Shortcode with hyphen doesn't work

Question

I am trying to do a simple basic shortcode and it fails. I have boiled it down to the most simple test and it still fails.

Here is the code:

/** My test shortcode */
function bp_basic_shortcode() {
return "This is a shortcode doing this!";
}
add_shortcode( 'basic_shortcode', 'bp_basic_shortcode');

In trying to figure out what is the reason I have:

I have put this in the functions.php file of the stock template twentytwelve

I have deactivated all plugins

I have added the shortcode [basic-shortcode] in both a post and a page as a test with the same result.

I used the "text" tab of the editor to add the shortcode

I see just the text of [basic-shortcode] but it is not being processed.

I even installed a plugin to show all active shortcodes and it is indeed in the list.

I have tried it both on an instance of my MAMP server and one on my VPS

This should be really simple. What am I missing??

Answer 1

You registered the shortcode basic_shortcode, but you tested the wrong [basic-shortcode]. These are two different things.

Answer 2

Silly spell check on the MAC - It's "shortcodes" not "shortcakes"

But to answer the question - this is SO trivial stupid and I had not seen this mentioned anywhere: You MAY NOT use an underscore in the shortcode tag.

Maybe this will help someone else. I sure hope so.