• The category is one of many ways that users use to find out the products they want to buy in any store.

  • A product category is the way of organizing products in your store by the type of products that you sell.

  • The category pages are meant for displaying the products of the respective Categories.

  • These pages generally consists a Category Menu and a 'Product Showcase' 'Drag & Drop' controls. But, you can define the controls as per your requirement.

  • Master Category Page: It is the parent page (standard page) for all the category pages of your store and whatever any changes you do here will reflect in all the other category pages that are created after defining the 'Master Category page'. By default, the master category page is created and named as the ShowCategory page. However, you can customize it through the 'Drag & Drop controls.'
    Please Refer: Drag and Drop Controls

How do I create a category page?

  • Note: After the introduction of Master Category page, now there is no need to create individual category pages. i.e. by virtue of the 'Master Category page' (i.e. ShowCategory page), all other category pages can be created automatically.

  • All you need to do is to configure the Master Category page with required the 'Drag & Drop controls'.
    Please Refer: Drag and Drop Controls

  • If you have already created some category pages and now want to modify all the previously created category pages as per the Master Category Page, then change the template by selecting 'Delete category settings, content pages and brand pages' checkbox that is displaying while confirming the template change and revert back to your original template in the same way.
    Please Refer: Select Template

  • Once the Master Category page is configured, if you have created a 'new Category' and not created a category page for it, when the user navigates to that category in storefront, then the respective category page will be automatically created as per the Master Category page and displayed accordingly.

  • However, if you are creating some category pages after defining the Master Category Page, the controls of the Master Category Page will be automatically retrieved in the new category page. You can also modify the required category pages exclusively without affecting the master category page.

  • So, you can create individual category pages if you want or you can configure only one 'Master Category Page' (i.e. ShowCategory page).

Prerequisites:


To create a category page, do the following:


There are three methods for creating the category pages:

Method 1 - Through the 'Dashboard & Setup' » 'Design Home Page' :

  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Category Page

  • Click the  Category Page icon. The Dashboard & Setup section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Category Page

  • Click Design Home Page. You will be navigated to the Drag & Drop Controls page.


Category Page

  • To add a category page, click Add Page. You will displayed a Creating Page dialog box.


Category Page

  • Select the Category Page option from the Choose Page Type drop-down. This will open the Select Your Option section.
  • All the categories of your site will be displayed under the Select Your Option section.
  • To create a category page, select the required category and click Submit.
  • The category page will be generated and displayed as per the master category page i.e. ShowCategory page.


Category Page

  • If you want to make any changes exclusively to this category page, you can do so by editing the controls of this category page as per your requirement through the Edit button of the respective controls.
    Please refer: Drag and Drop controls
  • To preview the category page, click Preview.
  • To upload the category page to your Web store, click Publish.
  • Now the category page is created and ready to use.
  • To view the exact look of your category page, click View Live Store.

Method 2 - Through the 'Design & Content' » 'Design Home Page' :

  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Category Page

  • Click the  Category Page icon. The Design & Content section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Category Page

  • Click Design Home Page. You will be navigated to the Drag & Drop Controls page.


Category Page

  • To add a category page, click Add Page. You will displayed a Creating Page dialog box.


Category Page

  • Select the Category Page option from the Choose Page Type drop-down. This will open a Select Your Option section.
  • All the 'Categories' of your site will be displayed under Select Your Option section.
  • To create a category page, select the required category and click Submit.
  • The category page will be generated and displayed as per the 'Master Category page' i.e. ShowCategory page.


Category Page

  • If you want to make any changes exclusively to this category page, you can do so by editing the controls of this category page as per your requirement through the Edit button of the respective controls.
    Please refer: Drag and Drop controls
  • To preview the category page, click Preview.
  • To upload the category page to your Web store, click Publish.
  • Now the category page is created and ready to use.
  • To view the exact look of your category page, click View Live Store.

Method 3 - Through the 'Design & Content' > 'Design Web Pages' :

  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Category Page

  • Click the  Category Page icon. The Design & Content section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Category Page

  • Select Design Web Pages tab. You will be navigated to the Design Custom Content Pages page.


Category Page

  • To create a category page, click Add Custom Pages. You will be navigated to the Add/Edit Web Pages page.


Category Page

  • To create a category page, select the Category option from the Page Type drop-down. The Choose Category text box will be displayed. Click the Choose button of the Choose Category text box. A Category dialog box will be displayed.


Category Page

  • Select a category for which you want to create category page and click Submit. The dialog box will be closed and the name of the selected category will be displayed in the Choose Category text box.


Category Page

  • Enter the title of the page in the way you want to display it in the search results when searched through the Google, in the Title text box for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) purpose.
  • Enter the 'Meta tag keywords' for this Web page in the Meta Keywords text box for SEO purpose. The maximum length is 500 characters.
  • Enter the 'keywords for this Web page's URL' in the URL Key rewriter text box for SEO purpose. The same keywords will be inserted in this Web page's URL and helpful in SEO. The maximum length is 500 characters.
  • Enter the 'Meta tag description' about this Web page in the Meta Description text box for SEO purpose.
    This description will appear as a description about your page in the search engines. The maximum length is 255 characters.
  • To enter the verification codes of 'Google site verification code', 'Yahoo' or 'Bing' verification code, enter them in the 'Head Content' text box within 1000 characters.
    • Note: 'Google verification code' is an option for verifying site/domain ownership. This method requires that you place a specific <meta> tag in the source code of your shopping cart.
    • This verification code is used for tracking your sitemap and generally it is entered in the 'Home' page.
  • Now you need to select a layout for this page. To do so, navigate to Select Layout section and select a suitable layout.


Category Page

  • The pane widths of the selected layout will be displayed against the respective 'Place Holder Width' text boxes as shown in the figure.
  • Now, you can change widths of placeholders (i.e. the width of panes) of the layout if required.
    • For Example, the width of the first pane is indicated in Place Holder Width 1 text box and so on.
  • Edit the widths as per your requirement.
    • Note: The sum of widths of all placeholders in each row of the layout should not be more than the width of the layout, which is mentioned in the Page Width text box.
    • You can specify the widths in the Pixels (PX) or Percentage (%) by selecting a suitable option from the Width Type drop-down. If you are mentioning the widths in a percentage, consider the Page Width as 100%.
  • Verify the 'Master Page' to ensure the 'Header & Footer' are selected for this layout or not. To do so, click the Master Pages tab under the Select Layout section.


Category Page

  • Master Page1 is having the Header & Footer, and Master Page2 is not having Header & Footer. You can change the selection Master page as per your requirement.
  • Now you can save the page and proceed for designing of the page. To do so, click Save and continue to design page. Then you will be navigated to the 'Drag and Drop Controls' page, where you can design for this page.


Category Page

  • To design the page, drag and drop the required controls in the suitable panes and configure them as per your requirement. Click Publish and the page will be uploaded to your store.

Pl Refer: Drag and Drop Controls

How do I customize the master category page?


Note: By default, master category page (it is named as ShowCategory Page) is created and kept as blank. You can configure it as per your requirement.


To customize the master category page, do the following:


There are three methods for customizing the master category page:

Method 1 - Through the 'Dashboard & Setup' » 'Design Home Page' :

  • Note: Through this method, you can change only Design of the master category page.
  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Master Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Master Category Page

  • Click the  Master Category Page icon. The Dashboard & Setup section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Master Category Page

  • Click Design Home Page. You will be navigated to the Drag & Drop Controls page.


Master Category Page

  • Select ShowCategory from the Design Your Site drop-down. The master category page will be displayed as defined by default.
  • Drag and drop the required controls and configure them accordingly.

    Please refer: Drag and Drop controls

Method 2 - Through the 'Design & Content' » 'Design Home Page' :

  • Note: Through this method, you can change only Design of the master category page.
  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Master Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Master Category Page

  • Click the  Master Category Page icon. The Design & Content section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Master Category Page

  • Click Design Home Page. You will be navigated to the Drag & Drop Controls page.


Master Category Page

  • Select ShowCategory from the Home > Design Your Site > drop-down. Now the master category page will be displayed as defined by default.
  • Drag and drop the required controls and configure them accordingly.

    Please refer: Drag and Drop controls

Method 3 - Through the 'Design & Content' > 'Design Web Pages' :

  • Note: Through this method, you can define both Layout & Design of master category page.
  • Log in to the 'Anywhere Commerce Control Panel' by using your User Name (Email Address) and Password.


Master Category Page

  • You will be navigated to the 'Dashboard' page.


Master Category Page

  • Click the  Master Category Page icon. The Design & Content section will be displayed as shown in the figure.


Master Category Page

  • Select the Design Web Pages tab. You will be navigated to the Design Custom Content Pages page.


Master Category Page

  • By default, the Standard Web Pages option will be selected from the Page Type drop-down and displays the respective pages.
  • The master category page is already created and named as ShowCategory. It will also be listed on the Standard Web Pages.
  • To change the layout of the master category page, click the respective link under the Layout column. You will be navigated to the Add/Edit Web Pages page.


Master Category Page

  • By default, the title of the page is defined as ShowCategory in the Title text box,
  • Enter the meta tag keywords for this master category page in the Meta Keywords text box for SEO purpose. The maximum length is 500 characters.
  • Enter the meta tag description about this master category page in the Meta Description text box for SEO purpose.
    This description will appear as a description about your page in the search engines. The maximum length is 255 characters.
  • Now you need to select a layout for this page. To do so, select a suitable layout from the Select Layout section.
  • The pane widths of the selected layout will be displayed against the respective 'Place Holder Width' text boxes as shown in the figure.
  • Now, you can change widths of placeholders (i.e. the width of panes) of the layout if required.
    • For Example, the width of the first pane is indicated in the Place Holder Width 1 text box and so on.
  • Edit the widths as per your requirement.
    • Note: The sum of widths of all placeholders in each row of the layout should not be more than the width of the layout, which is mentioned in the Page Width text box.
    • You can specify the widths in the Pixels (PX) or Percentage (%) by selecting a suitable option from the Width Type drop-down. If you are mentioning the widths in percentage, then consider the Page Width as 100%.
  • Now verify the 'Master Page' to ensure the 'Header & Footer' are selected for this layout or not. To do so, click Master Pages tab under the Select Layout section.


Master Category Page

  • The Master Page1 is having the Header & Footer, and the Master Page2 is not having Header & Footer. You can change the selected master page as per your requirement.
  • Now you can save the page and proceed for designing of this master category page. To do so, click Save and continue to design page. Then you will be navigated to 'Drag and Drop Controls' page, where you can design for this page.
    • Note: You can also first save the layout for master category page by clicking Save And Exit button. Then, you will be navigated to Design Custom Content Pages page. To change the design, you need to click respective  Master Category Page icon under Actions column. Then you will be navigated to 'Drag and Drop Controls' page, where you can design for this page.


Master Category Page

  • To design the page, drag and drop the required controls in the suitable panes and configure them as per your requirement. Click Publish and the page will be uploaded to your store.

Pl Refer: Drag and Drop Controls