The Problem:
You’re trying to prevent specific dates from being selectable in a Contact Form 7 date picker on your WordPress website. You’ve added a JavaScript snippet to your theme’s header, but the blocked dates remain selectable.
TL;DR: The Quick Fix:
The issue is likely a combination of incorrect element ID targeting and the timing of your script execution relative to Contact Form 7’s JavaScript. Contact Form 7 dynamically generates IDs, and your script might be running before the datepicker is fully initialized. Correct the element ID and use Contact Form 7’s hooks to ensure your script runs at the right time.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Your original code attempts to modify a jQuery datepicker using a hardcoded ID (#BlockedDates). Contact Form 7, however, doesn’t use a standard jQuery UI datepicker. It generates its own datepicker with a dynamically created ID. Your script, placed in the header, runs before Contact Form 7’s datepicker is fully rendered, meaning the element with the ID you’re targeting either doesn’t exist yet or isn’t the correct datepicker. Furthermore, placing your script in the header can cause conflicts because Contact Form 7 loads its own scripts, potentially overwriting your customizations.
Step-by-Step Guide:
-
Identify the Correct Date Picker ID: Inspect the HTML source of your Contact Form 7 datepicker field using your browser’s developer tools (usually accessed by pressing F12). Right-click on the datepicker and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.” Locate the <input> element representing the datepicker. Note its id attribute. This ID will likely differ from “#BlockedDates”.
-
Use Contact Form 7 Hooks: Instead of placing your JavaScript in the theme header, use Contact Form 7’s hooks to integrate your code. This ensures your script runs after Contact Form 7 initializes its datepicker. Add the following code to your theme’s functions.php file:
function custom_cf7_datepicker_script() {
if ( is_page(25) ) { // Only run on page with ID 25
wp_enqueue_script( 'custom-datepicker', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/custom-datepicker.js', array( 'jquery', 'jquery-ui-datepicker' ), '1.0', true );
}
}
add_action( 'wp_enqueue_scripts', 'custom_cf7_datepicker_script' );
Create a new file named custom-datepicker.js (or similar) in your theme’s directory and add your Javascript there.
- Rewrite your JavaScript: Replace the hardcoded ID in your JavaScript file with the actual ID you identified in Step 1. Ensure your date format (DD-MM-YYYY in your example) matches your WordPress settings. Also, consider using a zero-padded date format like
'0' + day instead of just day to handle single-digit days and months.
jQuery(document).ready(function($) {
var blockedDates = ["15-03-2024", "16-03-2024", "17-03-2024", "18-03-2024", "25-03-2024", "26-03-2024", "01-04-2024", "08-04-2024", "15-04-2024", "22-04-2024", "29-04-2024"];
var datePickerID = '#your-actual-datepicker-id'; // Replace with the ID from step 1
$( datePickerID ).datepicker({
minDate: 3,
beforeShowDay: function(date) {
var day = date.getDate();
var month = date.getMonth() + 1;
var year = date.getFullYear();
var dateString = ("0" + day).slice(-2) + "-" + ("0" + month).slice(-2) + "-" + year;
if ($.inArray(dateString, blockedDates) == -1) {
return [true, ""];
} else {
return [false, "", "Not Available"];
}
}
});
});
- Test Thoroughly: Save your changes and test the form to ensure the blocked dates are now correctly prevented from selection.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
- Caching: Clear your browser’s cache and any WordPress caching plugins after making changes.
- JavaScript Conflicts: If problems persist, temporarily deactivate other plugins that might affect JavaScript functionality.
- Date Format: Double-check the
blockedDates array format matches the datepicker’s expected format, carefully considering the day/month order.
- jQuery Version: Ensure your theme is including a compatible version of jQuery and jQuery UI datepicker.
- Consider a Dedicated Plugin: If you frequently need advanced datepicker functionality, consider using a dedicated plugin designed for Contact Form 7.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!