Using WordPress ‘post_submitbox_misc_actions’ PHP action

The post_submitbox_misc_actions WordPress PHP action fires after the post time/date setting in the Publish meta box.

Usage

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'your_custom_function_name');
function your_custom_function_name($post) {
  // your custom code here
}

Parameters

  • $post (WP_Post) – WP_Post object for the current post.

More information

See WordPress Developer Resources: post_submitbox_misc_actions

Examples

Add a custom meta box field

Add a custom field to the Publish meta box.

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'add_custom_meta_box_field');
function add_custom_meta_box_field($post) {
  // Get current value of custom field
  $custom_field_value = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'your_custom_field', true);
  // Display the custom field in the Publish meta box
  echo '<div class="misc-pub-section"><label for="your_custom_field">Custom Field: </label><input type="text" name="your_custom_field" id="your_custom_field" value="' . esc_attr($custom_field_value) . '" /></div>';
}

Display a warning message based on post status

Display a warning message in the Publish meta box if the post status is “draft”.

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'display_warning_message');
function display_warning_message($post) {
  if ($post->post_status === 'draft') {
    echo '<div class="misc-pub-section misc-pub-warning">Please review your content before publishing!</div>';
  }
}

Change the background color of Publish meta box based on post status

Change the background color of the Publish meta box according to the post status.

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'change_publish_meta_box_color');
function change_publish_meta_box_color($post) {
  $color = ($post->post_status === 'draft') ? '#FFC0CB' : '#90EE90';
  echo '<style>.postbox { background-color: ' . esc_attr($color) . '; }</style>';
}

Add a custom CSS class to Publish meta box based on post status

Add a custom CSS class to the Publish meta box according to the post status.

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'add_custom_css_class');
function add_custom_css_class($post) {
  $custom_class = ($post->post_status === 'draft') ? 'custom-draft' : 'custom-published';
  echo '<script>jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $(".postbox").addClass("' . esc_js($custom_class) . '"); });</script>';
}

Display the post’s word count

Display the word count of the post content in the Publish meta box.

add_action('post_submitbox_misc_actions', 'display_word_count');
function display_word_count($post) {
  $word_count = str_word_count($post->post_content);
  echo '<div class="misc-pub-section">Word count: <strong>' . intval($word_count) . '</strong></div>';
}