How To Change Category Order In Woocommerce

How to Change Category Order in WooCommerce: A Simple Guide

Introduction:

WooCommerce, the leading e-commerce platform for WordPress, offers fantastic flexibility. However, the default category display order might not always align with your marketing strategy or customer browsing experience. Want to feature your best-selling categories first? Or perhaps organize them alphabetically? This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to change category order in WooCommerce, empowering you to create a more intuitive and engaging online store.

Main Part:

There are a few methods you can use to change the category order, depending on your needs and technical comfort level. Let’s explore the most common approaches:

1. Using the Default WooCommerce Category Ordering

WooCommerce provides a built-in feature for manually ordering categories. This is a simple solution for smaller stores with a limited number of categories.

• Access the Product Categories: Go to Products > Categories in your WordPress dashboard.
• Drag and Drop: You’ll notice a table listing all your categories. Hover over a category row, and a cursor icon will appear. Simply click and drag the category to its desired position in the list.
• Update: There’s no “Save” button. The changes are automatically saved as you drag and drop. Refresh your shop page to see the updated category order.
• Important Note: This method only affects the order in which categories are displayed on the front-end, for example, in your product category widget or on your shop page.

2. Using a Plugin (Recommended for More Control)

For larger stores or those needing more advanced features, using a plugin is the recommended approach. Several plugins are available, offering features like:

• Alphabetical Ordering: Automatically sort categories alphabetically.
• Custom Ordering by ID or Name: Order based on specific criteria.
• Hierarchy Control: Easily manage parent and child category relationships.
• Drag and Drop Interface: Similar to the default method, but often with more robust functionality.

Some popular plugins include:

• Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order: This is a widely used and highly-rated plugin specifically designed for ordering categories and other taxonomies. It offers a simple drag-and-drop interface.
• Custom Taxonomy Order NE: Another popular option with similar features to the one above.

Steps to use a plugin (using Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order as an example):

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard. Search for “Category Order and Taxonomy Terms Order,” install it, and activate it.

2. Access the Ordering Interface: After activation, you’ll typically find a new menu item under Appearance or Taxonomy Order in your Check out this post: How To Make Out Of Stock Selections Grey Woocommerce WordPress dashboard.

3. Drag and Drop: The plugin will provide a drag-and-drop interface similar to the default WooCommerce ordering. Simply drag your categories to the desired positions.

4. Save Changes: Usually, there will be a “Save” or “Update” button to finalize your changes.

5. Check Your Storefront: Visit your shop page to confirm the new category order.

3. Custom Code (Advanced Users Only)

If you’re comfortable with PHP and WordPress development, you can use custom code to modify the category order. This approach provides the most flexibility but requires technical expertise.

• Using `pre_get_posts` filter: You can use the `pre_get_posts` filter in your `functions.php` file (or a custom plugin) to modify the query that retrieves products. This allows you to specify the `orderby` parameter to control the category order.

 function my_custom_category_order( $query ) { if ( ! is_admin() && $query->is_main_query() && is_product_category() ) { $query->set( 'orderby', 'name' ); // Order by category name $query->set( 'order', 'ASC' ); // Ascending order } } add_action( 'pre_get_posts', 'my_custom_category_order' ); 

• Caution: Modifying your `functions.php` file directly can cause issues if done incorrectly. Always back up your site before making changes. Consider using a child theme to avoid losing your customizations during theme updates.

Conclusion:

Controlling how to change category order in WooCommerce is crucial for optimizing your online store’s user experience. While the default WooCommerce method is sufficient for simple scenarios, using a plugin offers greater flexibility and control. Custom code provides the most advanced options but requires technical expertise. By implementing the right approach, you can ensure your categories are displayed in a way that maximizes sales and enhances customer satisfaction. Remember to test your changes thoroughly to guarantee a seamless browsing experience for your visitors.