Passing an embed variable in a parameter of a tag

Question

I don't think that the parse order would make this code below work

{exp:channel:entries
  entry_id="{embed='common/.get-entry-id-based-on-some-complex-logic'}"
}

Is there a way to make embed tag be parsed first before the {exp:channel:entries} is parsed?

If not, what are alternative ways to this(Snippets can't be used if in this case if I am not mistaken)?

Answer 1

Why not do it the other way around, where the template being loaded is what actually contains the complex logic? Then you can embed the rest of the template, passing the entry_id via an embed parameter.

Alternately, write a simple plugin which performs your logic and returns the entry_id, then put your Channel Entries tag inside of that plugin tag pair (related example here).

Answer 2

Have you tried adding a parse="inward" to your channel:entries tag?

If that doesn't work, you could possibly use stash to set an entry_id variable as a result of your complex logic, and then use that stash var in your channel:entries tag.

eg (very loosely)

{exp:stash:parse}
    {complex_block}
        {exp:stash:set name="my_entry_id" type="snippet"}{value}{/exp:stash:set}    
    {/complex_block}
{/exp:stash:parse}
...
{exp:channel:entries entry_id="{my_entry_id}"}