How to Reorder WooCommerce Products in a Specific Category: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction:
WooCommerce is a powerful e-commerce platform, but its default product ordering can sometimes feel limiting. You might want to prioritize specific products within a category to highlight bestsellers, new arrivals, or simply improve the user experience and increase conversions. This article will guide you through the various methods you can use to reorder WooCommerce products within a specific category, allowing you to showcase your products strategically and boost your online sales. We’ll cover both manual and plugin-based approaches, weighing the pros and cons of each to help you choose the best solution for your needs.
Main Part: Reordering Your WooCommerce Products
There are several ways to achieve custom product ordering within specific categories in WooCommerce. Let’s explore the most common methods:
1. Manual Reordering via Default WooCommerce Features
WooCommerce offers a built-in manual sorting feature that, while not category-specific at first glance, can be adapted for our purpose.
Steps:
1. Access the “Products” section: Go to your WordPress admin panel and navigate to *Products > All Products*.
2. Filter by Category: Use the category filter at the top of the page to select the category you want to reorder. This will display only the products belonging to that category.
3. Enable Manual Drag & Drop Ordering: Click on the “Sorting” tab in the top admin bar. (If you don’t see this, ensure that “Enable AJAX add to cart buttons on archives” is checked in *WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display*). Once enabled, you’ll be able to drag and drop products to reorder them.
4. Drag and Drop: Simply click and drag the products to arrange them in your desired order. The products will be numbered according to their position.
5. Update: The changes are usually saved automatically. If not, check the “Update” button.
6. View on Frontend: Refresh the category page on your website to see the new product order.
Limitations:
* Category Scope Required Theme/Plugin Modification: This method reorders products globally within your store’s “custom ordering”. To limit its scope to specific categories, you need to adjust your theme’s template files or use a plugin (detailed later).
* Manual Effort: Requires manual reordering, which can be time-consuming for large categories.
* Not Dynamic: Order is static. New products or changes in sales performance don’t automatically trigger reordering.
2. Using the “menu_order” Custom Field (Advanced)
Each product in WooCommerce has a `menu_order` custom field that determines its display order when using the “Default Sorting” option. This allows you to assign specific order values to products.
Steps:
1. Enable Custom Fields Display: Ensure custom fields are visible in your product edit screen. You might need a plugin like “Advanced Custom Fields (ACF)” or enable the “Custom Fields” meta box in your screen options (top right of the product edit screen).
2. Edit Product: Open the product you want to reorder within the specific category.
3. Locate/Add the `menu_order` Field: Look for the `menu_order` custom field. If it’s not there, you can usually add it.
4. Assign a Numeric Value: Enter a numeric value for the `menu_order`. Products with lower numbers will appear first. Use a sequence (e.g., 10, 20, 30) to allow for future insertions without having to renumber everything.
5. Update Product: Save the changes to the product.
6. Repeat: Repeat steps 2-5 for all products in the category you want to reorder.
7. Set Sorting to “Default Sorting”: In *WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Display*, ensure the “Default product sorting” is set to “Default sorting (custom ordering + name)”.
8. Filter by Category: As with the manual ordering, filter the product listing by category to easily edit all relevant items.
Code Example to Modify the Category Archive:
This code snippet, added to your theme’s `functions.php` or a custom plugin, restricts the `pre_get_posts` filter that applies the `menu_order` to only a specific category ID.
function custom_woocommerce_category_order( $query ) {
if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_product_category( 'your-category-slug' ) ) { // Replace 'your-category-slug'
$query->set( 'orderby', 'menu_order' );
$query->set( 'order', 'ASC' );
}
}
add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'custom_woocommerce_category_order' );
Replace `’your-category-slug’` with the actual slug of the category you want to customize.
Advantages:
* More precise control than simple drag-and-drop.
* Relatively simple to implement, especially if you’re comfortable with code.
Disadvantages:
* More time-consuming than drag-and-drop if you need to reorder many products.
* Requires modifying your theme’s `functions.php` file or using a custom plugin (potential for errors if done incorrectly).
* Still manual, not dynamic.
3. Using WooCommerce Product Sorting Plugins
Several plugins offer more advanced and user-friendly ways to reorder WooCommerce products, often with category-specific sorting options. Some popular choices include:
* WooCommerce Category and Product Sorting: This plugin specifically allows you to reorder products within categories.
* Custom Product Sort for WooCommerce: Another option with drag-and-drop interface.
* YITH WooCommerce Category Order & Slider: Includes additional features like category sliders.
Steps (General Plugin Usage):
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Install and activate your chosen plugin from the WordPress plugin repository.
2. Access the Plugin Settings: Navigate to the plugin’s settings page (usually found under *WooCommerce* or *Settings* in your WordPress admin).
3. Configure Category-Specific Ordering: Most plugins will provide a drag-and-drop interface within each category’s edit screen or a dedicated settings page where you can select a category and reorder its products.
4. Save Changes: Save your changes and view the category page on your website.
Advantages:
* Easy to Use: Often features a user-friendly drag-and-drop interface.
* Category-Specific: Specifically designed for reordering products within categories.
* Additional Features: Some plugins offer additional features like automatic sorting based on sales or popularity.
* Less Coding: Typically eliminates the need to directly edit theme files.
Disadvantages:
* Cost: Many plugins require a paid license.
* Plugin Bloat: Can add extra code to your website, potentially affecting performance if the plugin is poorly coded. Choose plugins from reputable developers.
* Compatibility Issues: Always test new plugins for compatibility with your theme and other plugins.
Conclusion:
Choosing the best method for reordering WooCommerce products in a specific category depends on your technical skills, budget, and the frequency with which you need to reorder products. The manual drag-and-drop method is suitable for basic reordering in smaller categories. For more control and larger product sets, utilizing the `menu_order` custom field or investing in a dedicated WooCommerce product sorting plugin are better options. Remember to always back up your website before making significant changes or installing new plugins. By strategically reordering your products, you can significantly improve the customer shopping experience and drive more sales. Remember to always consider the user experience and business goals when determining product order.
