Assign category a default post type

Question

This one has been bothering me for a few days now, so I'd really appreciate any help you can give me.

Problem overview:

I have a plugin which automatically creates a post and assigns the category "YouTube" whenever a new video is uploaded to a YouTube channel. This part works fine. However - I'm also wanting the post to be assigned the post type "Video". The plugin doesn't allow for this type of customisation, so this will have to be done in php.

Where I've looked: (included for those who like to say "Have you read the forums?")

WordPress Codex Set Post Format

WordPress Codex In Category

WordPress Stack Exchange 1

WordPress Stack Exchange 2

What I've tried:

A few different attempts aren't getting me any results (not white screen of deathing me either so that's a bonus?)

1: (not sure where I'd need to tell that function to run)

//* If post has category YouTube - set post type to video
function default_post_type($post_id) {
  // check autosave
  if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) {
    return $post_id;

    if (in_category('YouTube')) {
        set_post_format($post_id, 'video');
    }
  }
}

2: (mixing it up a little bit, because ... reasons?)

//* If post has category YouTube - set post type to video
// check autosave
if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) {
  return $post_id;

  function default_post_type($post_id) {
    if (in_category('YouTube')) {
        set_post_format($post_id, 'video');
    }
  }
}

3: (so then I thought "Why even use a function at all?")

//* If post has category YouTube - set post type to video
if (defined('DOING_AUTOSAVE') && DOING_AUTOSAVE) {
  return $post_id;

  if (in_category('YouTube', $post_id)) {
    set_post_format($post_id, 'video');
  }
}

Appreciate any help - even if you can tell me why what I've done is wrong. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'm also wanting the post to be assigned the post type "Video".

You can't just change a post to a different Post Type. There is a difference between "Post Type" and "Post Format".

From your examples I assume you would like to change the "Post Format", as per the codex http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/set_post_format, you would need to paste that code in functions.php. Then call that function in your template. eg:

<!-- Loop Start here -->

    //* If post has category YouTube - set post type to video
    default_post_type($post_id) {

<!-- Loop End -->

Answer 2

For anyone else having this issue - the working code looks like this (placed in the functions.php file):

function default_post_type($post_id) {
  if (in_category('YouTube')) {
    set_post_format($post_id, 'video');
  }
}
add_action( 'publish_post', 'default_post_type' );

Happy WordPressing