Create a Page Template

Hi tgberk. You should be able to modify the default post query without creating a new page template. You need to be using a child theme, which I assume you are since you also need to modify the theme files to add the code to display the view count. In the child theme functions.php file try this:

// sort posts on home page by number of views
add_action('pre_get_posts','tgberk_modify_query');
function tgberk_modify_query($query) {
    if ( $query->is_home() && $query->is_main_query() ) {
        $query-> set('meta_key', 'views');
        $query-> set('orderby', 'meta_value_num');
        $query-> set('order', 'DESC');
    }
}

If you want to display all post lists (category, tag, etc.) this way then remove this part:

$query->is_home() &&

I don’t want to show home page. I want to create a new page called “most viewed posts” and i want to show there. I think it is because i should create a new page template, am I right?

In that case you don’t need the above function. Try this:

1. Copy archive.php (not page.php) to your child theme. Although the page.php code looks similar to a posts page, it will only retrieve the single page content. So you need to use a page that displays posts. Rather than create one from scratch, just use a theme file; then the layout will be the same as the rest of the theme.

2. Rename the child theme archive.php to most-viewed-posts.php (or whatever you want to name it).

3. Edit the file and add the page template header, new query arguments, new query, and reset the query afterwards. I coded up an example of what it might look like here: https://pastebin.com/JsJ4myBM
You’re welcome to use that code if you’d like.

4. Create a new page with a title of “Most Viewed Posts”; use the “Most Viewed Posts Page” template.

5. Add the new page to your menu.

6. Depending on which post layout you’re using you need to copy content.php or content-standard.php to your child theme and add the plugin code:

<?php if(function_exists('the_views')) { the_views(); } ?>

7. Add css to your child theme style.css file to position and style the view count elements.

Let me know how that goes.

Thank you very very much, it worked perfectly. It is amazing, thank you for your effort. I have an another question can i change name of “tag” to “actors” and tag’s icon?

You’re welcome; glad it worked. Your other question should be put in a new topic since it’s not really related to this one. If you don’t have any further questions about the template please mark this topic as Resolved. Thanks.

Thank you very much again, I am going to put a new topic for tag question.

Resolved.