If you’re a WordPress plugin developer and you’ve been using the media_handle_sideload function to upload images, you might have wondered if it’s possible to disable image resizing or set a specific size without creating additional copies. In this guide, we’ll explore a solution to achieve just that.

Understanding the Problem

The media_handle_sideload function in WordPress, by default, generates various sizes of the uploaded image using the wp_generate_attachment_metadata and image_make_intermediate_size functions. However, if you want more control over the resizing process, you can use an alternative approach.

Alternative Approach: Using wp_handle_sideload

Instead of using media_handle_sideload, you can use wp_handle_sideload and manually resize the image. Let’s break down the steps:

Step 1: Use wp_handle_sideload

Replace your usage of media_handle_sideload with wp_handle_sideload. This function returns an array containing the file path, URL, type, and other details of the uploaded file.

// Example usage of wp_handle_sideload
$file_info = wp_handle_sideload($file, $overrides, $time, $post_data);

Step 2: Manually Resize the Image

After using wp_handle_sideload, you can manually resize the image using the image_make_intermediate_size function. This function allows you to generate a resized image without creating additional copies.

// Example of manually resizing the image
$image = wp_get_image_editor($file_info['file']);
if (!is_wp_error($image)) {
$image->resize( your_width, your_height, false );
$image->save($file_info['file']);
}

Replace your_width and your_height with the desired dimensions for your resized image.

Example Implementation

Let’s put it all together in a practical example:

// Replace media_handle_sideload with wp_handle_sideload
$file_info = wp_handle_sideload($file, $overrides, $time, $post_data);

// Manually resize the image
$image = wp_get_image_editor($file_info['file']);
if (!is_wp_error($image)) {
$image->resize( your_width, your_height, false );
$image->save($file_info['file']);
}

Additional Notes

• Always make sure to handle errors properly to ensure the smooth functioning of your plugin.
• Adjust the code according to your specific plugin requirements and coding standards.

By following these steps, you can have more control over the image resizing process when uploading images in your WordPress plugin. Remember to test thoroughly to ensure the desired functionality.