Subcategories Grid / List

Apptrian Subcategories Grid/List Extension for Magento allows you to have subcategories in the form of a grid or list on category pages, the home page, or optionally any other page via XML layout updates or CMS markup tags. Additionally, there are more than several options for customization. The subcategories block is Responsive Web Design (RWD) ready. It will recalculate itself based on the parent.

On category pages, the extension will show children categories of the current category. On CMS pages, the extension will show top-level categories or any other categories you want. This is done by using the "Category IDs" option in our extension where you type a comma-separated list of category IDs you want to show. You can also show subcategories by typing markup tags inside the CMS page content or CMS blocks.

Compatible with Breeze frontend without the need for an additional compatibility module. It works out of the box.

Compatible with Hyvä frontend without the need for an additional compatibility module. It works out of the box.

Features

• Two positions of subcategories block out of the box from Magento config. Any position is possible via XML layout updates or CMS markup tags on any page.
• Ability to show subcategories on multiple locations on the page.
• Two layouts are available (Grid or List).
• Ability to show subcategories grid/list items as single links.
• Ability to sort subcategories by "Name", "Page Title", "Position", and "Created Date".
• Ability to choose sort direction ("Ascending" and "Descending").
• Ability to show subcategories heading or not and to type in the heading text.
• Ability to set the order of subcategory data (0=image, 1=name, 2=description) and to exclude some data if desired. Example: 0,1,2
• Ability to show category image, and which image (attribute) to use. Options are "Image", and "Thumbnail".
• If the subcategory does not have an image (or thumbnail) placeholder image will be used.
• Ability to add image width and height HTML attributes.
• Ability to show category name, and which database field (attribute) to use. Options are "Name" and "Page Title".
• Ability to show category description, and which database field (attribute) to use. Options are "Description" and "Meta Description".
• Ability to show subcategories on any page.
• Two completely independent sets of settings one for category pages and one for the home page from Magento config with the unlimited number of settings sets via XML block arguments and/or CMS markup tags attributes.
• Ability to show specific categories on the home page and/or any other page via the comma-separated list of category IDs.
• Ability to show random categories on the home page and/or any other page via the comma-separated list of category IDs.
• Ability to hide categories in subcategories block via the comma-separated list of category IDs.
• Ability to hide subcategories block on certain category pages via the comma-separated list of category IDs.
• Responsive Web Design (RWD) ready. It will recalculate itself based on the parent.

FAQ

Q: Why do I have issues after updating the extension to version 3.0.0 or later?

A: You must completely uninstall the old version first! If you installed the extension via file copy remove the directory app/code/Apptrian/Subcategories/ then install new files. If you installed the extension via composer, you must issue the command composer remove apptrian/subcategories. Then install a new version.

Q: How to add subcategories block inside CMS page content or CMS block?

A: To add subcategories block inside any CMS page content or CMS block use Magento tags. Please read our User Guide.

Q: Is it possible to turn off subcategories description text?

A: Yes it is. In our extension configuration for option "Sort Order" instead of "0,1,2" type "0,1" (without double quotes). Do not forget to Refresh your Magento Cache.

Q: Why after uploading the category image I still get a placeholder image?

A: The category model in Magento 2 has only one attribute for the image "Category Image". Our extension adds a "Category Thumbnail" attribute for thumbnail images (since extension version 2.5.0). In the extension config for the option "For Image Use", you need to select "Image" or "Thumbnail" depending on which one you want to use for Subcategories Grid/List.

Q: Why after uploading the category image for a specific language (store view) I still get a placeholder image?

A: You must upload an image to the default scope (All Store Views) First and then if you need an image to be different for a specific language (store view) you upload a different image for that particular language (store view).