Prevent publishing the post before setting a featured image?

2 comments

1. The has_post_thumbnail() works for me, in WP versions 3.4.1 and other most recently.
   But in this logic, because the WP will publish the post even with exit or wp_die() or anything to terminate the PHP script. For prevent that the post stay with published status, you will need to update the post before terminate. Look the code below:

   add_action('save_post', 'prevent_post_publishing', -1);
   function prevent_post_publishing($post_id)
   {
       $post = get_post($post_id);
   
       // You also add a post type verification here,
       // like $post->post_type == 'your_custom_post_type'
       if($post->post_status == 'publish' && !has_post_thumbnail($post_id)) {
           $post->post_status = 'draft';
           wp_update_post($post);
   
           $message = '<p>Please, add a thumbnail!</p>'
                    . '<p><a href="' . admin_url('post.php?post=' . $post_id . '&action=edit') . '">Go back and edit the post</a></p>';
           wp_die($message, 'Error - Missing thumbnail!');
       }               
   }
   

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2. <?php
   // Something like that should help, but you'll have to play with it to get it working:
   // inside your functions.php file
   function wpse16372_prevent_publish()
   {
       if ( ! is_admin() )
           return;
   
       // This should be ok, but should be tested:
       $post_id = $GLOBALS['post']->ID;
       echo '<pre>Test for post ID: '; print_r( $post_id ); echo '</pre>';// the actual test
   
       // has_post_thumbnail() doesn't work/exist on/for admin screens (see your error msg). You need to find another way to test if the post has a thumbnail. Maybe some Javascript?
       //if ( ! has_post_thumbnail( $post_id );
       if ( ! has_post_thumbnail( $post_id ) )
       {
           ?>
           <!-- // 
           <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
               alert( 'you have to use a featured image' );
           </script>
           // -->
           <?php
           exit; // abort
       }
   }
   add_action( 'save_post', 'wpse16372_prevent_publish', 100 );
   ?>
   

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