Topic: custom sort on archive page of custom post type with custom fields

timthorp
April 25, 2024 at 11:06 am
My site has an Events plugin with a custom field for the event’s event_date. The archive page sorts by the post date, but I want to sort the posts, based on the event_date. I think I would make a localized copy of the archive template, moving it to my generatepress_child theme, with a custom filename of filename-events.php However, I’m having trouble finding the correct file to bring in ie the one with the query that I am looking to modify. This is the code that I am looking to implement.
```
<?php
// Original query
$args = array(
    'post_type' => 'post',
    'orderby'   => 'date', // Sort by post date
    'order'     => 'DESC', // Descending order
);

// Modify query to order by custom field 'event_date'
$args['meta_key'] = 'event_date';
$args['orderby'] = 'meta_value';
$args['order'] = 'ASC'; // or 'DESC' depending on your preference

$query = new WP_Query( $args );
?>
```

Ying

April 25, 2024 at 11:59 am

Hi there,

You should not need to create a specific CPT archive template, you can use WP’s pre_get_posts filter for this. Give this PHP code a try:

function custom_order_cpt_archive_by_event_date($query) {
    // Check if on the main query and if it's for a CPT archive
    if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_post_type_archive('your_custom_post_type') ) {
        // Set the meta key and orderby parameters to order by the "event_date" meta field
        $query->set('meta_key', 'event_date');
        $query->set('orderby', 'meta_value');
        $query->set('order', 'ASC'); // Adjust the order as needed (ASC for ascending, DESC for descending)
    }
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'custom_order_cpt_archive_by_event_date');

timthorp
April 25, 2024 at 2:40 pm

Thanks, Ying!

Worked like a charm and is localized to this post type. https://wwgri.com/Events/

I haven’t worked with archive pages a lot, and I have one additional goal…On the page, under “Meetings”, but above the listing, I’d like to add some into text. Would I use an Element for that, or do you have other ideas about the best, most sustainable approach?

Thanks again. Always great to work with the GP team!
Ying
April 26, 2024 at 10:03 am

Yes, you can use a block element – hook to insert the content you want.

The hook name is after_archive_title, and the location would be Events archive.

For more info about hooks, check this visual hook guide: https://docs.generatepress.com/article/hooks-visual-guide/

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custom sort on archive page of custom post type with custom fields