A previous post list that begins after the oldest post on the page.

Not sure but maybe this template tag?
https://codex.www.ads-software.com/Template_Tags/get_posts
(it has an offset parameter)

I suppose that would do the trick for the home page, but it lacks the logic to make it a uniform solution. I would have to make two seperate sidebar files and leave the sidebar on inner pages listing the latest posts rather than the ones older than the currently viewed post.

What about using is_home() to display it only on the front page?

I’ll look into that azaozz but I it sounds like that would only fix the double file issue, that still leaves the issue of making the previous post links fall in line on the inner pages.

Thank you both for your input by the way.

How about replacing the previous posts links with this?

<ul>
 <?php
if (is_home) {
 $myposts = get_posts('numberposts=5&offset=5');
 foreach($myposts as $post) : ?>
    <li><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></li>
 <?php endforeach; ?>
 </ul>
<?php } else { ?>
<ul>
 <?php
 $myposts = get_posts('numberposts=5');
 foreach($myposts as $post) : ?>
    <li><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></li>
 <?php endforeach; ?>
 </ul>
<?php } ?>

That would work correctly on the home page but it would just show the five most recent posts on any other page.

I am looking for something that would see the posts either the exerpt or a full post that is displayed and then identify either-which of those excerpts are the oldest and begin the list there or, if it is a single full post view begin the list with the post that came before that full post view.

Make sense?

Thanks,
J.

Yes and no.
I mean it makes sense – as in “it is clear what you want”.
On the other hand it doesn’t because… let’s say I arrive to your single post written Nov 13, 2006 via a search engine. Great. When I finished reading I look around and I see links to 5 post written prior that date. Not interested. Period. Not to mention that usually on single post view there are links to the next/prev post.
However, if I see the most recent 5 (i.e. those written today, yesterday etc.) I might want to see what are you up to these days.

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe others think the same.

I agree with rudolf45, but if you need to go further back from an old post, try setting the “offset” argument to the right number. Something like get all posts’ IDs in an array sorted by date, descending, find the position of the displayed post in that array and set the “offset” to that -1.

Rudolf45 I appreciate you sharing your opinion, I wish it was constructive, but thank you for stopping by none the less.

I believe that the system I was inquiring about, if built correctly, could easily show both the previous and the next posts in order giving a range of the before and after posts.
Perhaps existing in conjunction with the current system to intice those who stumble onto my older stuff to see what I am up to now.

I will explore your suggestion Azaozz, thanks.

Ever have any luck with this? I’m trying to do the same thing, without much success.