How do I set a featured image (thumbnail) by image URL when using wp_insert_post()?

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While looking through the function reference entry for wp_insert_post(), I noticed that there’s no parameter in the array it requires which will allow me to set the ‘Featured Image’ for a post, displayed as the post thumbnail in my theme.

I have looked into functions like set_post_thumbnail(), as suggested by Mr. Bennett, but this seems to be a relatively new addition to WordPress itself and the WordPress codex. As such, there aren’t any sources that I can find which explain how the $thumbnail_id parameter should be acquired and supplied. If this really is the function to use, in what way could I provide it with a valid $thumbnail_id parameter when all I have is an image URL?

Thanks in advance!

5

You can set an image as post thumbnail when it is in your media library. To add an image in your media library you need to upload it to your server. WordPress already has a function for putting images in your media library, you only need a script that uploads your file.

Usage:

Generate_Featured_Image( '../wp-content/my_image.jpg', $post_id );

// $post_id is Numeric ID... You can also get the ID with:
wp_insert_post()

Function:

function Generate_Featured_Image( $image_url, $post_id  ){
    $upload_dir = wp_upload_dir();
    $image_data = file_get_contents($image_url);
    $filename = basename($image_url);
    if(wp_mkdir_p($upload_dir['path']))
      $file = $upload_dir['path'] . "https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/" . $filename;
    else
      $file = $upload_dir['basedir'] . "https://wordpress.stackexchange.com/" . $filename;
    file_put_contents($file, $image_data);

    $wp_filetype = wp_check_filetype($filename, null );
    $attachment = array(
        'post_mime_type' => $wp_filetype['type'],
        'post_title' => sanitize_file_name($filename),
        'post_content' => '',
        'post_status' => 'inherit'
    );
    $attach_id = wp_insert_attachment( $attachment, $file, $post_id );
    require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/image.php');
    $attach_data = wp_generate_attachment_metadata( $attach_id, $file );
    $res1= wp_update_attachment_metadata( $attach_id, $attach_data );
    $res2= set_post_thumbnail( $post_id, $attach_id );
}

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_upload_dir

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_insert_attachment

EDIT:
Added path creation

http://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/wp_mkdir_p

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