How To Set Woocommerce To Catalog Mode

How to Set WooCommerce to Catalog Mode: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

WooCommerce is a powerful and versatile e-commerce platform built on WordPress. While its core functionality revolves around selling products, there are scenarios where you might want to showcase your products without immediate sales functionality. This is where Catalog Mode comes in handy. Setting your WooCommerce store to catalog mode allows you to display your product offerings, features, and benefits without the distracting “Add to Cart” buttons or checkout process. This is useful if you:

• Are launching a new product line and want to gauge interest.
• Want to use your website as a product brochure.
• Are temporarily out of stock but want to maintain a product presence.
• Are catering to a specific B2B audience who require bespoke quotes.

This article will guide you through various methods to put your WooCommerce store into catalog mode, allowing you to create a focused and informative online presence.

Understanding WooCommerce Catalog Mode

Before diving into the “how-to,” let’s understand what catalog mode entails. Essentially, it means disabling the purchasing aspects of your WooCommerce store. This generally includes:

• Removing “Add to Cart” buttons from product pages and shop listings.
• Hiding or disabling the shopping cart and checkout pages.
• Preventing users from making purchases directly through the website.

This transformation turns your online store into a product catalog, focusing on showcasing your offerings rather than facilitating transactions.

Methods to Enable WooCommerce Catalog Mode

There are several ways to enable catalog mode in WooCommerce, ranging from using plugins to implementing custom code. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular and effective methods:

1. Using a WooCommerce Catalog Mode Plugin

This is often the easiest and most recommended method, especially for beginners. Several plugins are available in the WordPress repository that offer this functionality. Here are a few popular choices:

• YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode: A comprehensive plugin with various customization options, including hiding prices, disabling specific user roles, and adding custom inquiry buttons.
• Catalog Mode for WooCommerce by Code Astrology: A simple and lightweight plugin specifically designed for enabling catalog mode quickly.
• WooCommerce Catalog Enquiry Pro: Allows customers to send enquiry for your products.

Steps to Use a Plugin (using YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode as an example):

1. Check out this post: How To Edit Product Category Woocommerce Install and Activate the Plugin: Navigate to your WordPress dashboard, go to “Plugins” > “Add New,” search for “YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode,” install the plugin, and activate it.

2. Configure the Plugin Settings: Go to “YITH” > “Catalog Mode” in your WordPress dashboard.

3. Enable Catalog Mode: Locate the “Enable YITH WooCommerce Catalog Mode” option and Check out this post: How To Check Abandon Cart On Woocommerce toggle it to “Yes”.

4. Customize Your Catalog: Explore the plugin’s settings to customize the catalog mode to your liking. You can hide prices, disable specific user roles, and add inquiry forms.

5. Save Your Changes: Click the “Save Changes” button to apply the changes to your store.

This method is straightforward and allows for easy customization without requiring coding knowledge.

2. Using Custom Code Snippets

For more advanced users or those who prefer a lightweight solution, using code snippets can be an effective approach. You can add the following code snippets to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Always back up your website before making any code changes.

Removing “Add to Cart” Buttons and Hiding Prices:

 <?php /** 
Remove Add to Cart button and price from product pages.
 */ Discover insights on How To Change Product Description In Woocommerce function remove_add_to_cart_catalog_mode() { remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item', 'woocommerce_template_loop_add_to_cart', 10 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_add_to_cart', 30 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_single_product_summary', 'woocommerce_template_single_price', 10 ); remove_action( 'woocommerce_after_shop_loop_item_title', 'woocommerce_template_loop_price', 10 ); } add_action( 'init', 'remove_add_to_cart_catalog_mode' ); 

/

* Disable Cart page

*/

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_cart_or_checkout’, ‘custom_disable_cart_page’ );

function custom_disable_cart_page( $is_cart_or_checkout ) {

if ( is_cart() ) {

return false;

}

return $is_cart_or_checkout;

}

/

* Disable Checkout page

*/

add_filter( ‘woocommerce_is_cart_or_checkout’, ‘custom_disable_checkout_page’ );

function custom_disable_checkout_page( $is_cart_or_checkout ) {

if ( is_checkout() ) {

return false;

}

return $is_cart_or_checkout;

}

/

* Redirect Checkout Page

*/

add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_checkout_page’ );

function redirect_checkout_page() {

if( is_checkout() ){

wp_safe_redirect( home_url() );

exit();

}

}

/

* Redirect Cart Page

*/

add_action( ‘template_redirect’, ‘redirect_cart_page’ );

function redirect_cart_page() {

if( is_cart() ){

wp_safe_redirect( home_url() );

exit();

}

}

Explanation of the Code:

• `remove_add_to_cart_catalog_mode()`: This function removes the “Add to Cart” buttons from both the shop loop (product listings) and the single product pages. It also removes the price display.
• `add_action( ‘init’, ‘remove_add_to_cart_catalog_mode’ );`: This line hooks the `remove_add_to_cart_catalog_mode` function to the `init` action, ensuring it runs when WordPress initializes.
• `custom_disable_cart_page()`: This function disables cart page
• `custom_disable_checkout_page()`: This function disables checkout page
• `redirect_checkout_page()`: This function redirects to home url if the page is checkout page
• `redirect_cart_page()`: This function redirects to home url if the page is cart page

3. Manually Editing WooCommerce Templates (Advanced)

This is the most advanced and least recommended method unless you have a strong understanding of WooCommerce template structure and PHP. It involves directly modifying the WooCommerce template files to remove the “Add to Cart” buttons and related elements.

Warning: Direct template modification can be risky if not done correctly. Always create a child theme before editing WooCommerce templates. Changes to the parent theme will be overwritten during updates.

Steps:

1. Create a Child Theme: Create a child theme for your WordPress theme.

2. Copy the Relevant Template Files: Copy the `content-product.php` file from the WooCommerce template directory (`wp-content/plugins/woocommerce/templates/content-product.php`) to your child theme’s WooCommerce directory (`wp-content/themes/your-child-theme/woocommerce/content-product.php`). Do the same for `single-product/add-to-cart/simple.php` (or other appropriate template based on your product types).

3. Edit the Template Files: In your child theme, edit the copied template files. Remove or comment out the code responsible for displaying the “Add to Cart” button and price.

4. Save Your Changes: Save the modified template files.

This method provides the most control over the look and feel of your catalog but requires a thorough understanding of WooCommerce templates.

Considerations and Caveats

• Caching: If you are using a caching plugin, make sure to clear your cache after enabling catalog mode to ensure the changes are visible to your visitors.
• User Roles: Some catalog mode plugins allow you to enable catalog mode for specific user roles. This can be useful if you want to allow administrators or shop managers to still access the purchasing functionality.
• Inquiry Forms: Consider adding an inquiry form to your product pages to allow potential customers to contact you for more information or custom quotes. This is particularly relevant for B2B applications.
• SEO: Ensure your catalog pages are well-optimized for search engines. Use relevant keywords, write compelling product descriptions, and optimize your images.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Always test your catalog mode on different devices to ensure a seamless user experience.