I’m struggling with a WordPress search function. Maybe it will just help if someone can explain to me how the built in WordPress function works. But here’s what I want:
- Two search fields, by name and by location
- The first field should check all the common post data (only posts) + categories
- The second field should only check on the posts custom fields
- Only one field needs to be filled
First of all, is this even possible or do I have to use native php+sql? If it is possible, can you please give me a hint on where to start?
The built-in WP search looks only a Posts’/Pages’ Title and Content, not thru other elements like Custom Fields and the content of Shortcodes. There’s a number of plugs that will search Custom Fields:
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-custom-fields-search/
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/search-everything/
http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/relevanssi/
There also a filter apply_filters_ref_array() that “allows plugins to contextually add/remove/modify the search section of the database query.”
FYI, the search is defined in query.php, and looks like:
...if ( !empty($q['s']) )
...
($wpdb->posts.post_title LIKE '{$n}{$term}{$n}') OR ($wpdb->posts.post_content LIKE '{$n}{$term}{$n}')
So title and content are the only things in the default search.
