Extend search results page by “sub-headings”

I made some progress already – using

<?php static $currentjob = "";
		$memberjob = bp_get_member_profile_data( 'field=T?tigkeit' );
		if(strcmp($currentjob, $memberjob) !== 0){
			$currentjob = $memberjob;
			echo "<div class=\"membersjob\">$currentjob</div>";
		}
		?>

right below the
<?php while ( bp_members() ) : bp_the_member(); ?> line, I can check if the member has the same job as his predecessor and only show the headline, if this is not the case.
However, the users are not yet sorted by the value in their job field (“T?tigkeit” in my language), so it occurs to happen, that a certain headline appears more than once, simply because the predecessor had another job.

How can I have the list sorted by the members’ jobs, so that everythings works out?
Thanks in advance!

Hi Rufrage,

Thank you for your kind words. The custom search results pages work this way:

1. First, you build a custom members directory according to your needs. In your case, you would build a members directory that is ordered by Job Name, and with the sub-headings you need in the members list.

2. Second, you select your new members directory as the Form Action (Results Directory) of your search form.

Of course the hard part is the first one. I don’t have a first-hand experience in ordering the members directory by a profile field, so I run a few Google searches like:

order buddypress members directory by profile field

but wasn’t able to find a clear solution. I would assume this is not a simple task, but I could be missing something. Hopefully other readers can add their suggestions here.

Hello,

thanks for your reply and your effort in finding a solution.
I will look for a solution myself and post it in here, once I find one.

Greetings!

Great, please let me know of your progress!

Hey!

I found code, where I put the following into functions.php

function xfield_member_filter( $field_name, $field_value = '' ) {
  
  if ( empty( $field_name ) )
    return '';
  
  global $wpdb;
  
  $field_id = xprofile_get_field_id_from_name( $field_name ); 

  if ( !empty( $field_id ) ) 
    $query = "SELECT user_id, value FROM " . $wpdb->prefix . "bp_xprofile_data WHERE field_id = " . $field_id . " ORDER BY value" ;
  else
   return '';
  // var_dump($query); die;
  if ( $field_value != '' ) 
    $query .= " AND value LIKE '%" . $field_value . "%'";
      /* 
      LIKE is slow. If you're sure the value has not been serialized, you can do this:
      $query .= " AND value = '" . $field_value . "'";
      */
  
  $custom_ids = $wpdb->get_col( $query );
  
  if ( !empty( $custom_ids ) ) {
    // convert the array to a csv string
    $custom_ids_str = 'include=' . implode(",", $custom_ids);
    return $custom_ids_str;
  }
  else
   return '';
   
}

function alphabetize_by_custom_field( $bp_user_query ) {
  ;
  if ( 'alphabetical' == $bp_user_query->query_vars['type'] ) {
    $bp_user_query->uid_clauses['orderby'] = "ORDER BY FIELD(u.ID," . $bp_user_query->query_vars['include'] . ")";  
    $bp_user_query->uid_clauses['order'] = "";  
  }
}
add_action ( 'bp_pre_user_query', 'alphabetize_by_custom_field' );

and this in the members-loop.php, where the usual request would stand:
<?php if ( bp_has_members( xfield_member_filter( 'yourcustomfield ' ).'&type=alphabetical' ) ) : ?>

It works, the fields are now gettings sorted by the custom field (which must be set instead of yourcustomfield in the last code-line).
Unfortunately, it does no longer consider the search key terms for the query anylonger, thus showing the entire members dictionary.
Do you have any clue on how to put your plugins’ search filter after this custom filter?

Best regards,
Rufrage

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by rufrage.

Edit: The regular BuddyPress search works fine and shows only the correct members (once I put in more that 3 characters – else it shows everybody?). This must be an issue conflicting the custom code and the plugin..

Hello Rufrage,

I’ve been researching this topic for a few days now, and probably I’ll be able to release a new version of BP Profile Search with the ability to add new Order By options to member directories using profile fields.

Your code looks good too, I would suggest these changes:

function xfield_member_filter( $field_name, $field_value = '' ) {
  
  if ( empty( $field_name ) )
    return '';
  
  global $wpdb;
  
  $field_id = xprofile_get_field_id_from_name( $field_name ); 

  if ( !empty( $field_id ) ) 
    $query = "SELECT user_id, value FROM " . $wpdb->prefix . "bp_xprofile_data WHERE field_id = " . $field_id . " ORDER BY value" ;
  else
   return '';
  // var_dump($query); die;
  if ( $field_value != '' ) 
    $query .= " AND value LIKE '%" . $field_value . "%'";
      /* 
      LIKE is slow. If you're sure the value has not been serialized, you can do this:
      $query .= " AND value = '" . $field_value . "'";
      */
  
  $custom_ids = $wpdb->get_col( $query );
  
  if ( !empty( $custom_ids ) ) {
    // convert the array to a csv string
    $custom_ids_str = implode(",", $custom_ids);
    return $custom_ids_str;
  }
  else
   return '';
   
}

function alphabetize_by_custom_field( $bp_user_query ) {
  ;
  if ( 'alphabetical' == $bp_user_query->query_vars['type'] ) {
    $bp_user_query->uid_clauses['orderby'] = "ORDER BY FIELD(u.ID," . xfield_member_filter( 'yourcustomfield ' ) . ")";  
    $bp_user_query->uid_clauses['order'] = "";  
  }
}
add_action ( 'bp_pre_user_query', 'alphabetize_by_custom_field' );

and in members-loop.php:

<?php if ( bp_has_members( bp_ajax_querystring( 'members' ). '&type=alphabetical' ) ) : ?>

Please let me know how it works for you!

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea Tarantini.

Unfortunately, now the search doesn’t output any members anymore. Instead, it says “No users found” (something like this, I have it with another language). Also, when I access the directory without any search queries, but via permalink, I can’t see any members..

Thanks for you suggestion anyways – can you maybe think of another solution?
Greetings,
Rufrage

My new BP Profile Search version is almost ready, if you wish I can send you a copy for testing. To create a new Members directory and order it using a profile field, you can simply create a new page and enter the shortcode [bps_directory]. Examples of usage are:

[bps_directory order_by=field_47]

[bps_directory order_by='field_47 desc, field_50']

[bps_directory order_by='field_47 asc, field_14 both']

Of course you can also customize the directory template, adding your sub-headings. If you are interested in trying it, please send your email address to [email protected]

• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea Tarantini.
• This reply was modified 8 years, 1 month ago by Andrea Tarantini.

Sure, I sent you an email!

Hello rufrage,

This feature (ability to sort a Members directory using a profile field) has been released with BP Profile Search 4.7.

I’m closing this topic now. Thank you for testing the beta version!