Ryan Hellyer

This is an extremely crude WordPress plugin which can be used to convert posts from using direct image file links to using attachment page links instead. This is not intended for use on a live production site and is made to be crude but functional. I’ve tested it on my own site when it converted over 500 posts with around 1500 images and had no problems in processing them all, but the plugin has not been designed to scale and you may find things don’t to do plan when using it with large number of posts and images. It attempts to process every single post all in one hit, which is not very efficient but suited my personal purposes just fine, so I have no intention of fixing it sorry.

This was made to fix a very niche need I had on my own site. I wanted to switch from using a lightbox effect for my image links to using the built in attachment pages. I used it only once and that will probably be the only time I ever use it. I’m just posting the code here in case someone has a use for this sort of functionality.

How does it work?

Install the plugin below and then go to http://domain.com/wp-admin/?media_file_to_page=true and all of your posts will be automatically converted from using image links to using attachment pages.

Do not complain to me if it destroys your site! You should be using this on a test site as it could easily decimate your live site if something goes wrong. This is very crude and (relatively) untested software. You have been warned!

Installation

Either download the plugin, or use the code below directly.

<?php
/*
Plugin Name: Media File to Attachment page converter
Plugin URI: https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/
Description: Media File to Attachment page converter. DO NOT RUN THIS ON A LIVE WEBSITE!
Author: ryanhellyer
Author URI: https://geek.hellyer.kiwi/
Version: 1.0
License: GPL version 2 - http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html
*/


function media_file_to_page() {

	// Bail out now if GET variable not set
	if ( ! isset( $_GET['media_file_to_page'] ) ) {
		return;
	}

	// This may explode since I'm attempting to load ALL posts in one hit - this should be done iteratively to avoid shit exploding on us
	$posts = get_posts(
		array(
			'posts_per_page' => -1,
		)
	);
	foreach ( $posts as $post ) {
		$content = $post->post_content;
		$content = explode( '<a href="', $content );

		$attachments = get_posts( 
			array(
				'post_type'      => 'attachment',
				'posts_per_page' => -1,
				'post_parent'    => $post->ID,
			)
		);
		if ( $attachments ) {

			// Sort the content into chunks
			foreach( $content as $key => &$chunk ) {
				$thumb = false;

				// Get the URL you want to change
				$chunks = explode( '"', $chunk );
				$url = $chunks[0];

				// Cater for thumbnails
				$thumb_maybe = $url;
				$thumb_end = explode( '-', $thumb_maybe );
				$count = count( $thumb_end );

				if ( isset( $thumb_end[$count-1] ) ) {
					$thumb_bit = explode( '.', $thumb_end[$count-1] ); // eg: 680x510
					$thumb_bit = $thumb_bit[0];
					$thumb_bits = explode( 'x', $thumb_bit );

					// If the bits match the pattern we expect, then use them
					if ( ( isset( $thumb_bits[0] ) && is_numeric( $thumb_bits[0] ) ) && ( isset( $thumb_bits[1] ) && is_numeric( $thumb_bits[1] ) ) ) {
						$thumb_size = $thumb_bits[0] . 'x' . $thumb_bits[1];
						$thumb = true;
					}
				}

				// Loop through the attachments
				foreach ( $attachments as $attachment ) {

					// Convert the URL to use the attachment page
					if ( true == $thumb ) {
						$url = str_replace(
							$url,
							get_attachment_link( $attachment->ID ),
							$url
						);
					}

					$url = str_replace(
						wp_get_attachment_url( $attachment->ID ),
						get_attachment_link( $attachment->ID ),
						$url
					);

				}

				$chunks[0] = $url;
				$chunk = implode( '"', $chunks );

			}
		}
		$content = implode( '<a href="', $content );

		// Update the post
		$edited_post = array(
			'ID'           => $post->ID,
			'post_content' => $content,
		);
		wp_update_post( $edited_post );

	}

	die( 'DONE' );
}
add_action( 'admin_init', 'media_file_to_page' );