Removing blog categories from Blog page

[Colinz]

Hi,

I'm having issues excluding blogs with specific categories from the blog page.

I have tried:

add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'be_exclude_category_from_blog' );
/**
* Exclude Category from Blog
*
* @author Bill Erickson
* @link http://www.billerickson.net/customize-the-wordpress-query/
* @param object $query data
*
*/
function be_exclude_category_from_blog( $query ) {

if( $query->is_main_query() && $query->is_page('9') ) {
$query->set( 'cat', '-50','-61','-62' );
}
}

and I have tried (on the blog page):

Custom Field:
Name: query_args Value: cat=-50,-61,-62

A moderator suggested:
// Exclude categories from blog archive.
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'exclude_categories_blog_archive' );
function exclude_categories_blog_archive( $query ) {
if( $query->is_main_query() ) {
$query->set( 'cat', '-61,-62,-50' );
}
}

But that removes them from the Posts> All Posts as well as the blog page.

Help gratefully received.

Colinz

[Terry]

Right, the $query->is_main_query() filters those specified categories from the main query which is what you're displaying on the posts page (Blog).

It looks like you have a number of post listings on your site.
Are you trying to filter ob the blog and other locations? Add a test for that page:
`// Exclude categories from blog archive.
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'exclude_categories_blog_archive' );
function exclude_categories_blog_archive( $query ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && $query->is_home() ) {
$query->set( 'cat', '-61,-62,-50' );
}elseif ( is_page(whatever_the_page_id)) {
// for single category 5
$query->set( 'cat', ‘-5’ );

// for multiple categories 3 & 4
//$query->set( 'cat', '-3, -4' );
}`

[Terry]

The ! is_admin() && tests for admin to distinguish main query.

[Terry]

Lastly, you don't need both conditions but it helps me for understandability/readability
$query->is_main_query() && $query->is_home()

[Brad Dalton]

Another method is to use custom fields like this

You can also use the genesis_pre_get_option_blog_cat filter hook.

---

Tutorials for StudioPress Themes & WooCommerce.

[Colinz]

Thank you both for taking the time to help me out. I now have it set up as I wanted.

[Terry]

@braddalton To share my head banging the other day... I'm possibly not using the query_args correctly but now (WP 5.3, Genesis 3.2.1, Genesis Sample 3.2.1) the custom fields approach works for a page that is populated with posts (say with AB Posts and Pages Grid block) but not on a page titled "Blog" that is set as Posts Page.

Tried both query_args 'cat=-5'(no quotes in field) as well as 'category__not_in'(no quotes in field) on the Blog page, neither successful. However, action hook (as above) was successful.

[Brad Dalton]

Don't set it as posts page.

---

Tutorials for StudioPress Themes & WooCommerce.

[Terry]

Thanks Brad! 🙂

[Author]

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