Question

Well I can’t figure this one out…

I have this WordPress I use as a photo gallery blog.

I have a basic setup using the main default loop for posts.

Like this:

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

//the post

<?php endwhile; ?>

<b>Not Found</b>

<?php endif; ?>

In the sidebar and where ever, I want to appear random posts.

I’ve managed to do that. With this:

<?php query_posts($query_string . 'showposts=1&orderby=rand'); ?>

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

//the post

<?php endwhile; endif; ?>

It looks amazing! In theory.

There are duplicate posts all over the place. And that just looks stupid.

I have read lots of articles but I just can’t seem to get it to work 🙁

Any help would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

After a good night of sleep, here’s what I have done:

Creating array with post ID:

<?php $already_posted = array(); ?>

The Main loop where at the end I record the post ID to array:

<?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>

//the post

<?php $already_posted[]= $post->ID; endwhile; ?>

    <?php else : ?>

    <b>Not Found</b>

<?php endif; ?>

And the random post code using post__not_in to avoid duplicates and again recording post ID:

<?php $args = array( 'numberposts' => 1, 'orderby' => 'rand', 'post__not_in' => $already_posted );
$rand_posts = get_posts( $args );
foreach( $rand_posts as $post ) : ?>

//the post

<?php $already_posted[]= $post->ID; endforeach; ?>

Works evertime!

You can do amazing stuff with this 🙂

Thanks to paislee and Arvind Pal for helping out.