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link"Landing categories/pages" documentation

linkOverview

linkFeatures

linkGeneral information

The add-on adds a feature for a flexible shop structure representation in general and/or on the level of the page of the concrete category:

  1. Adds the additional page (with own layout) Catalog of categories with all structure of the shop or by the chosen menu with any structure;
  2. Allows to add in shop breadcrumbs the link to the page Catalog of categories;
  3. Adds a feature to redefine appearance of the chosen category page in Landing categories/pages with representation of internal structure and with hiding of the list of products and filters.

linkCategories

It is an additional page on which the current structure of the categories or the user menu is displayed (ID menu states in addon settings). Link to the page Categories is in addon settings.

Example of Categories page working

linkLanding pages for categories

It is the usual page of category, only with displaying structure of subcategories, additional links, with existence of the description of categories, but without block of filters and without products.

As the displayed structure on Landing pages for categories, it can be chosen by option:

  • to display the existing subcategories and their sub-subcategories;
  • to display the prepared user Menu which forms, pointing the required links on categories and a subcategories, on SEO pages for filters, on products pages, on blog pages etc.;
  • to unite the existent subcategories and their sub-subcategories with users Menu.

Example of Landing pages for categories page working

linkCategories list on the page of the feature/brand

On the storefront, when going on the brand page, addon will formate the categories and subcategories list combined with the brand.
Example of feature/brand page

The categories and subcategories list on the page of the feature/brand can be formated from the addon version v1.9.0 only. Earlier addon versions don't support this functionality.

linkCompatibility

Available add-on version CS-Cart/Multi-Vendor compatible versions
v1.10.0 4.12.1 – 4.17.2
v1.9.1 4.10.1 – 4.11.5
v1.6.2 4.3.3 – 4.9.3

Add-on is compatible with the following Themes:

  • YoupiTheme (compatible with correspond CS-Cart version);
  • UniTheme2 (compatible with correspond CS-Cart version);
  • Responsive.

linkSupport

General technical support conditions are available at this link (be sure to review these conditions, all solutions from the AlexBranding development team come with limited technical support).

In order to use our technical support, you need to:

  1. Log in with your order owner account on https://cs-cart.alexbranding.com;
  2. Go to the page My Account → Orders;
  3. Find the corresponding order with the problem add-on in the orders list and pass to its details;
  4. Find the “Support” link next to the corresponding add-on name (near you can find Documentation link also) and click on it;
  5. Fill in the data with the problem, provide access to your CS-Cart installation (path to the administration panel, admin mail, admin password + FTP access) and create a ticket (after you will create the ticket, you will receive an e-mail and a special code to track the ticket in the future);
  6. Wait for the specialist answer in accordance with the regulations of the technical support service and the priority of your ticket.

If you didn't receive an answer within the deadlines, according to the chosen ticket priority, send e-mail info@alexbranding.com with the ticket number, for which you did not receive an answer in time, and the team manager will solve the problem in compliance with regulations.

Technical support by telephone calls and direct e-mails is not provided. Any help comes through tickets and helpdesk. Carefully learn documentation and technical support conditions before creating a request.

linkRestrictions and warnings

We recommend to note general restrictions:

  1. All solutions from AlexBranding developers team require pre-installation of the AB: Addons Manager service addon. It is delivered free of charge and is responsible for such services: installation, upgrades, license verifications. Excluding this service addon usage is not possible;
  2. Addon files may have a closed (encoded) part, in which only a license check is located;
  3. The addon will work only on those domains, that are specified in the user's license. If you try to use the solution on CS-Cart installations, whose domains are not included in the license, the addon will be automatically turned off;
  4. Local installation is not possible, so that the addon works on the additional domain (subdomain), enter this domain (subdomain) in the Domain field, when ordering (or write to info@alexbranding.com) - adding technical domains for the developing or for testing is always free.

linkUsage

linkInstallation

After your order has been processed by our manager, it will be transferred to Completed state, you will receive an email to your mailbox with ordered add-ons license numbers (usually it takes from 15 minutes to 8 hours depending on the day time and week day).

Then follow the steps below, which differs depending on your version of the CS-Cart platform:

If you have CS-Cart 4.16.1 and newer version

If you have CS-Cart 4.13.1 and newer version

If you have CS-Cart 4.12. *

If you have CS-Cart 4.11.5 and an earlier version

You can also install the add-on with a standard installation for CS-Cart. To do this, download the appropriate archive with an add-on version compatible with your version of the CS-Cart platform.
Go to the website cs-cart.alexbranding.com, log in under the account of the order holder and go to the page My Profile → Orders → Relevant Order, go to details and you will see a list of available archives for the ordered add-on. Download the version (archive) you need and make the installation (standard for CS-Cart installation: Add-ons → Downloaded add-ons and in the gearwheel menu select Manual installation).

Service add-on AB: Add-ons Manager must be installed and have Active status.

linkDemo data (quick start)

The addon allows to create in the automatic mode new category AB: Sports and outdoors, already filled with structure of categories and subcategories. It will by default have the included mode Landing category/page.

For demo data adding, go to the page Administration panel → Add-ons → Manage add-ons and at the add-on name AB: Landing categories/pages in the gearwheel menu select Demo data. On the opened page click the Add button.

The sequence of adding demo data

Result of adding demo data is next

linkSettings

For access to the add-on settings you should go to the page Administration panel → Add-ons → Manage add-ons and at the add-on name in the gearwheel menu select appropriate menu item.
Add-on settings window

link1. Adding AB: Catalog to the breadcrumbs

link2. The maximum amount of displayed subcategories on the page AB: Catalog

link3. Menu ID

link4. Show categories tree on the page of the feature/brand

link5. Add AB: Catalog to the XML-sitemap

linkWork with functionality

linkCatalog of categories

link1. Creating page
link2. Page settings
link3. Changing structure of categories
link4. Icon setting
link5. Meta data of the page

linkLanding pages for categories

link1. Category settings
link2. Turning off block
link3. Displaying image
link4. Management of the displayed structure
link5. Landing categories list

linkCategories list on the page of the feature/brand

On the storefront, when going on the brand page, addon will formate the categories and subcategories list combined with the brand. Hash for feature/brand will be automatically added for every category in the structure. If the category is a landing one, hash will be missed.

For Responsive theme users

The categories and subcategories list on the page of the feature/brand can be formated from the addon version v1.9.0 only. Earlier addon versions don't support this functionality.

linkIntegrations

1. Settings to manage landing page of the category in UniTheme2
Relevant for add-ons:

On the page AB: UniTheme2 → Theme settings → "Addons" tab → Add-on "AB: Landing categories/pages" added settings:

  1. Columns quantity;
  2. Thumbnail width;
  3. Thumbnail height.

Settings are designed to manage icons on the landing page.
Settings in UniTheme2

2. Settings to manage landing page of the category in YoupiTheme
Relevant for add-ons:

On the page AB: YoupiTheme → Theme settings → "Addons" tab → Add-on "AB: Landing categories/pages" added settings:

  1. Thumbnail width;
  2. Thumbnail height.

Settings are designed to manage icons on the landing page.
Settings in YoupiTheme

3. Add page "Categories" to XML sitemap
Relevant for add-ons:

Add-on AB: Advanced Sitemap for CS-Cart allows to add the page Categories to XML sitemap that will significantly improve visibility of the page for search engines and will provide fast indexation. Also Sitemap will inform search engines on all changes with the page.
Allow add-ons work compatibility

4. Add links on SEO pages for filters in the feature Brand
Relevant for add-ons:

Integration adds links to SEO pages for filters on the brand (feature) page, making brands (features) to cross relevant categories, for which SEO pages for filters are created.

By creating Menu it is possible to specify the existing SEO page, for this purpose we specify the link on SEO page in a controller look (then when moving or renaming category, SEO page, links in the menu will be always relevant and correctly displayed):

categories.view&category_id=XXX&features_hash=YYY

where:

  • 'XXX' — ID categories where the demanded SEO page is located, for example, '45';
  • 'YYY' — Hash combination for SEO page, for example, '10-116' or '10-116_445-641'.

Example of work with Menu point

5. Forbid to exclude landing categories from indaxation
Relevant for add-ons:

Option Excluding empty categories (without products) from indexation do not exclude landing categories (if they have subcategories) from the indexation — even if they are empty.

linkHow to update

To have possibility to update an add-on, you must have an active subscription period for add-on license.

AB: Add-ons Manager will notify you about available updates (you will see an indicator of new alerts). The recommended way is to update via the CS-Cart Upgrade center (a regular procedure of the platform). This method will allow lossless configuration of the transition to the new add-on version, that is guaranteed to be compatible with your CS-Cart platform version.

Before updating, always make a full database and your store files backup (we recommend backing up using server or hosting tools).

To make updates procedure:

  1. Go to the Administration panel → Administration → Upgrade center;
  2. Find the appropriate update among the available updates and click the Update button;
  3. Follow all the instructions, that will be shown during the upgrade procedure;
  4. Clear CS-Cart cache and start using new add-on version.

If you have an earlier version of the add-on (without the Upgrade center support)

linkList of releases


Subscribe to our Telegram-channel to get info about new releases.

v1.10.0 from 02 May 2023

New features and improvements:
[+] UniTheme2. Added a new setting that allows to specify a quantity of columns for a category.
[+] UniTheme2 and YoupiTheme. Added settings that allows to specify a height and width of an image for landing pages.

Functionality changes:
[*] On landing pages and on the page of category catalog there were two equal links for a category. Now the only one link will exist for a category.
[*] Improved appearance for landing pages on mobile devices.

Bug fixes:
[!] UniTheme2. Description of the landing page has been displayed without indents on mobile devices. Fixed.

v1.9.4 from 06 Jule 2022

New features and improvements:
[+] Added compatibility with CS-Cart 4.15.1.

v1.9.3 from 19 May 2021

New features and improvements:
[+] Added canonical link to catalog page.

Bug fixes:
[!] CS-Cart 4.12.*. When the setting "Settings → General → Enable inventory tracking" was active, categories tree was not displayed on the brand page. Fixed.

v1.9.2 from 21 December 2020

New features and improvements:
[+] Added compatibility with CS-Cart 4.12.1.

v1.9.1 from 26 May 2020

New features and improvements:
[+] Added Ukrainian language support.

Bug fixes:
[!] UniTheme: If on the editing category page in the tab "Add-ons" the setting "AB: Landing category/page → Use category as a landing page" is active and in the section of the settings "AB: Management of the displayed structure of landing category/page" is selected the use of the menu, then Icons of the first menu items level were not displayed (Design → Menu → [menu name] → [element menu name] → tab "AB: UniTheme2" → Icon). Fixed.
[!] YoupiTheme: If on the editing category page in the tab "Add-ons" the setting "AB: Landing category/page → Use category as a landing page" is active and in the section of the settings "AB: Management of the displayed structure of landing category/page" is selected the use of the menu, then Icons of the first menu items level were not displayed (Design → Menu → [menu name] → [element menu] → tab "AB: Extended menu settings" → Icon). Fixed.
[!] On the page "AB: Add-ons → AB: Landing categories/pages → Demo data" the error occurred when demo-categories were added. Fixed.
[!] Add-on "AB: Indexation management": If SEO name was not created for page "Categories catalog" (is still used the service link categories.ab__lc_catalog), then the active add-on "AB: Indexation management" for this page added tag meta name="robots" content="noindex, follow". Fixed. On the page "Website → SEO → SEO rules" SEO name will be created automatically for "dispatch" parameter that can be edited manually.

v1.9.0 from 25 January 2020

New features and improvements:
[+] Added privileges;
[+] On the feature/brand page for the main categories (in the category structure) a hash filter for feature/brand has been added;
[+] Added item "Landing categories list" to the addon menu.

Bug fixes:
[!] "AB: Auto-generation of Alt and Title attributes for images" addon. On the landing category, the alt andtitle attributes of the images were blank. Compatibility fixed.
[!] Unitheme2 theme. Mini-icons of the category on the "AB: Catalog" page had an offset. Fixed;

v1.8.0 from 25 Jule 2019

Bug fixes:
[!] On the feature/brand page, the "Show more" button when the quantity of the displayed element exceeded the addon settings established value did not work. Fixed;
[!] On the feature/brand page, when forming the categories tree system settings were not considered: Settings → General → Catalog → Enable inventory tracking and Settings → General → Catalog → Show out of stock products. Fixed;
[!] In the categories tree, the categories disclosure arrow looked incorrectly. Fixed.

v1.7.3 from 19 June 2019

Bug fixes:
[!] Fixed compatibility with the UniTheme2 v4.10.*;
[!] Fixed compatibility with the YoupiTheme v4.10.*;

v1.7.2 from 11 June 2019

Bug fixes:
[!] Fixed compatibility with the UniTheme2 v4.10.*;

v1.7.1 from 10 June 2019

Bug fixes:
[!] Fixed compatibility with the UniTheme2 v4.10.*;

v1.7.0 from 14 May 2019

Feature additions:
[+] Added a new setting "Show categories tree on the page of the feature/brand";
[+] Added compatibility with the Unitheme2;
[+] Added a new menu item "General Settings" in the section "AB: Addons" for quick access to the addon settings;

v1.6.2 from 19 March 2019

Bug fixes:
[+] fixed nesting category for hidden categories of the second level on the page "AB: Categories".

v1.6.1 from 13 March 2019

Bug fixes:
[!] Fixed loading demo data;

v1.6.0 from 05 March 2019

Feature additions:
[+] Added "help" page;
[+] Added ability to download demo data;
[+] Added compatibility with the addon "Advanced sitemap";
[+] Added UpgradeCenter/Connector for the next updates;

v1.5 from 13 February 2018

[+] added compatibility with YOUPI - premium theme for CS-Cart (https://cs-cart.alexbranding.com/en/youpi-premium-theme.html).

v1.4 from 26 August 2017

[+] added compatibility with Multiple category descriptions addon (https://cs-cart.alexbranding.com/en/category-multi-descriptions.html);
[~] fixed bug showing only active menu items.

v1.3 from 13 June 2017

[+] added the ability to build [AB: Categories] using the menu;
[+] added the ability to build the structure of the Landing category using the menu;
[~] Images on landing categories and on the categories catalog [AB: Categories] now as links.

v1.0 from 06 March 2017