In this case, ‘Volume’ is a text field of type integer. Using the Views module, I want to display only those articles which have the highest value in the volume field.
I am able to do it using contextual filter but I have to provide a default value like 6. Please see the attached screenshot.
Is there any way in views, to detect the highest value of the field and use that as a filter?
I fear you will need a subquery for that. You can do that in a custom module.
/**
* Implements hook_views_query_alter().
*/
function MODULE_NAME_views_query_alter(&$view, &$query) {
$max = db_query('select max(YOUR_TABLE_COLUMN) from YOUR_TABLE')->fetchField();
$query->add_where(0, db_and()->condition('TABLE.YOUR_FIELD_NAME', $max));
}
The tricky part here is to create your select query and find the correct field name/alias. Have a look at the query output of your view to find the correct parts.
Original answer (before clarification)
Instead of a contextual filter you can use a sort on the 'Volume' field. Sort descending. That way the articles with the highest 'volume' are at the top.
If you want to show only articles with a number higher than X you could add a regular filter for that.
Well, I made it in a tricky way.
I created a first view, with just two fields in it: Volume and Issue.
Once hidden both, I rewrited them in a custom text field, in a way like this: <<p>Magazine nr. [field_issue] / [field_volume]</p>
Ordered by Volume DESC and Issue DESC. Showing just 1 item. So I have always displayed the last issue.
Then I created another view, to display my articles as I wanted, and I added 2 contextual filters: Volume and Issue.
Finally I embedded the second view in the first as a field, passing from first to second the values of the two fields. So I get the view as attached. Of course if you don't want to display the "Magazine nr. etc." you can hide it by css.
