Meta Query > Meta Value date()

Here is my workaround.

I typed the word “todays_date” in the Meta Value field in the Post Meta Query section of the AQL block settings. Then I added the following code in my theme’s functions.php file. It basically looks at what has been typed in, and if it is “todays_date”, then it changes it to the numerical date by using the date() function.

function change_query_date_value( $query_args, $block_query, $inherited ) {
	if ( isset( $query_args['meta_query'] ) && ! empty( $query_args['meta_query'] ) ) {
		
		if ( $query_args['meta_query'][0]['value'] == 'todays_date' ) { $query_args['meta_query'][0]['value'] = date('Ymd'); }
	
	}
	return $query_args;
}
add_filter( 'aql_query_vars', 'change_query_date_value', 10, 3 );

Thanks, @laned69, that’s a great solution. However, I’ve actually gone ahead and created a block variation with a pre_render_block and query_loop_block_query_vars filter combo which has enabled me to tap into the query vars as required. I’ll keep your method in mind though for future applications.

@laned69 Can you help me configure the slotfills? I have no idea where to start like what files do I need to place before I create the custom plugin? The instructions in the Github are horrible. Any help?

@nugerama Sorry to burst in like that, but out of curiosity, and because I’ll need this (ACF-based event dates filtered loop queries) for several sites as well: did you create a block variation of the standard Loop Query Block or of Advanced Loop Query? Seems like a much cleaner solution than having to add PHP filters, at least until @welcher adds this functionality to Advanced Query Block itself (have to admit I landed here because I couldn’t understand why meta_value “today” didn’t work out of the box – I’m probably spoiled from WP GridBuilder).
Thanks!

Hi, @philibee. I created block variations of the core Query Loop block. Here’s an example of how I targeted the ‘past-events’ variation in order to manipulate the query:

function my_namespace_upcoming_events_pre_render_block( $pre_render, $parsed_block, $parent_block ) {

  // target the query loop block variations
  if( isset( $parsed_block[ 'attrs' ][ 'namespace' ] ) ):

    if( 'my_namespace/past-events' === $parsed_block[ 'attrs' ][ 'namespace' ] ):

      add_filter( 'query_loop_block_query_vars', 'my_namespace_query_loop_block_query_vars_past_events', 10, 1 );

    endif;

  endif;
}
add_filter( 'pre_render_block', 'my_namespace_upcoming_events_pre_render_block', 10, 3 );

function my_namespace_query_loop_block_query_vars_past_events( $query ) {

  $query[ 'meta_query' ] = [[

    'key'     => 'event_end', // my ACF datetime field
    'compare' => '<=',
    'value'   => date('Y-m-d H:i:s'),
    'type'    => 'DATETIME'
  ]];

  $query[ 'order' ] = 'DESC';
  $query[ 'orderby' ] = 'meta_value';
  $query[ 'meta_key' ] = 'event_start';
  $query[ 'meta_type' ] = 'DATETIME';

  remove_filter( 'query_loop_block_query_vars', 'my_namespace_query_loop_block_query_vars_past_events', 10, 1 );

  return $query;
}

Targeting pagination was a whole other inexact science that I achieved by adding some parent classes in order to target child-pagination blocks. Also I didn’t get so far as reflecting this query manipulation in the block editor, only on the front end.

I hope that’s helpful.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 1 week ago by Nugerama.

Hey @nugerama
really sorry for the noreply – somehow missed your post!
In the end I went with @laned69 ‘s code (adapted slightly to be able to display “current event” with two meta compares, start and end date), as I’m in a bit of a hurry.
As soon as things calm down a bit, I’ll gladly look into creating and using block variations, as per your code – thanks a lot for that!
Cheers, Phil

No worries, @philbee. Glad you got it sorted.

Thank you @laned69 !
I am using your solution with META VALUE “todays_date” and META COMPARE >= to get all coming events since today. With <= I am getting all past events, clearly.
Do you have an idea how to toggle between the two, so that the user can click somewhere to do this action?