p class="wpide-drip-locked">This lesson is for members. <a href="' . esc_url( wp_login_url( get_permalink( $post ) ) ) . '">Log in</a> to continue.</p>';
    }

    $unlocks = strtotime( wp_get_current_user()->user_registered . ' UTC' ) + (int) $days * DAY_IN_SECONDS;

    if ( time() >= $unlocks ) {
        return $content;
    }

    return '<p class="wpide-drip-locked">' . esc_html( sprintf( 'This lesson unlocks on %s. See you then!', wp_date( get_option( 'date_format' ), $unlocks ) ) ) . '</p>';
}, 1 );

Notes

Leave the field empty for posts everyone can read. Visitors who are not logged in see a login prompt on dripped posts.

How to add this snippet

  1. Install WPIDE on your WordPress site (it is free) and open Code Snippets.
  2. Use snippet above adds it from the library in one click. Or copy the code into a new snippet with the same code type.
  3. It is added inactive: review the code and settings, then switch it on.

Have a snippet worth sharing?

Publish it to the library from WPIDE or right here. Sign in with any WordPress site that runs WPIDE, free or Pro. Public snippets are reviewed by the WPIDE team before they appear.

Which site should get this snippet?

Enter the address of your WordPress site. WPIDE opens there in a new tab with the snippet ready to review and save.

Remembered in this browser only, so you are asked once.

Report this snippet

Tell the WPIDE team what is wrong: broken code, something harmful, spam or copied work.