Title: How Do Shortcodes Work?
Last modified: July 15, 2021

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# How Do Shortcodes Work?

 *  Resolved [Todd Farino](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tfarino/)
 * (@tfarino)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-shortcodes-work/)
 * Hi, I am looking to license your directory, however, I have to be able to build
   a home page with a search and results, plus a directory page. I have tried some
   short codes I found in documentation, but in order for me to purchase the license
   I need to see the short codes work and they don’t for me.
 * Thank you for your help.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fhow-do-shortcodes-work%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

 *  Plugin Support [bobbied](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bobbied/)
 * (@bobbied)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-shortcodes-work/#post-14666298)
 * Hi [@tfarino](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tfarino/)
 * I’m sorry to hear that you ran into issues with this!
 * Which shortcode are you trying to use? We’ve given examples in the docs [here ](https://businessdirectoryplugin.com/knowledge-base/shortcodes/)
   but it may be helpful to see what you’re trying.
 * Please let me know.
 *  Thread Starter [Todd Farino](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tfarino/)
 * (@tfarino)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-shortcodes-work/#post-14666475)
 * Hi,
    I got the shortcodes from that document and they don’t work. THe only shortcode
   that works is [businessdirectory], which the plugin installs onto the page it
   creates.
 * Another issue. I unchecked all the “Show listings under categories on main page?”
 * I still get the category showing first.
 * What I’m trying to do is have the search on the homepage and after they search
   the directory shows results? No cateogires.
 * Can that be done with this plugin?
 * Thank you,
 *  Plugin Support [bobbied](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bobbied/)
 * (@bobbied)
 * [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-shortcodes-work/#post-14669639)
 * Hi [@tfarino](https://wordpress.org/support/users/tfarino/)
 * Thanks for getting back to me on this.
 * The shortcodes should work. If you can give me an example of one you’re using,
   I can see if you’ve formatted it differently, or if it needs a parameter added
   or something.
 * As for the listings showing up under categories, that setting should take care
   of things. This sounds like a cache issue possibly. We recommend clearing the
   server cache if you have one (which is found either in your hosting settings 
   or on your plugin settings for things like WP Super Cache and W3TC if you have
   them installed), as well as your client browser cache.
 * The best way to get uncached data on your browser is to use a Private Browsing
   window or Incognito mode (depending on your browser). That ensures you’re seeing
   the latest, correct data.
 * Please try that and let me know if you run into more issues.

Viewing 3 replies - 1 through 3 (of 3 total)

The topic ‘How Do Shortcodes Work?’ is closed to new replies.

 * ![](https://ps.w.org/business-directory-plugin/assets/icon-256x256.png?rev=2901888)
 * [Business Directory Plugin - Easy Listing Directories for WordPress](https://wordpress.org/plugins/business-directory-plugin/)
 * [Frequently Asked Questions](https://wordpress.org/plugins/business-directory-plugin/#faq)
 * [Support Threads](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/business-directory-plugin/)
 * [Active Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/business-directory-plugin/active/)
 * [Unresolved Topics](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/business-directory-plugin/unresolved/)
 * [Reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/business-directory-plugin/reviews/)

## Tags

 * [shortcode](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/shortcode/)

 * 3 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [bobbied](https://wordpress.org/support/users/bobbied/)
 * Last activity: [4 years, 11 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-shortcodes-work/#post-14669639)
 * Status: resolved