Define orderby in url

2 comments

1. adding this in the functions.php file works. Just remember to re-save your permalinks & empty the cache a few times to see the changes.

   add_action( 'init', 'wpse13483_init' );
   function wpse13483_init() {
       add_rewrite_rule( 'category/(.+?)/orderby/([^/]+)?/?$', 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]&orderby=$matches[2]&order=asc', 'top' );
       add_rewrite_rule( 'category/(.+?)/orderby/([^/]+)/order/([^/]+)?/?$', 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]&orderby=$matches[2]&order=$matches[3]', 'top' );
   //  with pagination;
       add_rewrite_rule( 'category/(.+?)/orderby/([^/]+)/order/([^/]+)/page/([0-9]{1,})?/?$', 'index.php?category_name=$matches[1]&orderby=$matches[2]&order=$matches[3]&paged=$matches[4]', 'top' );
   }
   

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2. Creating URL rewrite rules is something entirely different from using URL query variables to sort the Loop query.

   I would suggest tackling the latter, before worrying about the former.

   First, you need to register your URL query variables, e.g. (in functions.php):

   function mytheme_loop_sort_queryvars( $qvars ) {
       $qvars[] = 'loop_orderby';
       $qvars[] = 'loop_order';
       return $qvars;
   }
   add_filter( 'query_vars', 'mytheme_loop_sort_queryvars' );
   

   So, now that you’ve registered your query vars, use them to modify the default Loop query.

   First, prepare the query variables, e.g. (in the appropriate template files):

   <?php
   
   // Orderby Query Filter
   $loop_orderby = '';
   // Array of valid 'orderby' parameters, for validating the URL query string
   $valid_loop_orderbys = array( 'ID', 'author', 'title', 'date', 'modified', 'parent', 'rand', 'comment_count', 'menu_order' ); //note: excluding 'meta_value', for simplicity
   // Do something only if the query var is set
   if ( isset( $wp_query->query_vars['loop_orderby'] ) ) {
       // Make sure that only a valid 'orderby' parameter is used
       // If URL string value isn't valid, use default 'date'
       $title_filter = ( in_array( $wp_query->query_vars['loop_orderby'], $valid_loop_orderbys ) ? $wp_query->query_vars['loop_orderby'] : 'date' );
   }
   // Order Query Filter
   $loop_order = '';
   // Array of valid 'order' paramters, for validating the URL query string
   $valid_loop_orders = array( 'ASC', 'DESC' );
   // Do something only if the query var is set
   if ( isset( $wp_query->query_vars['loop_order'] ) ) {
       // Make sure that only a valid 'order' parameter is used
       // If URL string value isn't valid, use default 'DESC'
       $title_filter = ( in_array( $wp_query->query_vars['loop_order'], $valid_loop_orders ) ? $wp_query->query_vars['loop_order'] : 'DESC' );
   }
   ?>
   

   Now, use the query variables to modify the loop. First, set up your custom argument array:

   <?php
   $custom_orderby_query_args = array();
   
   if ( '' != $filter_loop_orderby ) {
       $custom_orderby_query_args['orderby'] = $filter_loop_orderby;
   }
   if ( '' != $filter_loop_order ) {
       $custom_orderby_query_args['order'] = $filter_loop_order;
   }
   ?>
   

   Now, merge your custom argument array with the default loop query args:

   <?php
   // Globalize the default query
   global $wp_query;
   // Merge arguments
   $customized_query_args = array_merge( $wp_query->query, $custom_orderby_query_args );
   // Modify the query output
   query_posts( $customized_query_args );
   ?>
   

   Note: you’ll have to determine exactly how you’re applying the URL query strings. This code just uses the query strings once they’re in place.

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