Order results by best match

This thread is resolved. Here is a description of the problem and solution.

Problem: I would like to order the results of a View based on how well they match the search criteria.

Solution: Views sorting algorithms are based on WordPress sorting algorithms, which do not implement a "best match" criteria. This type of ordering would require significant custom code using the Views APIs wpv_filter_query and/or wpv_filter_query_post_process.

Relevant Documentation:
https://toolset.com/documentation/programmer-reference/views-filters/#wpv_filter_query
https://toolset.com/documentation/programmer-reference/views-filters/#wpv_filter_query_post_process

This support ticket is created 6 years, 4 months ago. There's a good chance that you are reading advice that it now obsolete.

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Tagged: Custom search, Views API, Views plugin

This topic contains 1 reply, has 2 voices.

Last updated by Christian Cox 6 years, 4 months ago.

Assisted by: Christian Cox.

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June 21, 2018 at 10:15 am #916186

umbertoZ

Hi, I've a custom search with few taxonomy filters. I need to display all the results that matches with any term of the search, so I've to set an OR relationship btw filters, so if I filter by:

TAX1 term1, term2
TAX2 termA

I want to display this result:

Entry1 (TAX1 term1, term2)
Entry2 (TAX1 term1 - TAX2 termA)
Entry3 (TAX1 term1, term2 - TAX2 termA)
Entry4 (TAX2 termA)

This is what Views do by default.

Now I need to order result by terms matching, so this should be the order of the result:

Entry3 (TAX1 term1, term2 - TAX2 termA)
Entry2 (TAX1 term1 - TAX2 termA)
Entry1 (TAX1 term1, term2)
Entry4 (TAX2 termA)

Is it possible?

Then I also would like to display on each entry in the loop witch terms match with that specific entry. I tryed using:

[wpv-conditional if="( has_term('[wpv-search-term param='wpv-tax1']', 'tax1', null) eq '1' )" ]
[wpv-search-term param='wpv-eating-problem']
[/wpv-conditional]

But this works only if I select 1 term of TAX1, if I select more then one it doesn't.

Is there a solution?

thanks

June 21, 2018 at 3:58 pm #916287

Christian Cox

Now I need to order result by terms matching,
This might be possible with some custom code using the APIs wpv_filter_query or wpv_filter_query_post_process, but it's not something you can accomplish from wp-admin using Views. Views' sorting algorithm is based on WordPress's WP_Query, which does not offer any Order or OrderBy options based on "best match" of specific taxonomy filters:
https://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Order_.26_Orderby_Parameters
The "relevance" option only applies to text search terms, not taxonomy or custom field searches.

Here's a ticket that uses wpv_filter_query_post_process to inspect the query for taxonomy criteria, then manipulates the query results directly based on those criteria: https://toolset.com/forums/topic/filter-does-not-work-2/#post-556139
It might give you a good idea of how to get started with this custom code. Your solution will be more complex, and isn't something I can offer a quick fix for. More information about the filter API:
https://toolset.com/documentation/programmer-reference/views-filters/#wpv_filter_query_post_process

Then I also would like to display on each entry in the loop witch terms match with that specific entry.
This sounds like a separate issue from ordering results. May I kindly ask you to create a separate ticket? This will help us keep the forum organized and help other users find solutions to similar questions.