topics-shortcode.php

// function that runs when shortcode is called
function jruuc_themes_shortcode() { 

	$wcatTerms = get_terms('uu_service_topics', array('hide_empty' => 1, 'parent' =>0)); 
	$message = '<ul class="uu_topics">';
	foreach($wcatTerms as $wcatTerm) {
		$wsubargs = array(
			'hierarchical' => 1,
			'show_option_none' => '',
			'hide_empty' => 0,
			'parent' => $wcatTerm->term_id,
			'taxonomy' => 'uu_service_topics'
		);
		
		$link = get_term_link($wcatTerm->slug, $wcatTerm->taxonomy);
		$count = wp_get_topic_postcount($wcatTerm->term_id);
		$message .= <<<EOT
			   <li class="uu_topic uu_topic_{$wcatTerm->slug}">
				  <a href="{$link}">$wcatTerm->name</a>: $wcatTerm->description - $count service(s)
			   </li>
EOT;
	}; 
	// Output needs to be return
	$message .= '</ul>';
	return $message;
}

function wp_get_topic_postcount($id) {
    $args = array(
      'post_type'     => 'uu_services', 
      'post_status'   => 'publish', // just tried to find all published post
      'posts_per_page' => -1,  //show all
      'tax_query' => array(
        'relation' => 'AND',
        array(
          'taxonomy' => 'uu_service_topics', 
          'field' => 'id',
          'terms' => array( $id )
        )
      )
    );
    $query = new WP_Query($args);
    return (int)$query->post_count;
}

// register shortcode
add_shortcode('service_themes', 'jruuc_themes_shortcode');