WP_Query: Modify array - php

Question

I have managed to integrate a custom taxonomies plugin that:
-Filters down the staff depending on what category is selected.
I want it to show that department first, and then the other departments beneath rather than that department all on its own (how it is now).
Here is the link:
http://crippslawtest.co.uk/people/
Here is my Wordpress loop:
<div class="staffwrapper">
<?php
$args = array( 'post_type' => 'cripps_staff', 'posts_per_page' => 300 );
$loop = new WP_Query( $args );
while ( $loop->have_posts() ) : $loop->the_post();
echo '<div class="col-md-3 spacetop">';
echo '<a href="'.get_permalink().'">';
echo '<img src="';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'image',true);
echo '">';
echo '</a>';
echo '<h2 class="staffname">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_name',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffrole">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_role',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffnumber">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_telephone_number',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffemail">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_email_address',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '</div>';
endwhile;
?>
</div><!--End of staff wrapper-->
On the results page (search-people.php) I have added a second WP Query using info from this link:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Methods_and_Properties
This is meant to show all the other posts available. I need the array of $args2 that is: "show all the rest of posts in my staff members custom posts"
Here is my attempt:
//2nd loop
wp_reset_postdata();
$args2 = array(
'post_type' => 'cripps_staff',
'posts_per_page' => '300'
);
$query2 = new WP_Query( $args2 );
while( $query2->have_posts() ) {
$query2->next_post();
echo '<div class="col-md-3 spacetop">';
echo '<a href="'.get_permalink().'">';
echo '<img src="';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'image',true);
echo '">';
echo '</a>';
echo '<h2 class="staffname">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_name',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffrole">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_role',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffnumber">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_telephone_number',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '<h2 class="staffemail">';
echo get_post_meta($post->ID,'staff_email_address',true);
echo '</h2>';
echo '</div>';
wp_reset_postdata();
}
This is creating duplications on my results page, the same post is repeated 6 times! It has taken me ages to get this far, help please :S It should display "all the other posts from Cripps_Staff"
After hours of research, I know it is something to do with adding a double array to my search-people.php that is like:
$args2 = array(
'post_type' => 'cripps_staff',
'tax_query' => array(
'relation' => 'AND',
array(
'taxonomy' => 'Department',
'terms' => array( 'accounting', 'Corporate' )
),
array(
'taxonomy' => 'role',
'field' => 'id',
'terms' => array( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 ),
'operator' => 'IN'
)
)
);
But I can't for the life of me work out how to organize it properly, any ideas? ANy Wordpress evangelists out there?
I tried this, it is very close!!! What is it retrieving ?
$args2 = array(
'post_type' => 'cripps_staff',
'tax_query' => array(
array(
'taxonomy' => 'Department',
'operator' => 'NOT IN'
)
)
);

Answer 1

I'd make 2 queries, one for the current department and one for the others (excluding the current).
Alternatively, since $loop is an object containing all the query results, you could extract and remove the current department from there.
Of course in the Codex you can find all the details on how to filter queries:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query
Also, I suggest you don't repeat get_post_meta and instead use get_post_custom:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Function_Reference/get_post_custom