Hiding Categories from the Menu

If required sub-categories may be hidden so that although they and their contents still appear in and are accessible for viewing / editing via the backend administration they do not display in the front end product menu.

This hiding actually requires that the sub-category be removed from its parent categories, so note that that where a sub-category appears in more than one place in the front-end product menu (i.e it exists within more than one category) removing it from one category only is not sufficient to fully hide it in the front end. To achieve this, the sub-category must be removed from all its parent categories.
 


How to hide a sub-category

 
  1. To hide a sub-category click on the Items tab
  2. This will display the Item tree by default and all the top level categories that currently exist within the site. Click on the Category list tab. This will display the list of all categories that currently exist within the site
    catlistscreen
  3. By default, categories are sorted by the code number. To view them in alphabetical order, click on the column title Name
  4. Locate the sub-category that you wish to hide. Click on the Category code
    Please note: If you cannot locate it, enter the category name into the search box located to the top right of the category list. This will reload the page, listing the specific category only
  5. This will display the Category editor page. Click on the Parent categories tab 2 Tab
  6. This will display the category parent information page for the selected category. Click on the cross next to the parent name
    Please note: Categories to which another category belongs are known as its parents. This page comprises a list of any such parents. If the category does not have any parents i.e because it is a top-level category, this is stated. If the category is listed as having only one parent, this indicates that it appears in only place in the front end product menu. If the category is listed as having multiple parents, it appears in multiple places in the product menu
  7. This will display a warning prompt requesting that you confirm the removal. Click on OK. The category will be removed from the parent category
    Please note: If the sub-category belongs to multiple parents and you wish it to be completely hidden in / inaccessible via the front end, repeat this process to remove it from all its parent categories
  8. The category and any sub categories within it will now cease to display in the Item tree and the front end product menu, although all will still be listed on and editable via the category list page. Likewise, all items within the category / sub categories will also cease to display in the item tree / front end product menu, but will still be listed on and editable via the item list page
    Important: Categories may be unhidden at any stage by assigning them to another category or re-creating them as top level categories
    Please note: Although the category does not reside within any categories i.e it does not have any parents, the system still treats it as a sub-category, hence the reference to changing a sub-category to a top-level category
 


How to hide a top level category

 
It is possible to hide a top-level category if this is required. This may seem a slightly complicated process but when broken down it can be achieved in three steps:
 
  1. Assign the top level category to another category so it has a parent category
  2. Delete the original top level category
  3. Remove the parent category
The category will still exist and all the items within it will remain unaffected (they will not be deleted or removed to the unassigned folder) but it will no longer display in the Item tree or in the front end of the Website.

 

Step 1. Assign the top level category to another category so it has a parent category

 
  1. Click on the Items tab
  2. This will display the Item tree by default. Click on the Category list tab. This will display the list of all categories that currently exist within the site. By default, categories are sorted by the code number. To view them in alphabetical order click on the column title Name
  3. Locate the top level category that you wish to hide, e.g. "Books" and click on the Category code
    Please note: If you cannot locate it, enter the category name into the search box located to the top right of the category list. This will reload the page, listing the specific category only
  4. This will display the category editor page. Click on the Parent categories tab 2
  5. This will display the category parent information page for the selected category
    Please note: Categories to which another category belongs are known as its parents. This page comprises a list of any such parents. If the category does not have any parents i.e because as in this case, it is a top-level category, this is stated
  6. Click on either of the dropdown boxes  to the right of the page
  7. This will display the word TOP and the product menu. Click on the name of any top-level category, e.g. "New Category"
  8. Click on the Add category to parent category button
  9. This will reload the page displaying the selected category name
 

Step 2. Delete the original top level category

 
  1. Click on the Item tree tab
  2. Click on the top-level category to which you assigned the original top-level category by clicking on the folder icon  or the plus  next to it
  3. You will see that the original category, e.g. "Books" (the one you want to hide), exists now as both a top-level category and a sub-category of another top-level category
  4. Click on the Name of the original top level category
  5. This will highlight the category and display the actions that may be performed with regard to that category
  6. Click on the Delete category link
  7. A warning prompt will display requesting that you confirm the deletion. Click on the OK button
  8. This will delete the category and any sub-categories within it

    Please note: It will not delete the new version of the top-level category (now existing as a sub-category) or any of the sub-categories / items within it, or move any of the items to the unassigned folder

Step 3. Remove the parent category

 
  1. Click on the Category list tab . This will display the list of all categories that currently exist within the site
  2. Locate the category that you wish to hide and click on the category code. This will display the category editor page. Click on the Parent categories tab
  3. This will display the category parent information page for the selected category. The name of the top level category to which the category was assigned, will now be displaying in the list as its parent. Click on the cross  next to the parent name
  4. This will display a warning prompt requesting that you confirm the removal. Click OK
  5. The category will be removed from the parent category
  6. The category and any sub categories within it will now cease to display in the Item tree and the front end product menu, although all will still be listed on and editable via the category list page.
    Please note: Likewise, all items within the category / sub categories will also cease to display in the item tree / front end product menu, but will still be listed on and editable via the item list page
    Important: Categories may be unhidden at any stage by assigning them to another category or re-creating them as top level categories