wp query - max_num_pages says 4, yet I am only able to navigate to the third page

Current query:

if ( get_query_var('paged') ) { $paged = get_query_var('paged'); } else if ( get_query_var('page') ) {$paged = get_query_var('page'); } else {$paged = 1; }

$args_main = array(
    'cat'               => $my_categories_variable,
    'posts_per_page'    => 3,
    'paged'             => $paged
);

$main_posts_query = new WP_Query($args_main);
while($main_posts_query->have_posts()) : $main_posts_query->the_post();

Problem: Echoing echo $main_posts_query->max_num_pages; gives me 4, yet I am only able to navigate (via get_next_posts_link()) to www.mywebsite/page/3/.

Am I missing something? Please do let me know if you need more information.

Thank you!

Current query:

if ( get_query_var('paged') ) { $paged = get_query_var('paged'); } else if ( get_query_var('page') ) {$paged = get_query_var('page'); } else {$paged = 1; }

$args_main = array(
    'cat'               => $my_categories_variable,
    'posts_per_page'    => 3,
    'paged'             => $paged
);

$main_posts_query = new WP_Query($args_main);
while($main_posts_query->have_posts()) : $main_posts_query->the_post();

Problem: Echoing echo $main_posts_query->max_num_pages; gives me 4, yet I am only able to navigate (via get_next_posts_link()) to www.mywebsite/page/3/.

Am I missing something? Please do let me know if you need more information.

Thank you!

• wp-query
• pagination

Share Improve this question asked Aug 15, 2013 at 11:28 cr0z3rcr0z3r 31433 silver badges1414 bronze badges

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2 Answers 2

Sorted by: Reset to default 1

You're assigning three different values to your variable:

if ( get_query_var('paged') )
{
    $paged = get_query_var('paged'); 
}
else if ( get_query_var('page') )
{
    $paged = get_query_var('page');
}
else
{
    $paged = 1;
}

Short explanation:

1. On single.php, singular.php and other single view templates: (int) $page Is the page of the post, as specified by the query var page: get_query_var( 'page' );
2. On all sorts of archive.php and similar archive/post type list view templates: (int) $paged Is the global variable contains the page number of a listing of posts (as in archives).

Core uses a lot of (slightly confusing) globals (so don't blame yourself).

I have used the following code (which is basically the same as yours) but it did not work for me when using WP_Query($args).

if ( get_query_var( 'page' ) > 1) { 
    $paged = get_query_var( 'page' ); 
} elseif ( get_query_var( 'paged' ) > 1) { 
    $paged = get_query_var( 'paged' ); 
} else { 
    $paged = 1; 
}

Although it's not recommended, pagination began working for me when I changed WP_Query($args) to query_posts($args) and then adjusted The Loop accordingly.

if ( get_query_var('paged') ) { $paged = get_query_var('paged'); } else if ( get_query_var('page') ) {$paged = get_query_var('page'); } else {$paged = 1; }

$args_main = array(
    'cat'               => $my_categories_variable,
    'posts_per_page'    => 3,
    'paged'             => $paged
);

query_posts($args_main);
while(have_posts()) : the_post();

NOTE: As Kaiser noted in his comment below query_posts() can screw things up. At the very least reset the query after The Loop.

wp_reset_query();