How to Sort Additional Information Tab Fields in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform for selling online. It offers a ton of features right out of the box. One of these features is the “Additional Information” tab on your product pages. This tab displays product attributes like size, weight, and materials. But what if you want to change the order in which these attributes appear? By default, WooCommerce sorts them alphabetically, which might not always be the most logical presentation for your customers.
This guide will walk you through how to sort those additional information tab fields in WooCommerce, making your product pages more user-friendly and ultimately improving the customer experience. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it simple and easy to follow!
Why Sort Attributes?
Think about a clothing store. If you’re selling a shirt, you might want the size to be displayed before the material. Or if you’re selling furniture, you might want to showcase the dimensions first, followed by the weight. Sorting your attributes in a logical order makes it easier for customers to find the information they’re looking for quickly.
Here are a few scenarios where sorting attributes becomes particularly important:
- Prioritizing Key Information: Highlight the most important attributes for purchase decisions (e.g., size for clothing, dimensions for furniture).
- Improving User Experience: A well-organized attribute list enhances readability and helps customers understand the product better.
- Consistency: Maintaining a consistent order across all products creates a professional and trustworthy appearance.
Method 1: Using a Plugin (The Easiest Way!)
The simplest way to sort attributes is by using a plugin. There are several free and premium plugins available that can help you achieve this. For example:
* WooCommerce Attribute Sort (Free and often sufficient for basic sorting)
* Custom Product Tabs for WooCommerce (More comprehensive, including sorting, but often requires a paid version for full sorting control)
Let’s illustrate with a common scenario using a simple plugin (although the specifics will vary slightly based on the exact plugin you choose):
1. Install and Activate the Plugin: In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Plugins” -> “Add New.” Search for “WooCommerce Attribute Sort” or a similar plugin. Install and activate it.
2. Access the Plugin Settings: Look for the plugin settings, usually under “WooCommerce” or “Settings” in your dashboard.
3. Drag and Drop to Sort: The plugin will typically provide a drag-and-drop interface to sort your attributes. Simply drag the attributes to your desired order and save the settings.
Example: Imagine you have the attributes “Size,” “Color,” and “Material.” Using the plugin, you could drag “Size” to the top, followed by “Color,” and then “Material.” Now, on your product pages, the “Size” attribute will appear first.
Reasoning: Plugins handle the technical aspects of sorting, allowing you to focus on presenting your product information effectively. They are user-friendly and generally require no coding knowledge.
Method 2: Using Code (For the More Adventurous)
If you’re comfortable with a little bit of code, you can sort attributes using custom code snippets. Always remember to back up your website before making any code changes.
Here’s how you can do it:
1. Access Your Theme’s `functions.php` File: The safest way to add custom code is to use a child theme. Edit the `functions.php` file of your child theme. Alternatively, use a plugin like “Code Snippets” to add the code without directly editing your theme files. This protects your changes from being overwritten during theme updates.
2. Add the Code Snippet: Paste the following code into your `functions.php` file (or your Code Snippets plugin):
add_filter( 'woocommerce_product_additional_information_heading', '__return_null' ); //removes the heading
add_filter( ‘woocommerce_display_product_attributes’, ‘woo_reorder_attributes’, 10, 2 );
function woo_reorder_attributes( $output, $product ) {
// Retrieve product attributes
$attributes = $product->get_attributes();
if ( empty( $attributes ) ) {
return $output;
}
// Define the desired order of attributes (attribute slug).
$attribute_order = array(
‘size’,
‘color’,
‘material’,
// Add other attribute slugs in your desired order
);
$display_attributes = array(); //store attributes we want to display and order
// Loop through the specified order
foreach ( $attribute_order as $attribute_slug ) {
if ( isset( $attributes[ $attribute_slug ] ) ) {
$display_attributes[ $attribute_slug ] = $attributes[ $attribute_slug ]; //add to array
unset($attributes[ $attribute_slug ] ); //prevent double display
}
}
//append any attributes not in $attribute_order to the end.
$display_attributes = array_merge($display_attributes, $attributes);
ob_start();
?>
| get_name() ); ?> | <?php
$values = array(); if ( $attribute->is_taxonomy() ) { $terms = wc_get_product_terms( $product->get_id(), $attribute->get_name(), array( ‘fields’ => ‘names’ ) ); foreach ( $terms as $term ) { $values[] = esc_html( $term ); } } else { $values = array_map( ‘esc_html’, explode( WC_DELIMITER, $attribute->get_options() ) ); } echo apply_filters( ‘woocommerce_attribute’, wpautop( wptexturize( implode( ‘, ‘, $values ) ) ), $attribute, $values ); ?> |
|---|
<?php
return ob_get_clean();
}
3. Customize the Code: Within the code snippet, find the `$attribute_order` array. This is where you define the order in which you want your attributes to appear. Replace the example slugs (‘size’, ‘color’, ‘material’) with the actual slugs of your attributes. You can find the attribute slug in WooCommerce -> Attributes.
Example:
Let’s say you have attributes named “Dimensions,” “Weight,” and “Assembly Required.” Their slugs are “dimensions,” “weight,” and “assembly-required.” You want “Dimensions” to appear first, followed by “Weight,” and then “Assembly Required.” You would modify the `$attribute_order` array like this:
$attribute_order = array( 'dimensions', 'weight', 'assembly-required', );
Reasoning: This code snippet intercepts the default WooCommerce attribute display and reorders them according to your specified order. It is more complex than using a plugin, but provides greater control and eliminates the need for extra plugins. The `unset()` function ensures that if an attribute is already displayed, it won’t be repeated. The `array_merge` ensures that any attribute not explicitly listed in the `$attribute_order` is added to the end of the list. This makes the code more robust and less likely to cause issues if you add new attributes in the future. Also, the filter `woocommerce_product_additional_information_heading` removes “Additional Information” heading from product page.
Key Considerations
- Attribute Slugs: Make sure you use the correct attribute slugs in the code. These are case-sensitive and must match exactly. You can find the attribute slug on the Attributes page in WooCommerce.
- Backup Your Site: Always back up your website before making any changes to the `functions.php` file. This will allow you to restore your site if something goes wrong.
- Child Theme: Using a child theme is highly recommended. If you modify your parent theme directly, your changes will be overwritten when the theme is updated.
- Testing: After implementing either method, thoroughly test your product pages to ensure that the attributes are displayed in the correct order.
Conclusion
Sorting the additional information tab fields in WooCommerce is a small but significant step in optimizing your product pages for a better customer experience. Whether you choose the simplicity of a plugin or the control of custom code, taking the time to organize your product attributes will pay off in the long run. Remember to prioritize key information and present it in a clear and logical manner to help your customers make informed purchasing decisions. Happy selling!
