Client People Filter

A small WordPress plugin that provides a search-first People directory for an existing Elementor Loop Grid.

Why

Simply hiding an Elementor Loop Grid with CSS does not improve the initial query/render cost.

This plugin hooks Elementor's custom Query ID and returns zero records until the visitor activates a filter.

Elementor setup

1. Install and activate the plugin.

2. Add the shortcode:

   [people_filter]

3. Edit the existing Elementor Loop Grid.

4. In the Loop Grid query settings set:

   Query ID: client_people_filter

5. In Advanced → CSS Classes add:

   cpf-people-results

The initial page load will now return no Loop Grid records.

Taxonomy filters

Example shortcode:

[people_filter taxonomies="person_location,person_department,person_role" labels="Location,Department,Role"]

Then tell the query layer which taxonomies are allowed:

add_filter('cpf/filter_taxonomies', function () {
    return [
        'person_location',
        'person_department',
        'person_role',
    ];
});

This can live in the theme, a small site plugin, or eventually in a plugin settings screen.

A-Z surname filtering

For reliable surname filtering, store the surname initial in post meta:

_people_sort_letter = S

You can change the meta key:

add_filter('cpf/letter_meta_key', function () {
    return 'your_existing_meta_key';
});

Current Phase

0.1.0 provides:

• Elementor Loop Grid Query ID integration.
• Zero-result initial query.
• Keyword search.
• A-Z filtering.
• Optional taxonomy filters.
• Reset link.
• URL persistence / bookmarkable filtered states.
• Automatic select submission.
• CSS hook to hide the result widget until filtering starts.

Next logical phase

• Client-specific CPT / ACF mapping.
• Automatic surname/sort-letter synchronization.
• AJAX results refresh without a full page reload.
• Loading / empty states.
• Optional settings screen for mapping post type, taxonomies and surname field.
• Automated PHPUnit coverage.

0.1.1

Client data-mapping update:

• Adds default filters for:
  • staffmember_divisions
  • staffmember_locations
  • staffmember_roles
  • staffmember_specialisms
  • staffmember_sectors
  • accreditations
• A-Z filtering now works immediately against the surname-like final word in the post title.
• A dedicated surname-initial meta field can still override the fallback through cpf/letter_meta_key.

0.1.2 — Living Results

• Removes accreditations from the default filter controls.
• Keeps Divisions, Locations, Roles, Specialisms and Sectors.
• Adds progressive AJAX filtering for:
  • A-Z links
  • taxonomy dropdown changes
  • keyword search
  • reset
• Keeps normal GET URLs as the fallback, so filtering still works without JavaScript.
• Keeps browser back/forward navigation working.
• Updates the URL after each filter without a full page reload.
• Reuses the existing Elementor Loop Grid rendering rather than rebuilding the card template.
• Adds accessible loading/result announcements and reduced-motion support.

0.1.3 — Stable Filter Bar

• Fixes taxonomy dropdowns disappearing after an A-Z AJAX request.
• Keeps the filter form DOM permanently in place; only Elementor results are replaced.
• Alphabet filtering now preserves currently selected taxonomy filters.
• Browser Back/Forward synchronizes the visible filter controls to the URL.
• Reset is available dynamically without rebuilding the filter form.

0.1.4 — Interface & Responsive Polish

• Polishes the full filter interface without changing the query architecture.
• Adds branded CSS variables for easy client-specific colour changes.
• Styles search, A-Z controls, dropdowns, buttons and Reset consistently.
• Adds stronger hover, focus and active states.
• Adds visible AJAX loading feedback.
• Adds a subtle results reveal after AJAX refresh.
• Adds responsive layouts:
  • 5-column taxonomy layout on desktop
  • 2-column layout on tablet
  • single-column filters on mobile
  • wrapped A-Z controls for smaller screens
• Adds reduced-motion support.

0.1.5 — Loading Status Placement

• Moves the visible “Updating results…” indicator beneath the filter controls.
• Prevents the loading state from overlapping or visually competing with the Search button.
• Keeps the loading state full-width and aligned neatly on desktop.
• Centers the loading state on mobile.
• No query or AJAX behavior changes.

0.1.6 — Selective Filter Terms

Individual taxonomy terms can now be hidden from the public dropdowns directly from the shortcode. Exclusions use term slugs and accept comma-separated values.

[people_filter
    exclude_divisions="internal-services"
    exclude_locations="old-office,internal-office"
    exclude_roles="former-partner"
    exclude_specialisms="internal-only"
    exclude_sectors="legacy-sector"
]

Available attributes are exclude_divisions, exclude_locations, exclude_roles, exclude_specialisms, and exclude_sectors.

All are optional. [people_filter] continues to show all non-empty terms by default. Excluding a term only removes it from the public dropdown; it does not change the taxonomy term or any staff assignments in WordPress.