Dashboard Recent Activity widget - new filters to manipulate output

[Jonnyauk]

It is currently not possible to manipulate the recent post activity dashboard widget. Output is built using wp_dashboard_recent_posts(). 2 filters could be introduced for the parameters for future and recent posts.

This would allow easy interaction with the parameters array, for instance increasing the amount of posts shown, changing order, post status, CSS ID etc - would definitely make it more useful!

I realise that there is a filter dashboard_recent_posts_query_args inside thewp_dashboard_recent_posts() function (used to build the queries, useful for switching post type etc), but there is currently no way to interact with the calls to this function.

[Jonnyauk]

New filters for Dashboard Recent Activity widget future and recent posts.

[desrosj]

Hi @Jonnyauk,

My apologies that this took so long to receive a response!

Instead of adding new filters, what if the $id passed to wp_dashboard_recent_posts() were also passed to the filter as an additional parameter? Then the preexisting dashboard_recent_posts_query_args filter could be used for this in any context by providing a bit more control.

[pmbaldha]

Added a patch using the existing 'dashboard_recent_posts_query_args' filter with support for passing the $id to wp_dashboard_recent_posts() for better control.

[pmbaldha]

PHPDoc Comment update.

[SirLouen]

@pmbaldha
For this filters, please provide ​an use-case for testing.

[pmbaldha]

@SirLouen

Usecases:

1. If you want to show 10 posts instead of the default 5:

⁠

add_filter( 'dashboard_recent_posts_query_args', 'increase_dashboard_post_count', 10, 2 );
function increase_dashboard_post_count( $args, $id ) {
    $args['max'] = 10;
    return $args;
}

2.⁠ ⁠Show Only Posts from a Specific Category in "Recently Published"
If your site has multiple categories and you want the widget to only show posts from the "Announcements" category:

⁠

add_filter( 'dashboard_recent_posts_query_args', 'dashboard_recent_posts_announcements_only', 10, 2 );
function dashboard_recent_posts_announcements_only( $args, $id ) {
    if ( 'published-posts' === $id ) {
        $args['cat'] = get_cat_ID( 'Announcements' );
    }

    return $args;
} ⁠

[SirLouen]

Replying to pmbaldha:

Usecases:

Did you check JD comment on a possible alternative?

Adding new hooks is the worst thing possible when there is an alternative. They should always be the last resort.

Trac ticket: https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/37578