How to fix undefined offset error in post-template.php

Question

I am trying to help a small business with their Wordpress site but am unable to figure out why their site is generating this error. Here are the details:

The error is this: Undefined offset: -1 in /home/sojour15/public_html/wp-includes/post-template.php on line 278

And here's the code from the post-template.php - starting with line 275 - line 278 is "$content = $pages[$page - 1];"

if ( $page > count( $pages ) ) // if the requested page doesn't exist
    $page = count( $pages ); // give them the highest numbered page that DOES exist

$content = $pages[$page - 1];
if ( preg_match( '/<!--more(.*?)?-->/', $content, $matches ) ) {
    $content = explode( $matches[0], $content, 2 );
    if ( ! empty( $matches[1] ) && ! empty( $more_link_text ) )
        $more_link_text = strip_tags( wp_kses_no_null( trim( $matches[1] ) ) );

    $has_teaser = true;
} else {
    $content = array( $content );
}

I have read some about undefined offset errors and understand that this means that the code is referring to something in an array that doesn't exist but I am not a PHP coder - just someone trying to help a small business - and I'm not sure how to fix this. I tried a hack I found somewhere - just put an '@' in front of line 278. Weirdly, this hack worked for about a week. Now it's not working anymore - and it would be better to properly fix the code anyway. Any guidance would be very welcome. Thanks. Here also is a link to one of the pages where this happens: https://www.sojournacupuncture.com/treatments-and-services/

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 19 '16 at 03:51

0

$page is probably having 0. Thus, $pages[0-1] in the array, -1 index does not exist.

You can put a check if $page is empty or 0, then it should not execute the rest of codes. Hope this works for you.

if ( $page > count( $pages ) ) // if the requested page doesn't exist
    $page = count( $pages ); // give them the highest numbered page that DOES exist

// A check on $page
// If it is not empty, then it should execute the rest
if (!empty($page)) {
    $content = $pages[$page - 1];
    if ( preg_match( '/<!--more(.*?)?-->/', $content, $matches ) ) {
        $content = explode( $matches[0], $content, 2 );
        if ( ! empty( $matches[1] ) && ! empty( $more_link_text ) )
            $more_link_text = strip_tags( wp_kses_no_null( trim( $matches[1] ) ) );

        $has_teaser = true;
    } else {
        $content = array( $content );
    }
}

answered Apr 19 '16 at 03:51

ryanicle

176
2
5

Thank you so much for the quick response! OK so I tried that - but unfortunately the error didn't go away. Even weirder - the error is still referencing the same line (278) although that line now is just one of your comments. I double checked and I defnitely edited the correct file, and the code now is exactly what you just posted. I have to go to sleep now but any other thoughts would be very welcome. Thanks again for your help!! – Louise Kelly Apr 19 '16 at 04:09
Oh I take it back - now I'm getting two new errors instead: Undefined variable: content in /home/sojour15/public_html/wp-includes/post-template.php on line 296 Undefined variable: content in /home/sojour15/public_html/wp-includes/post-template.php on line 303 – Louise Kelly Apr 19 '16 at 04:11
I am going to roll back the changes we made since this new error actually makes the page look even worse. – Louise Kelly Apr 19 '16 at 04:12
If it is notice, you should just hide it. To hide php notice, you can follow this link http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2867057/how-do-i-turn-off-php-notices – ryanicle Apr 19 '16 at 07:26

Mohammedshafeek C S · Answer 2 · 2016-04-19T05:32:42.203

0

Try this code.

if ( $page > count( $pages ) ) // if the requested page doesn't exist
    $page = count( $pages ); // give them the highest numbered page that DOES exist

$content = ctype_digit($page) && $page > 1 ? $pages[$page - 1] : $pages[0];
if ( preg_match( '/<!--more(.*?)?-->/', $content, $matches ) ) {
    $content = explode( $matches[0], $content, 2 );
    if ( ! empty( $matches[1] ) && ! empty( $more_link_text ) )
        $more_link_text = strip_tags( wp_kses_no_null( trim( $matches[1] ) ) );

    $has_teaser = true;
} else {
    $content = array( $content );
}

If it is not fine and your site is working fine then..you can hide the warning and notices by following the instructions in the bellow link

HIDE WORDPRESS WARNINGS AND NOTICES

edited Apr 19 '16 at 05:32

answered Apr 19 '16 at 05:13

Mohammedshafeek C S

1,916
2
16
26

Thank you for your help! I tested again and my hack actually IS working- I just needed to purge the server cache to get it to take effect. But I'm also going to follow the tips in the 'hide wordpress warnings' - that is super helpful. Thank you!! – Louise Kelly Apr 19 '16 at 13:23
And just to confirm - suppressing the error (just setting wp-debug to false) completely did the trick! – Louise Kelly Apr 19 '16 at 13:29

How to fix undefined offset error in post-template.php

2 Answers2