[Allen]

I had been using a custom shortcode on a WordPress page to present a single random listing from a category. It was previously working fine, but appears to have stopped working after a recent update.

The random sort does appear to offer a randomized list, but the order is now fixed once the page is loaded and does not continue to be randomized when the page is refreshed.

Here is the code I was using:

[connections category='75' show_alphaindex='false' show_empty_categories='false' image_fallback='none' str_work_addr='' str_work_phone='Phone' card_width='550' enable_category_select='false' order_by='id|RANDOM' enable_search=FALSE enable_pagination=TRUE page_limit=1 pagination_position='before']

So when this was working properly the page could be refreshed to supply an endless single, random entry. Now it only displays the same entry over and over again.

When I remove the page limit I can verify that it is giving me a random list of entries, but again I cannot get the list to refresh and change order once it has been established.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Steven Zahm]

@ Allen

Randomization occurs every hour on the hour (according to the time set on the server, not necessarily the time on your clock) for every user based on IP address. As an example, lets say user A and user B both visit the site at the same time, they would both see the entries in a different random order for the remainder of the hour in which they visited. After that remainder of the hour has expired, they would both see a different random order.

This change had to be made to properly support paginated random order results.

I hope this helps in explaining the change.

[Allen]

I already have a few things I’ve customized in Connections, would it be possible for me to revert this change if I’m not using the paginated random order function? Can you point me to the file and version where this change occurred?

Thank you again for you help.

[Steven Zahm]

@ Allen

Version 0.7.9.7 was the last that randomized on every page hit:
https://github.com/Connections-Business-Directory/Connections/blob/0.7.9.7/includes/class.retrieve.php

Version 0.8.3 was the first where it is randomized once an hour per user.
https://github.com/Connections-Business-Directory/Connections/blob/0.8.3/includes/class.retrieve.php

You’ll have to do a diff on the class.retrieve.php file to see the changes that were made.

[Allen]

Awesome, thank you!

[Steven Zahm]

@ Allen

No problem!

If I have not asked and you have a moment, I would truly appreciate a review as they really do make a difference. Many thanks in advance!
http://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/connections

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