Hello

This is a follow up question to the previous post:
https://buddydev.com/hiding-users-on-buddypress-based-site/

I use BuddyPress Global Search and this seems to be causing some issues with the code down below.

I use the Global Search to fetch members and in this case when searching for any usernames that are hidden within the role from the code – it returns a critical error. If you go to the hidden members direct profile link they’re shown (which is fine) – I would like for this to work with Global Search too.

Members should be able to search for usernames, but I just don’t want them to be shown on the directory page.

It’s a problem when I have 2 users with the same or similar usernames.

Example:
JohnDoe (Basic – user role is excluded with code below)
John (Standard – user shown and should be listed in Global Search).

In this case none of the above is shown since it returns critical error when searching for “john”.

Is this possible to fix somehow?

/**
 * Exclude Users from BuddyPress Members List by WordPress role.
 *
 * @param array $args args.
 *
 * @return array
 */
function buddydev_exclude_users_by_role( $args ) {
	// do not exclude in admin.
	if ( is_admin() && ! defined( 'DOING_AJAX' ) ) {
		return $args;
	}

	$excluded = isset( $args['exclude'] ) ? $args['exclude'] : array();

	if ( ! is_array( $excluded ) ) {
		$excluded = explode( ',', $excluded );
	}

	$role     = 'administrator';// change to the role to be excluded.
	$user_ids = get_users( array( 'role' => $role, 'fields' => 'ID' ) );

	$excluded = array_merge( $excluded, $user_ids );

	$args['exclude'] = $excluded;

	return $args;
}

add_filter( 'bp_after_has_members_parse_args', 'buddydev_exclude_users_by_role' );