Hi Aaron,
I am curious how many categories and products you plan to have? Traditionally I have told people that they should use categories to separate out a group of items for a specific page. So if you have a product categories page make a category for that, then make categories for each sub-category and place your catalog items into them. Keep in mind that CataBlog does not currently make pages, so you will need to make a WordPress page for each product category, sub-category and product. You will then need to place the appropriate shortcode onto each page.
ie: [catablog category="cat 1"]
If you have too many products to do this for, then you could perhaps hack CataBlog to generate product pages, you will need to create a template file for the catablog item page in your theme and regenerate your permalinks, but it is possible. If you want to go this route let me know and I will explain how to hack CataBlog in this manner.
Zach
I think I get you. I also think I don’t need/want to try hacking Catablog. Sounds scary to me. I think I need to play with catablog a little more as I just experimented with it for a few hours last night.
But here’s my plan:
Make a top level catablog (style#1) inserted into a page that links to other pages each with a catablog (style#2) which links to the actual individual product lists – catablog#3, 4, 5, 6, etc.
Example – top level catablog has ‘skis’ and ‘snowboards’. ‘Skis’ links to catablog with ‘downhill’ and ‘telemark’. ‘Downhill’ links to list of all downhill ski products. Done.
The individual product catablogs (lowest level) would be styled the same. But the top and middle level (catablogs #2 and 3) need their own unique styling. Is that possible? If so, I think that answers my question.
Thanks – Aaron
I am pretty sure I understand what you are describing, and yes I think that should work perfectly. Just understand that CataBlog wasn’t intended to make pages, but to make lists you may put into pages. One problem you may run into is that currently their is only one HTML template for the whole system. This should be overridable in the ShortCode, trust me it will be coming in a future release.
Thanks. Yes, I understand about the pages thing – I do mean insert the shortcode into pages or posts.
At least I’m on the right track and am confident I will find a way to make it work.
Thanks for your help.
Aaron