How to hook into publish_posttype?

Question

I'm trying to hook into WordPress publish. The code below is what I'm using, but it doesn't appear to be running. I have it in a plugin file that I deactivate/reactivate each time I make changes (not sure if that's necessary to do that though). Post type is "auction".

add_action( 'publish_auction', 'bvf_set_ceiling_once_on_first_publish' );

function bvf_set_ceiling_once_on_first_publish( $post ) {

    $post_id = $post->ID;

    if ( !get_post_meta( $post_id, 'ceiling', $single = true ) ) {

    $reserve = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'reserve', $single = true );

    $ceiling = $reserve * (rand(40,60) / 100);

    update_post_meta( $post_id, 'ceiling', $ceiling );

    }
}

Now I'm trying the following (01/16/13):

<?php
/**
 * @package Bids_Views
 * @version 0.0.1
 */
/*
Plugin Name: Bids/Views
Description: None
Author: Jerry T.    
Version: 0.0.1
*/

add_action('publish_post', 'bvf_set_ceiling');
function bvf_set_ceiling( $post_id ) {

$post = get_post($post_id);

$reserve = get_post_meta( $post_id, 'reserve', true );

$ceiling = $reserve * (rand(40,60) / 100);

update_post_meta( $post_id, 'ceiling', $ceiling );

}

?>

Answer 1

function looks fine, $single = true might be causing your problem, replace it with true

Answer 2

The function can use as parameter the post id, not the array or object. Check this with a 'var_dump($post); exit;' in the first line of your function.

You can also use the default hook. A small example, but untested, write from scratch on mobile.

add_action('publish_post', 'my-function-on-publish');
function my-function-on-publish( $post_id ) {

    $post = get_post($post_id);

    if ('auction' === $post->post_type ) {
        //My function
    }
}