Auto-change Post Status on First Page Load

Question

I have created a number of custom post statuses using the EdiFlow plugin. Now, what I am trying to do is, if the contribter visits the post edit page and the post status is "assigned" to automatically change into "work in progress". This would allow me to know and send them an e-mail when they start working on it (on post edit page load).

I am trying to use this code which doesn't seem to do anything

function educadme_assigned_to_inprogress( $post_id ) {
if ( current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id) && !current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {

            $post = get_post($post_id);
            if (get_post_type()=='post' && $post->post_status =='assigned' && strstr($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], 'wp-admin/post-new.php')) {                                   
                    $post->post_status = 'in-progress'; // use any post status
                    wp_update_post($post); 
                }
    }
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'educadme_assigned_to_inprogress');

Another simplified version with less conditionals might be:

function educadme_assigned_to_inprogress( $post_id ) {
if ( current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id) && !current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {

            $post = get_post($post_id);
            $screen = get_current_screen();

            if ($screen->base != 'post')
                return;

            if ($post->post_status =='assigned') {                                      
                $post->post_status = 'in-progress'; // use any post status
                wp_update_post($post); 
            }
    }
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'educadme_assigned_to_inprogress');

Another similar version which kind of worked but caused an issue explained below was:

function educadme_assigned_to_inprogress( $post_id ) {
if ( current_user_can('edit_post', $post_id) && !current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {

            $post = get_post($post_id);
            if (get_post_type()=='post' && $post->post_status =='assigned' && strstr($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], 'wp-admin/post-new.php') || strstr($_SERVER['REQUEST_URI'], 'wp-admin/post.php')) {                                   
                    $post->post_status = 'in-progress'; // use any post status
                    wp_update_post($post); 
                }
    }
}
add_action('add_meta_boxes', 'educadme_assigned_to_inprogress');

The main issue with this code is that it runs not just when the custom status is assigned. Also, it runs on the page listing all the posts, not just inside the individual edit post page. Meaning, if I am viewing the list of posts, it changes their post status!

Any advice or corrections would be appreciated. I am sure others would also find this of use.

Answer 1

If you want the default post status to be in-progress when contributors click on "New Post", then you can try the following:

/**
 * Set default post status as 'in-progress' for contributors
 *
 * @link https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/a/143128/26350
 *
 * @param  array $data 
 * @return array $data
 */

function wpse_143100_wp_insert_post_data( $data )
{
    $current_user = wp_get_current_user();      

    if( 'auto-draft' === $data['post_status']
        && 'post' === $data['post_type']
        && '0000-00-00 00:00:00' === $data['post_date_gmt']
        && in_array( 'contributor', $current_user->roles, TRUE ) 
    )
        $data['post_status'] = 'in-progress';

    return $data;
}           

add_filter( 'wp_insert_post_data', 'wpse_143100_wp_insert_post_data' );

It's informative to investigate the default post status transitions:

1. Click on "New Post":

   new -> auto-draft
   

2. Auto-Save:

   auto-draft -> draft
   

3. Change post status manually to "In Progress" and then press the "Update" button:

   draft -> in-progress
   new   -> inherit (revision created)
   

4. Press again the "Update" post:

   in-progress -> in-progress
   

You can hook into these transitions with the transition_post_status hook.

Update:

Here's a modification of your example:

function educadme_assigned_to_inprogress()
{    
    global $post;
    if ( get_current_user_id() == $post->post_author  // current user is the post author
         && 'post' === get_post_type()                // current post type is 'post'
         && 'assigned' === get_post_status()          // current post status is 'assigned'
         && ! current_user_can( 'publish_post' )      // current user is 'contributor'
         && function_exists( 'EditFlow' )             // Edit flow plugin is installed
    ):
        if ( $post->ID > 0 ):
            $post->post_status = 'in-progress';  // use any post status
            $pid = wp_update_post( $post );      // update post             
            if ( is_wp_error( $pid ) ):          // debug
                // error_log( $pid->get_error_message(), 1 );
            endif;
        endif;
    endif;
}

add_action( 'admin_head-post.php', 'educadme_assigned_to_inprogress');

where I use the admin_head-post.php hook to narrow it down to the post screen only.

The post status will only change to in-progress if

• the current user is the post author
• the current user is a contributor
• the Edit Flow plugin is installed
• the current post type is post.
• the current post status is assigned.

Notice that you will need to refresh to see the updated status.

Answer 2

After many tests, it seems that this code is working. Please suggest improvements if you have any! I have tested this but I need to test it more thoroughly:

function educadme_assigned_to_inprogress() {
global $post;
$id = get_the_ID();
if ( current_user_can('edit_post', $id) && !current_user_can( 'manage_options' ) ) {

            $post = get_post($id);
            $screen = get_current_screen();             

            if ($screen->base != 'post')
                return;

            if ( ! function_exists( 'EditFlow' ) )
                return;

            $post_status = get_post_status();

            if ($post_status =='assigned') {                                    
                $post->post_status = 'in-progress'; // use any post status
                wp_update_post($post); 
            }
    }
}
add_action('admin_head', 'educadme_assigned_to_inprogress');

If you use another post status plugin or added them yourself instead of EditFlow then remove this bit:

            if ( ! function_exists( 'EditFlow' ) )
                return;