This section deconstructs a complete, working shortcode implementation to demonstrate how the [elc_ssc_front_search] container and multiple [elc_ssc_show] shortcodes work in concert to build a custom certificate verification display. The following code block represents a common and effective setup for a verification page.
[elc_ssc_front_search datetime_format="F j, Y"]
[elc_ssc_show show="usermeta" field="first_name"]
[elc_ssc_show show="usermeta" field="last_name"]
[elc_ssc_show show="post_title" label="Achievement:"]
[elc_ssc_show show="course_title" label="Course:"]
[elc_ssc_show show="completion_date" label="Completed On:"]
[elc_ssc_show show="expiry_date" label="Expires On:"]
[/elc_ssc_front_search]Code Breakdown #
[elc_ssc_front_search datetime_format=”F j, Y”]: This opens the main shortcode container. It generates the search form and sets a global, user-friendly date format (“January 24, 2023”) that will be applied to any date fields displayed within it.
[elc_ssc_show …] lines: Each [elc_ssc_show] shortcode targets a single data field. The show parameter specifies the data to fetch, while the optional label parameter (as seen with Achievement:, Course:, etc.) provides custom descriptive text. Notice the usermeta lines use the default label behavior. The vertical order of these shortcodes directly controls the final display order of the verification results.
[/elc_ssc_front_search]: This closes the shortcode container, completing the verification block.
Dynamic Data with Exposed Variables #
For advanced integrations, the plugin exposes several variables that act as placeholders. The plugin replaces these variables with actual values from the verified certificate record just before rendering the shortcode. To use them, enclose the variable name in curly braces ({}).
The available variables are:
• {$user_id}
• {$post_id}
• {$completion_date}
• {$expiry_date}
• {$course_id}
These variables are essential for creating dynamic, context-aware displays. For example, you could use {$user_id} to construct a link to a user’s profile or pass the verified {$course_id} to another plugin’s shortcode to display related course information.
This capability enables a more advanced implementation pattern where variables are passed directly into [elc_ssc_show] shortcode attributes to create powerful, context-aware displays. For instance, [elc_ssc_show show="course_title" course_id="{$course_id}" post_id="{$post_id}"] passes the dynamic course_id and post_id to the shortcode, allowing for more complex data retrieval and integration.
For developers who need to go beyond the shortcode parameters, the plugin also offers hooks for deeper customization.