wordpress: wp_list_categories order by is not working at all

Question

Context: Using Wordpress with jigoshop plugin

I am using wp_list_categories to bring product categories that working well and brings the required list. The only problem is the ordering of the categories. I have used several orderby options (name, ID, slug) but the list order remains still the same as follows:

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The jigoshop widget has following code:

$args = array(
    'orderby'       => 'name',
    'show_count'    => $count,
    'hierarchical'  => $is_hierarchial,
    'taxonomy'      => 'product_cat',
    'title_li'      => null,
);
wp_list_categories(apply_filters('widget_product_categories_args', $args));

I am going to replace it by adding filter:

add_filter('widget_product_categories_args','myFun');
function myFun($out){
    .......
    .......
    $args = array(
    'orderby'            => 'name',
    'order'              => 'ASC',
    'style'              => 'list',
    'show_count'         => 0,
    'hide_empty'         => 0,
    'child_of'           => $topMostParent,
    'hierarchical'       => 1,
    'title_li'           => '',
    'current_category'   => $cur_cat,
    'taxonomy'           => $taxonomyName,
);  
return $args;
}

I have tried by deactivating other plugins too but got no effect on result. Please help. Thanks.

Answer 1

Most likely,
Somewhere another filter is changing the arguments these can be.
In order they are executed:

• get_categories_taxonomy
• get_terms_args
• get_terms
• get_terms_orderby <-- most likely?
• list_terms_exclusions
• get_terms_fields
• terms_clauses
• get_terms (again)
• get_terms (again again)
• wp_list_categories

These are divided over 3 primary functions ( functions which are likely to affect the outcome)

• wp_list_categories
  • get_categories
    • get_terms

I suggest starting with the get_terms_orderby filter.

If that doesn't work I would try to use the function get_terms That way you will at least know if at which level it goes wrong.

Hopes this helps, let me know ;)