Wordpress Loop help needed

Hey guys!

I'm displaying blog posts in two columns. I have two loops working really great with the rewind_posts(); function.

The problem I'm having now is that I need to sort it with a couple of variables namely number of posts and category name.

I'm not sure how to integrate those two variables into the dual loop I have. Here is my loop right now just displaying the most recent posts:

<?php if (have_posts()) : while(have_posts()) : $i++; if(($i % 2) == 0) : $wp_query->next_post(); else : the_post(); ?>

<div id="left-column">
<h3><?php the_title(); ?></h3>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div> <!-- end #left-column -->

<?php endif; endwhile; else: ?>
<div>Alternate content</div>
<?php endif; ?>
</div> <!-- end .column-werap-left -->

<?php $i = 0; rewind_posts(); ?>


<?php if (have_posts()) : while(have_posts()) : $i++; if(($i % 2) !== 0) : $wp_query->next_post(); else : the_post(); ?>

<div id="right-column">
<h3><?php the_title(); ?></h3>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div> <!-- end #right-column -->

<?php endif; endwhile; else: ?>
<div>Alternate content</div>
<?php endif; ?>

PHP:

Does anyone know how I can get those two variables into the loop?

 

I would try separate WP_Query loops. See the WP Query page in the codex for more information.

 

Thanks, Dodger. I do believe you're correct. The loop will be more flexible as WP_Query. My task now is trying to figure out how to incorporate the rewind_post as two WP_Querys.

 

the easiest way is open your archive/category page in your theme and see how the loop works there. just copy the loop and it just may work.

 

Maybe this will help... without rewind:

// display posts organized by title in ascending order

<?php $posts = query_posts( $query_string . '&orderby=title&order=asc' ); ?>
<?php if( $posts ) : ?>

	<div class="post">

		<h1>Ordered by Post Title (Ascending)</h1>

		<?php foreach( $posts as $post ) : setup_postdata( $post ); ?>

			<h2><a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a></h2>

			<p><?php the_content(); ?></p>

		<?php endforeach; ?>

	</div>
 
<?php endif; ?>

Code (markup):

sourced from: http://perishablepress.com/press/2008/01/22/6-ways-to-customize-wordpress-post-order/

 

He wants two lists, but I think if he remove post_rewind altogether it might work.