Title: wp_query sorted gallery Last modified: October 28, 2018 --- # wp_query sorted gallery * Resolved [alx359](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alx359/) * (@alx359) * [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/) * I’m struggling with getting an MLA gallery using custom `wp_query` code properly sorted. Figured I need to sort images out using two categories; one’s visible( e.g. `prints`), and the other’s hidden and just aids defining their priority ( e.g. `top`). That way chosen images would get displayed first on top of the others. For example: * ``` $tax_query = "array( 'relation' => 'OR', array( 'taxonomy' => 'attachment_category', 'field' => 'slug', 'terms' => array( 'prints','top' ), 'orderby' => 'terms' 'operator' => 'IN', 'include_children' => true ))'"; ``` * I need the proper `wp_query` syntax to show all the `top` category images first, and the `prints` category images second (while excluding anything else). * Would you please hint what I need to fix in the snippet above? * Thanks! Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) * Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/) * (@dglingren) * [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/#post-10824551) * Thanks for your questions and for including the complete text of your `tax_query` parameter; very helpful. You are running up against some limitations of the ` WP_Query` class and its `tax_query` parameter. * The [WP_Query Class orderby parameter](https://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Order_.26_Orderby_Parameters) accepts any of a specific list of values on which to sort. These do not include any ability to sort by term values assigned to the selected items. * The [WP_Query tax_query parameter](https://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Taxonomy_Parameters) does not include `orderby` nor `order` parameters of its own. * The `[mla_gallery]` shortcode faithfully follows the capabilities of the WordPress core features for `WP_Query`, so I regret that there is no solution or your needs using the available features. * One of the MLA example plugins, “MLA tax query Example”, demonstrates how to replace the `WP_Query` functions with a custom SQL query. The example was developed to increase performance but might be adapted to solve your problem. I have not looked at the code for some time and do not know how hard it would be to add something along these lines. * You are encouraged to study and modify the example in a way that suits your needs. If you come up with a solution it would be great to see it and share it with other MLA users. If you need more specific guidance I may be able to help but it will be at least two weeks before I can find some time to do any work of my own. Thanks for your understanding and your patience. * Thread Starter [alx359](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alx359/) * (@alx359) * [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/#post-10825288) * Thanks for the insightful explanation, David. It helped me recall that the proper‘ WP way’ to sort stuff is by the `menu_order` column in `wp_post`. Initial tests show such sorting seems already built-in, so no need for any extra `orderby` or sql filters. What I had to do though was to set all `menu_order` rows first for all the media other than their default zeros. * What I’m still missing is a ‘bulk’ action of editing `menu_order` from within MLA, as it isn’t exposed for multiple rows, unfortunately. Would you please advise how to do that? * Thread Starter [alx359](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alx359/) * (@alx359) * [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/#post-10826178) * Have found an excellent tool that does the bulk menu_order changes and much more:** WordPress Advanced Bulk Edit** by georgeiron. It isn’t free, but quite affordable for what it does (bulk editing for most post_types). * Plugin Author [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/) * (@dglingren) * [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/#post-10828789) * Thanks for your updates with the good news about finding a solution that works for your application. * It’s true that the MLA Bulk Edit area does not allow for updating the `menu_order` field because I couldn’t think of a use case for it. Some time after that I added the `[+index+]` substitution parameter for bulk edit that would make some sense. Perhaps I will revisit my decision in a future MLA version. * In the interim I am marking this topic resolved because your problem has been solved, albeit by another plugin. Please update the topic if you have any problems or further questions regarding your `menu_order` solution. Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total) The topic ‘wp_query sorted gallery’ is closed to new replies. * ![](https://ps.w.org/media-library-assistant/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=973502) * [Media Library Assistant](https://wordpress.org/plugins/media-library-assistant/) * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/media-library-assistant/#faq) * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-library-assistant/) * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-library-assistant/active/) * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-library-assistant/unresolved/) * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/media-library-assistant/reviews/) * 4 replies * 2 participants * Last reply from: [David Lingren](https://wordpress.org/support/users/dglingren/) * Last activity: [7 years, 6 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wp_query-sorted-gallery/#post-10828789) * Status: resolved