function render($atts)
 {
     $this->block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('limit' => 3, 'sort' => '', 'category_id' => '', 'category_ids' => '', 'custom_title' => '', 'custom_url' => '', 'hide_title' => '', 'show_child_cat' => '', 'tag_slug' => '', 'header_color' => ''), $atts));
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     $td_unique_id = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     $td_query =& td_data_source::get_wp_query($atts);
     //by ref  do the query
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js($atts, $td_query);
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_block_wrap td_block7">';
     //get the block title
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_title($atts);
     //get the sub category filter for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_sub_cats($atts, $td_unique_id);
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= $this->inner($td_query->posts);
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination($atts, $td_unique_id);
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block1 -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 /**
  * renders the filter of the block
  * @return string
  */
 function get_pull_down_filter()
 {
     $buffy = '';
     if (empty($this->template_data_array['td_pull_down_items'])) {
         return '';
     }
     //generate unique id for this pull down filter control
     $pull_down_wrapper_id = "td_pulldown_" . $this->template_data_array['block_uid'];
     // wrapper
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-subcat-filter" id="' . $pull_down_wrapper_id . '">';
     // subcategory list
     $buffy .= '<ul class="td-subcat-list" id="' . $pull_down_wrapper_id . '_list">';
     foreach ($this->template_data_array['td_pull_down_items'] as $item) {
         $buffy .= '<li class="td-subcat-item"><a class="td-subcat-link" id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" data-td_filter_value="' . $item['id'] . '" data-td_block_id="' . $this->template_data_array['block_uid'] . '" href="#">' . $item['name'] . '</a></li>';
     }
     $buffy .= '</ul>';
     // subcategory dropdown list
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-subcat-dropdown">';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-subcat-more" aria-haspopup="true"><span>' . __td('More', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</span><i class="td-icon-read-down"></i></div>';
     // the dropdown list
     $buffy .= '<ul class="td-pulldown-filter-list">';
     $buffy .= '</ul>';
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     return $buffy;
 }

function td_theme_settings_read_for_demo()
{
    $td_cookie_value = '';
    if (isset($_COOKIE["td-cookie-demo-theme-options"])) {
        $td_cookie_value = $_COOKIE["td-cookie-demo-theme-options"];
    }
    switch ($td_cookie_value) {
        case 'style_1':
            td_global::$td_options = unserialize(base64_decode(file_get_contents('files_cookies_settings/demo_style_1.txt', true)));
            break;
        case 'style_2':
            td_global::$td_options = unserialize(base64_decode(file_get_contents('files_cookies_settings/demo_style_2.txt', true)));
            break;
        case 'style_3':
            td_global::$td_options = unserialize(base64_decode(file_get_contents('files_cookies_settings/demo_style_3.txt', true)));
            break;
        case 'style_4':
            td_global::$td_options = unserialize(base64_decode(file_get_contents('files_cookies_settings/demo_style_4.txt', true)));
            break;
            //read the database theme options if no cookie is found
        //read the database theme options if no cookie is found
        default:
            td_global::$td_options = get_option(TD_THEME_OPTIONS_NAME);
    }
}

 /**
  * we have to render the block first in the buffer, to avoid two queries.
  * - IF there are posts, we already have the buffer with the block's content and we don't have to make another query
  * - IF there are no posts, we ignore the buffer and we can also remove the wraps in the child classes of this class
  */
 protected function render_posts_to_buffer()
 {
     // get the global category top posts grid style setting
     $td_grid_style = td_util::get_option('tds_category_td_grid_style');
     $limit = td_api_category_top_posts_style::_helper_get_posts_shown_in_the_loop();
     $block_name = td_api_category_top_posts_style::get_key(get_class($this), 'td_block_name');
     // overwrite the $td_grid_style if the setting for this category was changed
     $td_grid_style_per_category_setting = td_util::get_category_option(td_global::$current_category_obj->cat_ID, 'tdc_category_td_grid_style');
     if ($td_grid_style_per_category_setting != '') {
         $td_grid_style = $td_grid_style_per_category_setting;
     }
     // we have to have a default grid, there seems to be a problem with the grid styles
     if (empty($td_grid_style)) {
         $td_grid_style = 'td-grid-style-1';
     }
     //parameters to filter to for big grid
     $atts_for_big_grid = array('limit' => $limit, 'category_id' => td_global::$current_category_obj->cat_ID, 'sort' => get_query_var('filter_by'), 'td_grid_style' => $td_grid_style);
     //show the big grid
     $block_instance = td_global_blocks::get_instance($block_name);
     $this->rendered_block_buffer = $block_instance->render($atts_for_big_grid);
     $this->rendered_posts_count = $block_instance->td_query->post_count;
     if ($this->rendered_posts_count > 0) {
         td_global::$custom_no_posts_message = false;
     }
     // use class_name($this) to get the id :)
 }

 function render($atts, $content = null)
 {
     parent::render($atts);
     // sets the live atts, $this->atts, $this->block_uid, $this->td_query (it runs the query)
     // we have no related posts to display
     if ($this->td_query->post_count == 0) {
         return;
     }
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js();
     $buffy .= '<div class="' . $this->get_block_classes() . '">';
     //get the filter for this block
     $buffy .= '<h4 class="td-related-title">';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-left td-cur-simple-item" data-td_filter_value="" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#">' . __td('RELATED ARTICLES') . '</a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_related_more_from_author" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#">' . __td('MORE FROM AUTHOR') . '</a>';
     $buffy .= '</h4>';
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     $buffy .= $this->inner($this->td_query->posts);
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination();
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts, $content = null)
 {
     $atts['limit'] = 5;
     parent::render($atts);
     // sets the live atts, $this->atts, $this->block_uid, $this->td_query (it runs the query)
     if (is_category()) {
         // we have no related posts to display
         if ($this->td_query->post_count == 0) {
             return '<div class="td_line_above_cat_big_grid"> </div>';
         }
         /** if we have posts in the big grid and we are on a category, do not show the default page no posts message. @see td_global::$custom_no_posts_message */
         td_global::$custom_no_posts_message = false;
     }
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js();
     $buffy .= '<div class="' . $this->get_block_classes() . '">';
     //get the block title
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_title();
     //get the sub category filter for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_pull_down_filter();
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     $buffy .= $this->inner($this->td_query->posts);
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination();
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block -->';
     $buffy .= '<div class="clearfix"></div>';
     return $buffy;
 }

 /**
  * @todo mega menu subcats - folosim functia asta pentru ca e necesar sa avem alt output
  * @return bool|string
  */
 function get_pull_down_filter()
 {
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('limit' => 5, 'sort' => '', 'category_id' => '', 'category_ids' => '', 'custom_title' => '', 'custom_url' => '', 'show_child_cat' => '', 'sub_cat_ajax' => ''), $this->atts));
     $buffy = '';
     if (!empty($show_child_cat) and !empty($category_id)) {
         $td_subcategories = get_categories(array('child_of' => $category_id));
         if (!empty($td_subcategories)) {
             if ($show_child_cat != 'all') {
                 $td_subcategories = array_slice($td_subcategories, 0, $show_child_cat);
             }
             $buffy .= '<div class="block-mega-child-cats">';
             //show all categories only on ajax
             if (empty($sub_cat_ajax)) {
                 $buffy .= '<a class="cur-sub-cat mega-menu-sub-cat-' . $this->block_uid . '" id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" data-td_filter_value="" href="' . get_category_link($category_id) . '">' . __td('All') . '</a>';
             }
             foreach ($td_subcategories as $td_category) {
                 $buffy .= '<a class="mega-menu-sub-cat-' . $this->block_uid . '"  id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" data-td_filter_value="' . $td_category->cat_ID . '" href="' . get_category_link($td_category->cat_ID) . '">' . $td_category->name . '</a>';
             }
             $buffy .= '</div>';
         } else {
             //there are no subcategories, return false - this is used by the mega menu block to alter it's structure
             return false;
         }
     }
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts)
 {
     $this->block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('limit' => '6', 'custom_title' => '', 'custom_url' => '', 'hide_title' => '', 'header_color' => ''), $atts));
     $cat_args = array('show_count' => true, 'orderby' => 'count', 'hide_empty' => false, 'order' => 'DESC', 'number' => $limit, 'exclude' => get_cat_ID(TD_FEATURED_CAT));
     if (TD_DEPLOY_MODE == 'demo' or TD_DEPLOY_MODE == 'dev') {
         $cat_args['exclude'] = '251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 305, 306, ' . get_cat_ID(TD_FEATURED_CAT);
     }
     $categories = get_categories($cat_args);
     $buffy = '';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_block_wrap td_popular_categories widget widget_categories">';
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_title_raw($atts, 'Popular category');
     if (!empty($categories)) {
         $buffy .= '<ul>';
         foreach ($categories as $category) {
             if (strtolower($category->cat_name) != 'uncategorized') {
                 $buffy .= '<li><a href="' . get_category_link($category->cat_ID) . '">' . $category->name . '<span class="td-cat-no">' . $category->count . '</span></a></li>';
             }
         }
         $buffy .= '</ul>';
     }
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts, $content = null)
 {
     parent::render($atts);
     // sets the live atts, $this->atts, $this->block_uid, $this->td_query (it runs the query)
     // this block need td_column_number to add rows if more posts are displayed on a post.
     /// the td_column_number is not standard here, it's    5 for full width / 3 for content + sidebar
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('td_column_number' => ''), $atts));
     // we have no related posts to display
     if ($this->td_query->post_count == 0) {
         return;
     }
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js();
     $buffy .= '<div class="' . $this->get_block_classes() . '">';
     //get the filter for this block
     $buffy .= '<h4 class="td-related-title">';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-left td-cur-simple-item" data-td_filter_value="" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#">' . __td('RELATED ARTICLES', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_related_more_from_author" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#">' . __td('MORE FROM AUTHOR', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</a>';
     $buffy .= '</h4>';
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     $buffy .= $this->inner($this->td_query->posts, $td_column_number);
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination();
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 /**
  * get the single breadcrumbs
  * @param $post_title
  * @return string
  */
 static function get_single_breadcrumbs($post_title)
 {
     /**
      * check to see if we are on a custom post type page. If that's the case we will load the breadcrumbs
      * via @see td_page_generator::get_custom_post_type_breadcrumbs() - in this file
      */
     global $post;
     if ($post->post_type != 'post') {
         return self::get_custom_post_type_breadcrumbs();
     }
     // get the breadcrumb for single posts - ! if we are on a custom post type, we don't get here !
     if (td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show') == 'hide') {
         return '';
     }
     $category_1_name = '';
     $category_1_url = '';
     $category_2_name = '';
     $category_2_url = '';
     $primary_category_id = td_global::get_primary_category_id();
     $primary_category_obj = get_category($primary_category_id);
     //print_r($primary_category_obj);
     if (!empty($primary_category_obj)) {
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->name)) {
             $category_1_name = $primary_category_obj->name;
         } else {
             $category_1_name = '';
         }
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->cat_ID)) {
             $category_1_url = get_category_link($primary_category_obj->cat_ID);
         }
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->parent) and $primary_category_obj->parent != 0) {
             $parent_category_obj = get_category($primary_category_obj->parent);
             if (!empty($parent_category_obj)) {
                 $category_2_name = $parent_category_obj->name;
                 $category_2_url = get_category_link($parent_category_obj->cat_ID);
             }
         }
     }
     if (!empty($category_1_name)) {
         //parent category (only if we have one and if the theme is set to show it)
         if (!empty($category_2_name) and td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show_parent') != 'hide') {
             $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => __td('查看所有文章：', TD_THEME_NAME) . ' ' . htmlspecialchars($category_2_name), 'url' => $category_2_url, 'display_name' => $category_2_name);
         }
         //child category
         $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => __td('查看所有文章：', TD_THEME_NAME) . ' ' . htmlspecialchars($category_1_name), 'url' => $category_1_url, 'display_name' => $category_1_name);
         //article title (only if the theme is set to show it)
         if (td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show_article') != 'hide') {
             //child category
             $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => $post_title, 'url' => '', 'display_name' => td_util::excerpt($post_title, 13));
         }
     }
     if (isset($breadcrumbs_array) and is_array($breadcrumbs_array)) {
         //the breadcrumbs may be empty due to settings
         return self::get_breadcrumbs($breadcrumbs_array);
         //generate the breadcrumbs
     } else {
         return '';
     }
 }

 function todo()
 {
     //do we enable the unique posts filter?
     $td_unique_articles = get_post_meta($post->ID, 'td_unique_articles', true);
     if (!empty($td_unique_articles['td_unique_articles'])) {
         td_global::$td_unique_articles = true;
     }
 }

 function render($atts, $content = null)
 {
     $this->block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('limit' => 4, 'sort' => '', 'category_id' => '', 'category_ids' => '', 'tag_slug' => '', 'force_columns' => '', 'autoplay' => '', 'offset' => 0), $atts));
     if (empty($td_column_number)) {
         $td_column_number = td_util::vc_get_column_number();
         // get the column width of the block
     }
     if ($td_column_number == 3) {
         $current_limit = intval($limit);
         $post_limit = constant(get_class($this->internal_block_instance) . '::POST_LIMIT');
         $td_query = td_data_source::get_wp_query($atts);
         if (!empty($td_query->posts)) {
             if ($current_limit > $post_limit and count($td_query->posts) > $post_limit) {
                 $buffy .= '<div class="td-big-grid-slide td_block_wrap" id="iosSlider_' . $this->block_uid . '">';
                 $buffy .= '<div class="td-theme-slider td_block_inner" id="' . $this->block_uid . '">';
                 $current_offset = 0;
                 $atts['class'] = 'item';
                 while ($current_limit > 0) {
                     $atts['offset'] = $offset + $current_offset;
                     $buffy .= $this->internal_block_instance->render($atts);
                     $current_offset += $post_limit;
                     $current_limit -= $post_limit;
                 }
                 $buffy .= '</div>';
                 //end slider (if slider)
                 $buffy .= '<i class = "td-icon-left"></i>';
                 $buffy .= '<i class = "td-icon-right"></i>';
                 $buffy .= '</div>';
                 //end iosSlider (if slider)
                 $autoplay_settings = '';
                 $current_autoplay = filter_var($autoplay, FILTER_VALIDATE_INT);
                 if ($current_autoplay !== false) {
                     $autoplay_settings = 'autoSlide: true, autoSlideTimer: ' . $current_autoplay * 1000 . ',';
                 }
                 $slide_javascript = ';jQuery(document).ready(function() {
                     jQuery("#iosSlider_' . $this->block_uid . '").iosSlider({
                         snapToChildren: true,
                         desktopClickDrag: true,
                         keyboardControls: true,
                         responsiveSlides: true,
                         infiniteSlider: true,
                         ' . $autoplay_settings . '
                         navPrevSelector: jQuery("#iosSlider_' . $this->block_uid . ' .td-icon-left"),
                         navNextSelector: jQuery("#iosSlider_' . $this->block_uid . ' .td-icon-right")
                     });
                 });';
                 td_js_buffer::add_to_footer($slide_javascript);
             } else {
                 $buffy .= $this->internal_block_instance->render($atts);
             }
         }
     }
     return $buffy;
 }

 /**
  * reading the theme settings
  * if we are in demo mode looks for cookies
  * else takes the settings from database
  */
 static function read_once_theme_settings()
 {
     //this is for demo mode
     if (TD_DEBUG_LIVE_THEME_STYLE) {
         td_theme_settings_read_for_demo();
         //this function is in demo folder td_theme_demo_cookies.php
         //this is for deploy and dev
     } else {
         td_global::$td_options = get_option(TD_THEME_OPTIONS_NAME);
     }
 }

 static function update_theme_settings($old_theme_settings)
 {
     $settings_buffer = array();
     foreach (self::$td_options_to_be_imported as $option_id) {
         if (isset($old_theme_settings[$option_id]) and !empty($old_theme_settings[$option_id])) {
             $settings_buffer[$option_id] = $old_theme_settings[$option_id];
         }
     }
     td_global::$td_options = $settings_buffer;
     update_option(TD_THEME_OPTIONS_NAME, td_global::$td_options);
 }

 /**
  * get the single breadcrumbs
  * @param $post_title
  * @return string
  */
 static function get_single_breadcrumbs($post_title)
 {
     if (td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show') == 'hide') {
         return;
     }
     $category_1_name = '';
     $category_1_url = '';
     $category_2_name = '';
     $category_2_url = '';
     $primary_category_id = td_global::get_primary_category_id();
     $primary_category_obj = get_category($primary_category_id);
     //print_r($primary_category_obj);
     if (!empty($primary_category_obj)) {
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->name)) {
             $category_1_name = $primary_category_obj->name;
         } else {
             $category_1_name = '';
         }
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->cat_ID)) {
             $category_1_url = get_category_link($primary_category_obj->cat_ID);
         }
         if (!empty($primary_category_obj->parent) and $primary_category_obj->parent != 0) {
             $parent_category_obj = get_category($primary_category_obj->parent);
             if (!empty($parent_category_obj)) {
                 $category_2_name = $parent_category_obj->name;
                 $category_2_url = get_category_link($parent_category_obj->cat_ID);
             }
         }
     }
     if (!empty($category_1_name)) {
         //parent category (only if we have one and if the theme is set to show it)
         if (!empty($category_2_name) and td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show_parent') != 'hide') {
             $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => __td('View all posts in', TD_THEME_NAME) . ' ' . htmlspecialchars($category_2_name), 'url' => $category_2_url, 'display_name' => $category_2_name);
         }
         //child category
         $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => __td('View all posts in', TD_THEME_NAME) . ' ' . htmlspecialchars($category_1_name), 'url' => $category_1_url, 'display_name' => $category_1_name);
         //article title (only if the theme is set to show it)
         if (td_util::get_option('tds_breadcrumbs_show_article') != 'hide') {
             //child category
             $breadcrumbs_array[] = array('title_attribute' => $post_title, 'url' => '', 'display_name' => td_util::excerpt($post_title, 13));
         }
     }
     if (isset($breadcrumbs_array) and is_array($breadcrumbs_array)) {
         //the breadcrumbs may be empty due to settings
         return self::get_breadcrumbs($breadcrumbs_array);
         //generate the breadcrumbs
     } else {
         return '';
     }
 }

 static function render_generic($atts, $list_type)
 {
     $block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_block_wrap td_block_video_playlist">';
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= self::inner($list_type);
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block_video_playlist -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts)
 {
     $this->block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('alias' => ''), $atts));
     $buffy = '';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_block_wrap td_revolution_slider">';
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_title_raw($atts, '');
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_mod_wrap">';
     $buffy .= do_shortcode('[rev_slider ' . $alias . ']');
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render_before_list_wrap()
 {
     if (td_global::$cur_single_template_sidebar_pos == 'no_sidebar') {
         $td_class_nr_of_columns = ' td-3-columns ';
     } else {
         $td_class_nr_of_columns = ' td-2-columns ';
     }
     $buffy = '';
     //generate unique gallery slider id
     $this->smart_list_tip_1_unique_id = 'smart_list_tip1_' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //wrapper with id for smart list wrapper type 1
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_smart_list_1' . $td_class_nr_of_columns . '">';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-controls"><a class="td-left-smart-list doubleSliderPrevButton" href="#" onclick="return false;"><i class = "td-icon-left"></i>' . __td('Prev', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</a><a class="td-right-smart-list doubleSliderNextButton" href="#" onclick="return false;">' . __td('Next', TD_THEME_NAME) . '<i class = "td-icon-right"></i></a></div>';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-iosSlider td-smart-list-slider" id="' . $this->smart_list_tip_1_unique_id . '">';
     $buffy .= '<div class ="td-slider">';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts)
 {
     $this->block_uid = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //update unique id on each render
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('limit' => 5, 'sort' => '', 'category_id' => '', 'category_ids' => '', 'custom_title' => '', 'custom_url' => '', 'hide_title' => '', 'show_child_cat' => '', 'tag_slug' => '', 'header_color' => ''), $atts));
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     $td_unique_id = td_global::td_generate_unique_id();
     //custom categories
     //get subcategories, it returns false if there are no categories
     $get_block_sub_cats = $this->get_block_sub_cats($atts, $td_unique_id);
     $buffy_categories = '';
     $td_no_subcats_class = '';
     //we have subcategories
     if ($get_block_sub_cats !== false) {
         $buffy_categories .= '<div class="td_mega_menu_sub_cats">';
         //get the sub category filter for this block
         $buffy_categories .= $get_block_sub_cats;
         $buffy_categories .= '</div>';
         $atts['limit'] = 4;
         //alter the loop because we don't have space now with the categories
     } else {
         $td_no_subcats_class = ' td-no-subcats';
     }
     //end custom categories
     $td_query =& td_data_source::get_wp_query($atts);
     //by ref  do the query
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js($atts, $td_query);
     $buffy .= '<div class="td_block_wrap td_block_mega_menu' . $td_no_subcats_class . '">';
     //get the block title
     //$buffy .= $this->get_block_title($atts);
     //add the categories IF we have some
     $buffy .= $buffy_categories;
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner animated fadeInDown">';
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= $this->inner($td_query->posts);
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination($atts, $td_unique_id);
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= '<div class="clearfix"></div>';
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block1 -->';
     return $buffy;
 }

 function render($atts, $content = null)
 {
     parent::render($atts);
     // sets the live atts, $this->atts, $this->block_uid, $this->td_query (it runs the query)
     // this block need td_column_number to add rows if more posts are displayed on a post.
     /// the td_column_number is not standard here, it's    5 for full width / 3 for content + sidebar
     extract(shortcode_atts(array('td_column_number' => ''), $atts));
     // we have no related posts to display
     if ($this->td_query->post_count == 0) {
         return;
     }
     $buffy = '';
     //output buffer
     //get the js for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_js();
     $buffy .= '<div class="' . $this->get_block_classes() . '">';
     //get the filter for this block
     $buffy .= '<h4 class="td-related-title">';
     // $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-left td-cur-simple-item" data-td_filter_value="" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#">' . __td('RELATED ARTICLES', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</a>';
     $buffy .= '<span class="title-inner">' . __td('RELATED ARTICLES', TD_THEME_NAME) . '</span>';
     // ZA Custom
     $buffy .= '<div id="related-filter">Filter <img src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-caret-down_white.png" alt=""></div>';
     $buffy .= '<div class="td-related-mobile">';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right " data-td_filter_value="td_related_more_from_author" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="NEUTRAL" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleNeutual.png" alt=""><img class="NEUTRAL-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleNeutual-selected.png" alt=""><span> NEUTRAL</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_tag_slug_filter_happy" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="HAPPY" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleHappy.png" alt=""><img class="HAPPY-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleHappy-selected.png" alt=""><span> HAPPY</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_tag_slug_filter_funny" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="HAPPY" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleFunny.png" alt=""><img class="HAPPY-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleFunny-selected.png" alt=""><span> FUNNY</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_tag_slug_filter_romantic" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="HAPPY" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleRomantic.png" alt=""><img class="HAPPY-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleRomantic-selected.png" alt=""><span> ROMANTIC</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_tag_slug_filter_surprised" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="HAPPY" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleSurprised.png" alt=""><img class="HAPPY-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleSurprised-selected.png" alt=""><span> SURPRISED</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '<a id="' . td_global::td_generate_unique_id() . '" class="td-related-right" data-td_filter_value="td_tag_slug_filter_sad" data-td_block_id="' . $this->block_uid . '" href="#"><div class="td-related-mobile-inner"><div class="icon-title"><img class="HAPPY" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleSad.png" alt=""><img class="HAPPY-hover" src="/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/icon-articleSad-selected.png" alt=""><span> SAD</span></div></div></a>';
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     // End ZA Custom
     $buffy .= '</h4>';
     $buffy .= '<div id=' . $this->block_uid . ' class="td_block_inner">';
     $buffy .= $this->inner($this->td_query->posts, $td_column_number);
     //inner content of the block
     $buffy .= '</div>';
     //get the ajax pagination for this block
     $buffy .= $this->get_block_pagination();
     $buffy .= '</div> <!-- ./block -->';
     return $buffy;
 }