Upcoming Event: How do I sort database by custom date field, but ignore past dates?

Question

I am using an events plugin and struggling to get my database query to be perfect. The query is on the event-single.php template. What I need the query to do:

• Query the "events" custom post type for upcoming events
• Sort by _event_start_date meta_key to show earliest date (nearest event)
• Not display PAST events
• If "current event", show next nearest event

Here's my current $args.

<?php $args = array(
    'post__not_in' => array($donotrepeat),
    "post_type" => 'event',
    'meta_key' => '_event_start_date', // name of custom field
    'orderby' => 'meta_value_num',
    "order" => 'ASC',
    "posts_per_page" => 1
   );
?>

Defining $donotrepeat earlier

$donotrepeat = get_the_ID();

So far, the query successfully

• Queries custom post type
• Ignores the "current" event
• Sorts by earliest date.

I cannot figure out how to ignore 'past' dates though. There is another meta key 'scope' created by this plugin that contains values like 'past' and 'future' - so that could be promising.

I've tried using meta_query to sort through the past date issue, but I just can't seem to get it to work. I think this is probably the way to go, but I'm open to other ideas. I'm sure this isn't THAT difficult... can anyone help?

Answer 1

You're pretty close, but I wouldn't be distracted by the 'scope' meta key. The following is untested.

<?php
$args = array(
    'post__not_in' => array($donotrepeat),
    "post_type" => 'event',
    'meta_key' => '_event_start_date', // name of custom field
    'orderby' => 'meta_value',
    "order" => 'ASC',
    "posts_per_page" => 1,
    'meta_query' => array(
        array(
            'key' => '_event_start_date',
            'value' => date('Y-m-d'),
            'compare' => '>=',
            'type' => 'DATE'
        )
    ),
);
?>

The meta_key is only present for ordering - meta_query controls the actual selection.

Note that I left your posts_per_page as is, even though it will limit the selection to one record.