Change loop-start.php and loop-end.php with themes function.php

[Willem-Siebe]

Hi,

I have a feature request, that we can change loop-end.php and loop-start.php with our themes fuction.php.

Now it outputs (loop-start.php):

<ul class="products">

When I want to change to a div for example, I have to overwrite the template file, which I prefer not to do so. If I'm overlooking something and it is possible in fuctions.php, please let me know.

Kind regards,

Willem

[mikejolley]

Looking at the code:

if ( ! function_exists( 'woocommerce_product_loop_start' ) ) {

    /**
     * Output the start of a product loop. By default this is a UL
     *
     * @access public
     * @param bool $echo
     * @return string
     */
    function woocommerce_product_loop_start( $echo = true ) {
        ob_start();
        wc_get_template( 'loop/loop-start.php' );
        if ( $echo )
            echo ob_get_clean();
        else
            return ob_get_clean();
    }
}

This is pluggable.

[Willem-Siebe]

Hi Mike, I asked a plugin developer about this, but he told me it's not possible because there is no hook/filter. So what do you mean with pluggable?

[LC43]

i know its been 6 weeks, but

wc_get_template( 'loop/loop-start.php' );

this is the line that you should be looking at. open this file and you can change the

<ul class="products">

[Willem-Siebe]

Hi LC43, no problem, I'm always willing to learn, even 6 weeks later. But I know I can overwrite that template file, but I was thinking maybe there is a way to overwrite it just by using functions.php so I don't have to 'overwrite' template files ;-). But I think the only way it's possible is how you mention it.

[LC43]

Hi @Willem-Siebe thats a great attitude! you should overwrite them if you need to! just overwrite the templates files that you copied to your theme directory.

[greguly]

Hi,

Function wc_get_template is pluggable itself, look the source code to find the hooks and use them at your functions.php file.

Yet the easier way is to add the 'loop/loop-start.php' template to your theme. (Don't forget to make a child theme if your theme is not custom)

Another approach is to create your own 'woocommerce_product_loop_start' & 'woocommerce_product_loop_end' functions.

Cheers

[Willem-Siebe]

Hi all, because it isn't a support forum here I asked greguly some more explenation per e-mail, and luckily he was very helpfull and his answers made me learn some new stuff. Because it might be helpfull to other readers as well I asked him if I could share the more in depth solutions here. So here they are.

This is from lines 73-74 of wc-core-functions.php

    // Allow 3rd party plugin filter template file from their plugin
    $template = apply_filters( 'wc_get_template_part', $template, $slug, $name );

To learn about filters, check this codex page: http://codex.wordpress.org/Plugin_API

Basically you will add a filter like this at your functions.php file:

add_filter( 'wc_get_template_part', 'unique_function_name', 10, 3 );
function unique_function_name( $template, $slug, $name )  {
    if ( 'loop/loop-start.php' == $page ) 
        $template = 'path/to/your/loop-start.php;
    if ( 'loop/loop-end.php' == $page ) 
        $template = 'path/to/your/loop-end.php;
}

And then your loop-start.php will have whatever you want, like '

' for instance.
Same for loop-end.php, e.g., '

';

2. Overwriting template files, the most easy way and explained in the WooThemes docs.

3. Just create your own functions and WooCommerce will not use theirs.

http://codex.wordpress.org/Pluggable_Functions

function woocommerce_product_loop_start() { echo '<div>'; }

function woocommerce_product_loop_end() { echo '</div>'; }

Kind regards,

Willem

[carasmo]

I don't know whether it's Genesis connect or not but when using:
function woocommerce_product_loop_start() { echo '<ul class="something">'; }

It echos in the wrong place and so the woocommerce_no_products_found(); is now part of the loop content. Which puts the <p> as a child of the ul. Not a good plan, I don't like wrong structure.

This works in my child theme to create the new loop start in the correct location.

/** 
 * Add Custom WooCommerce Loop Start
 */
function woocommerce_product_loop_start( $echo = true ) {
	ob_start();
	echo '<ul class="something">'; 
	if ( $echo )
		echo ob_get_clean();
	else
		return ob_get_clean();
}