Exclude post ID from wp_query

Question

How can I exclude one specific post from a WP_Query query? (For example, show all posts apart from a post with the ID 278)

I've tried the post__not_in argument but it just removes all posts..

Any help would be great.

Here is my current query

<?php
    $temp = $wp_query;
    $wp_query= null;
    $wp_query = new WP_Query(array(
        'post_type' => 'case-study',
        'paged' => $paged,
    ));
    while ($wp_query->have_posts()) : $wp_query->the_post();
?>

Thanks

Answer 1

I just tested the below code, and it works:

            <?php

                $q1 = new WP_query(array('category_name' => 'test-cat-1', 'order' => 'ASC'));

                if($q1->have_posts()) :
                $firstPosts = array();
                    while($q1->have_posts()) : $q1->the_post();
                    $firstPosts[] = $post->ID;
            ?>      

                    <div class="item">

                        <h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>

                    </div>

            <?php       
                    endwhile;
                endif;

 /*****************************************************************************/

                $q2 = new WP_query(array('post__not_in' => $firstPosts, 'order' => 'ASC' ));

                if($q2->have_posts()) :
                    while($q2->have_posts()) : $q2->the_post();
            ?>      

                    <div class="item">

                        <h2 class="item-title"><?php the_title(); ?></h2>

                    </div>

            <?php       
                    endwhile;
                endif;
            ?>

The first loop displays all posts in a category, and collects the post id's into an array.

The second loop displays all posts, excluding posts from the first loop.

Answer 2

You have to define the posts__not_in arg as array. Even for a single value. And please don't overwrite global core variables with temporary stuff.

<?php
    $wpse65146_custom_query = new WP_Query(array(
        'post_type' => 'case-study',
        'paged' => $paged,
        'posts__not_in' => array( 1 )
    ) );
    if ( $wpse65146_custom_query->have_posts() ) :
    while ( $wpse65146_custom_query->have_posts() ) :
        $wpse65146_custom_query->the_post();

        // do stuff

    endwhile;
    endif;
?>

Answer 3

The parameter you are looking for is post__not_in (kaiser has a typo in his answer). So the code could be like:

<?php
    $my_query = new WP_Query(array(
        'post__not_in' => array(278),
        'post_type' => 'case-study',
        'paged' => $paged,
    ));
    while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post();
?>