00-set-inactive-posts.php

<?php

function setInactivePosts()
{
	// First, find the post IDs with an empty acme-status.
	global $wpdb;
	$results = $wpdb->get_results(
		$wpdb->prepare(
			"
			SELECT post_id
			FROM $wpdb->postmeta
			WHERE meta_key = %s
			AND meta_value = ''
			",
			'acme-status'
		)
	);
  
  // More to come...
  

01-return-early.php

<?php

// See previous gist.

// If there aren't any results, there's nothing to do.
if (0 === \count($results)) {
	return;
}

// More to come...

02-update-post-status.php

<?php

// See previous gist.

// Otherwise, set the post_status of the specified post IDs to 'draft'.
foreach ($results as $result) {
	$wpdb->get_results(
		$wpdb->prepare(
			"
			UPDATE $wpdb->posts
			SET post_status = %s
			WHERE ID = %d
			",
			'draft',
			(int) ($result->post_id)
		)
	);
}

03-set-inactive-posts.php

<?php

function setInactivePosts()
{
	// First, find the post IDs with an empty acme-status.
	global $wpdb;
	$results = $wpdb->get_results(
		$wpdb->prepare(
			"
			SELECT post_id
			FROM $wpdb->postmeta
			WHERE meta_key = %s
			AND meta_value = ''
			",
			'acme-status'
		)
	);

	// If there aren't any results, there's nothing to do.
	if (0 === \count($results)) {
		return;
	}

	// Otherwise, set the post_status of the specified post IDs to 'draft'.
	foreach ($results as $result) {
		$wpdb->get_results(
			$wpdb->prepare(
				"
				UPDATE $wpdb->posts
				SET post_status = %s
				WHERE ID = %d
				",
				'draft',
				(int) ($result->post_id)
			)
		);
	}
}