Virtual Categories

Virtual categories dynamically change the product selection according to a set of conditions. Each category has one category rule, but a single rule can have many conditions.

You can show only the products that meet the conditions of the rule or add them to the list of products already in the category. You can also create a virtual category for a specific attribute. For example, binoculars and binocular items reside in the sub-category named 'Binoculars' but you would like to see them as part of a more generalized category named 'Hunting'. Products of the same attribute are automatically added, even if they're not assigned to the same category. You can add as many conditions to the expression as needed to describe the products to include.

Begin by navigating to CATALOG > MANAGE CATEGORIES

 

 

On the left side of the screen, select the category that you wish to append the virtual category too.

 

 

Once inside the selected category, selected the tab "CATEGORY PRODUCTS".

 

 

Here you will see CATEGORY TYPE with the wording, " ENABLE VIRTUAL CATEGORY ". Make sure this is set to "YES".

 

Below is a section titled "VIRTUAL CONDITION".

This is where you will set the conditions for the virtual category.

 

 

Each bolded word is a logic or condition to change. Clicking ALL will show the following : 

 

 

Clicking TRUE will show the following : 

 

 

The ANY option refers to allowing the conditions set to TRUE or FALSE to pull products that meet any of the set conditions if set to TRUE or none if set to FALSE. 

The ALL option requires all conditions to be met, ignoring all products that are missing even one condition.

 

Next, you will select the green symbol. This will open the following : 

 

 

The first option to choose here will be CONDITIONS COMBINATION.

This option allows you to select a secondary set of if all or any conditions.

Below CONDITIONS COMBINATION you will see a listing of product attributes. Each product in inventory will likely have one of these products attributes. So select the attribute that fits your needs. Once selected you will see the following : 

 

 

Barrel, here, is being used as an example of a product attribute chosen. Next to Barrel is another changeable field. Click "IS" to further optimize your category.

 

 

Now that "IS or IS NOT" has been selected, click the three dots. This will open all options available within the product attribute.

After selecting the last option, it will look something like this : 

 

 

As you can see the green symbol is still available. This will allow you to make further conditions to be applied to your categories. You can think of this symbol as "AND".

Now that all has been selected, below your conditions, you will see a preview of all relevent products. For example :

 

 

Once done making all your selections, click "SAVE CATEGORY" to finalize your virtual category.

 

 

Now you will want to flush your cache and reindex:

SYSTEM > CACHE MANAGEMENT. Select Flush Cache Storage at the top right of the page.

SYSTEM > INDEX MANAGEMENT. Select All, Submit next to Reindex Data  at the top right of the page