Two Columns sorted by custom field date ( separate )

[eberswine]

Hi, I had a quick question about a custom field sorting option.

We have an Events Custom Post Type with a custom field as a date:

event_date

We have 7k events on our webpage and wanted to :

A- Have “Two Columns”
– One column ( Future Events ) would be sorted by a condition that the custom field “event_date >= CURDATE”
– The other column ( Archived Events ) would be sorted by a condition that the custom field “event_date <= CURDATE”

so the user could recognize easily between the different results. We need the older ones to show up because we have “CLAIM YOUR RACE” on those single pages to be updated by Race Directors.

Couldn’t find a solution. Thanks!

[Ernest Marcinko]

Hi,

I believe the easiest solution is to make two separate search bars, one for the Future events and one for the Archived events. Then create a filter for both cases, so that events before/after are filtered out. If the frontend search settings are disabled, these filters will be hidden from the user.

Future events search bar
Create a filter like this: https://i.imgur.com/rdWVWib.png

Archived Events search bar
Filter: https://i.imgur.com/cBqVS7F.png

In these examples I’m assuming the dates are stored in a datetime format. It works for most cases. If you know it’s stored differently, then change the Date storage format option accordingly.

[eberswine]

That works! Great thank you.

I wonder if there is a way to have a “checkbox” to select for “Search Past Events”

And have the default search be “future” ?

[Ernest Marcinko]

Hi,

You are welcome! It might be actually possible, using a custom code. I have constructed a possible solution, I am not sure if it works correctly in every case, it does on my test environment, so worth a try.

1. Make sure to delete the previously suggested filters, and make a single checkbox filter with this exact configuration: https://i.imgur.com/xQFHRI1.png
The Custom field and the Type and the Value fields are important, the rest does not matter in this case.

2. Add this custom code to the functions.php in your theme/child theme directory (copy from line 3 only!). Before editing, please make sure to have a full site back-up just in case!

This code will detect this filter and transform it to a date filter instead – depending on the checkbox state.

After that, save the options, and try it. If I am not mistaken, then this should likely work.

[eberswine]

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[Ernest Marcinko]

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[eberswine]

Yes- thanks! I will rate it now!!

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