How to Add and Manage Categories in eDirectory

Introduction

Categories are used to organize content throughout your directory, making it easier for visitors to browse and find relevant Listings, Events, Classifieds, Articles, and Blog Posts.

As your directory grows, properly managing categories becomes increasingly important. Categories help structure your content, improve navigation, and provide a better experience for your visitors.

This guide covers everything you need to know about creating, editing, organizing, and deleting categories in eDirectory.

Understanding Category Levels

For most modules in eDirectory, categories can be organized into multiple levels:

●Parent Category (Level 1)

৹ Child Category (Level 2)

৹ Child Category (Level 3)

৹ Child Category (Level 4)

৹ Child Category (Level 5)

For example:

Restaurants (Parent Category Level 1)

• Fast Food Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
• Italian Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
  •  Fine Dining Italian Restaurants (Child Category Level 3)
  •  Pizza Restaurants (Child Category Level 3)
• Mexican Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
• Seafood Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)

This structure allows visitors to start with a broad category, such as Restaurants, and then narrow their search to more specific categories, such as Italian Restaurants or Pizza Restaurants.

Before You Begin: Understanding Category Visibility

One of the most common misunderstandings in eDirectory is assuming that creating a category automatically makes it visible on the public website.

Creating a category alone does NOT make it appear on your homepage, category widgets, or category sections of your website.

For a category to be displayed publicly, both of the following conditions must be met:

Condition 1: The Category Must Be Featured

When editing a category, there is a Featured checkbox.

This option tells eDirectory that the category is eligible to be displayed in category sections and widgets throughout the website.

If the category is not marked as Featured, it will remain available internally and can still be assigned to content, but it may not appear in category widgets or homepage category blocks.

Condition 2: The Category Must Be Assigned to an Active Item

The category must also be associated with at least one active item in the corresponding module.

For example:

Example A

You create a category called: Restaurants

You mark it as Featured.

However, no active listings are assigned to this category.

Result: The category will not appear publicly because there is no active content associated with it.

Example B

You create a category called:

Restaurants

You assign 20 active listings to it.

However, the Featured option is not checked.

Result: The category may not appear in category widgets or homepage category sections because it is not marked as Featured.

Example C

You create a category called:

Restaurants

You mark it as Featured.

You assign active listings to it.

Result: The category becomes eligible to appear in category widgets, homepage category sections, and other public category displays.

Understanding Parent Categories and Subcategories

Another important concept to understand is the difference between Parent Categories and Subcategories (Child Categories) when displaying categories on your website.

By default, eDirectory's Featured Category widgets are designed to display only Parent Categories.

For example:

• Restaurants
  • Italian Restaurants
    • Pizza Restaurants
    • Fine Dining Italian Restaurants
  • Mexican Restaurants
  • Seafood Restaurants
  • Fast Food Restaurants

In this example:

Parent Category

• Restaurants

Child Categories Level 2

• Italian Restaurants
• Mexican Restaurants
• Seafood Restaurants
• Fast Food Restaurants

Child Categories Level 3

• Pizza Restaurants
• Fine Dining Italian Restaurants

If you add a Featured Categories widget to your homepage, visitors will initially see only the Restaurants category.

The subcategories will not be displayed directly on the homepage widget.

What Happens When a Visitor Clicks a Parent Category?

When a visitor clicks on the Restaurant category, they are taken to the search results page for that category.

On that results page, eDirectory displays the available subcategories associated with Restaurants, allowing visitors to further refine their search.

For example:

Visitor clicks:

• Restaurants

Search Results Page displays:

• Fast Food Restaurants
• Mexican Restaurants
• Seafood Restaurants
• Italian Restaurants
• Pizza Restaurants

The visitor can then click one of these subcategories to narrow their search even further.

For example: Restaurants→ Pizza Restaurants

This category structure helps keep the homepage clean and organized while still allowing visitors to drill down into more specific categories.

Understanding Featured Category Widgets

eDirectory includes several built-in category widgets that allow you to display your categories using different layouts and designs.

Changing a category widget does not change, remove, or delete your categories. The widget only controls how the categories are displayed to visitors.

Changing the Category Widget Layout

To change the design of your category section:

Step 1

Navigate to Design → Page Editor

Step 2

Open the page where the category widget is currently displayed.

For this example, select Home Page

Step 3

Locate the existing category widget.

Most websites already include a category widget on the homepage by default.

If you do not like the current design, you can remove the widget.

Step 4

Click Add a Widget in the upper-right corner of the Page Editor.

Step 5

Search for Categories

You will see several category widget options available.

Each widget displays the same categories but uses a different layout and design.

Featured Categories with Images

This widget displays categories as image thumbnails.

Each category appears as:

• A square image thumbnail
• The category name displayed below the image

Example Layout

Uploading Category Images

To add category images, navigate to Content Manager → Listings → Categories

Hover over the desired category and click the pencil icon to edit the category.

Click Advanced Options

Upload an image under: Thumbnail (640px x 480px)

This image will be used by the widget when displaying the category.

Featured Categories with Images - Type 2

This widget functions similarly to the previous widget.

The same Thumbnail image is used.

The primary difference is the placement of the category title.

Type 1

Category name appears below the image.

Type 2

Category name appears inside the image overlay.

This design often provides a more modern visual appearance.

Featured Categories with Icons

This widget displays categories in a rectangular layout using icons instead of large thumbnail images.

Each category displays:

• An icon on the left
• The category name beside the icon

Uploading Category Icons

Navigate to Content Manager → Listings → Categories

Edit the category.

Select Advanced Options

Upload an image under Icon (50px x 50px)

This icon will be displayed by the widget.

Featured Categories

This widget displays categories in a simple text-based list format.

Only category names are displayed.

No images or icons are used.

This layout works well for directories that prefer a clean and minimal design.

Example

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Shopping
• Automotive

Featured Categories - Type 2

This widget displays categories inside a carousel.

Visitors can scroll horizontally through the categories.

Like the standard Featured Categories widget, only category names are displayed.

This widget does not support thumbnails or icons.

Example

←Asian Food | Bakery | Bars | Hamburger | Italian →

Which Categories Do These Widgets Display?

The widget will only display categories that meet the visibility requirements explained earlier in this article (for example, categories marked as Featured and associated with active content).

For example:

• Listing Categories
• Event Categories
• Classified Categories
• Article Categories
• Blog Categories

When configuring the widget, you can choose which module's categories should be displayed.

This means you can have:

• One widget displaying Listing categories.
• Another widget displaying Event categories.
• Another widget displaying Blog categories.

on the same page if desired.

How to Create a Category

Categories can be created in several different ways.

Method 1: Create Categories from the Categories Manager

This method is available for Listings, Events, Classifieds, Articles, and Blogs.

Step 1

Log in to your Site Manager.

Step 2

Navigate to Content Manager → Select Module:Listings/Events/Classifieds/Articles/Blog → Categories

Step 3

Click + Create Category

Step 4

Enter the category title. Example: Culture

Step 5

Click Save Changes.

The category will now be available for assignment to content.

Method 2: Creating Categories in Bulk Using the Bulk Creator

If you need to create multiple categories at once, eDirectory provides the Bulk Creator tool, which allows you to quickly add multiple categories and subcategories.

Step 1

Navigate to Content Manager → Select Module (Listings / Events / Classifieds / Articles / Blog) → Categories → Bulk Creator

Step 2

A pop-up window will open where you can enter the categories you want to create.

Creating Parent Categories Only

If you want to create only parent categories (Level 1), simply enter one category per line:

• Restaurants
• Hotels
• Shopping
• Automotive
• Healthcare

Each line will be created as an independent top-level category.

Creating Categories and Subcategories

If you want to create parent categories and subcategories at the same time, use the following structure:

To create multiple category levels, continue using the -> symbol to represent each level of the hierarchy.

Using the example from this article, the structure would look like this:

After clicking Add Categories, eDirectory will automatically create the following structure:

Restaurants (Parent Category Level 1)

• Fast Food Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
• Italian Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
  •  Fine Dining Italian Restaurants (Child Category Level 3)
  •  Pizza Restaurants (Child Category Level 3)
• Mexican Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)
• Seafood Restaurants (Child Category Level 2)

Option: Set All New Categories as Featured

At the bottom of the Bulk Creator window, you will find the option: "Set all new categories as featured categories"

When this option is enabled, all newly created parent categories will automatically be marked as Featured.

This means they will be eligible to appear in category widgets, homepage category sections, and other public category displays, provided they also have active content assigned to them.

Creating Categories Through Listing Templates

This method is available only for Listings.

Step 1

Navigate to Content Manager → Listings → Listing Templates

Step 2

Create a new template or edit an existing one.

Step 3

Click + Create Category

Step 4

Enter the category name.

Step 5

Save the category.

Step 6

The category will be both created and assigned to the template automatically.

Step 7

Save the template.

Creating Categories While Editing a Listing

You can also create categories directly while editing a listing.

Step 1

Navigate to Content → Listings

Step 2

Edit the desired listing.

Step 3

Click + Create Category

Step 4

Enter the category name.

Step 5

Save the category.

Step 6

Save the listing.

The new category will automatically become available throughout the system.

Editing a Category

To modify an existing category:

Step 1

Navigate to Content Manager → Select Module:Listings/Events/Classifieds/Articles/Blog → Categories

Step 2

Locate the category and click the pencil icon.

Step 3

Click Advanced Options.

From here you can:

• Add category images
• Add descriptive content
• Configure SEO settings
• Mark the category as Featured

Step 4

Save your changes.

Creating a Subcategory

Subcategories help organize content into more specific groups.

Step 1

Navigate to Content → Select Module:Listings/Events/Classifieds/Articles/Blog → Categories

Step 2

Locate the parent category.

Step 3

Click the + icon.

Step 4

Enter the subcategory name.

Example:

Parent Category: Health

Subcategory: Cardiologist

Step 5

Save the subcategory, and it will appear underneath the parent category.

Deleting a Category

If a category is no longer needed, it can be removed.

Step 1

Navigate to Content → Select Module:Listings/Events/Classifieds/Articles/Blog → Categories

Step 2

Locate the category.

Step 3

Click the trash can icon.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is my category not showing on the homepage or public site?

The most common reasons are:

1. The category is not marked as Featured.
2. The category is not assigned to any active content.
3. The content assigned to the category is inactive or expired.

For a category to be eligible for display in category sections, it should generally:

• Be marked as Featured.
• Have at least one active item assigned to it.

For example, if you create a category called Restaurants but no active listings are assigned to it, visitors may not see it on the website even though the category exists in the Site Manager.

Review the listings, events, articles, or other content assigned to the category and confirm that they are active.

Does creating a category automatically make it visible on my website?

No.

Creating a category only adds it to your site's category structure. It does not automatically appear on the homepage, category widgets, or other public areas of the website.

To make a category eligible for display:

• Enable the Featured option in the category settings.
• Assign at least one active item to the category.

Think of categories as containers. Creating the container alone does not automatically display it to visitors.

What is the difference between a Featured category and a non-Featured category?

A Featured category is eligible to appear in category widgets, homepage category sections, and other public category displays.

A non-Featured category can still be used to organize content, but it may not appear in those featured category areas.

For example:

• Featured Category: Restaurants
• Non-Featured Category: Internal Vendors

Both categories can contain listings, but only the Featured category is intended to be displayed prominently throughout the site.

Can I create a category without assigning any listings or content to it?

Yes.

You can create categories in advance and assign content later.

However, categories without active content may not appear publicly, even if they are marked as Featured.

Many Site Managers create their category structure first and then populate it with listings afterward.

Can I assign multiple categories to the same listing?

Yes.

A listing can belong to multiple categories, allowing it to appear in more than one area of your directory.

For example, a dental clinic could be assigned to:

• Healthcare
• Dentists
• Cosmetic Dentistry

This helps visitors find the listing through different browsing paths.

Can I move a subcategory to another parent category?

No.

Once a subcategory has been created, eDirectory does not allow it to be moved to a different parent category or category level.

If you need a different structure, you must:

1. Create a new category under the desired parent.
2. Reassign the content.
3. Delete the old category if it is no longer needed.

Can I rename a category?

Yes.

Navigate to Content Manager → Module → Categories

Click the pencil icon next to the category and update the title.

After saving, the new name will be reflected throughout the site wherever that category appears.

Can I delete a category without deleting the listings assigned to it?

Yes.

Deleting a category does not automatically delete the listings themselves.

However, removing a category may affect how visitors find those listings, especially if that category was their primary method of navigation.

Before deleting a category, review any associated content and reassign it if necessary.

Can deleted categories be restored?

No.

Once a category is deleted, it cannot be restored automatically through the Site Manager.

If a category is removed by mistake, it will need to be recreated manually.

For this reason, we recommend reviewing category assignments carefully before deleting any category.

How many category levels can I create?

For Listings, Events, Classifieds, and Articles, eDirectory supports up to five category levels:

• Parent Category Level 1
• Child Category Level 2
• Child Category Level 3
• Child Category Level 4
• Child Category Level 5

The Blog Module supports only one category level and does not allow subcategories.

Why do I see duplicate categories?

Duplicate categories are often created during imports when category names are not identical.

For example:

• Restaurant
• Restaurants

Although they appear similar, eDirectory treats them as separate categories because the names are different.

Even a single character difference causes eDirectory to treat them as separate categories.

To avoid duplicates, ensure category names are standardized before importing content.

Why is my category showing but the listing is not?

A category can appear publicly because it is marked as Featured and has active content assigned to it. However, if a specific listing is not appearing, verify that:

• The listing is active.
• The listing has not expired.
• The listing is assigned to the category.

Conclusion

Categories are one of the most important organizational tools in eDirectory. Properly structured categories make it easier for visitors to navigate your directory and find relevant content.

Remember that creating a category does not automatically make it visible on your website. To display publicly, a category must typically be marked as Featured and be associated with active content. If a category is not appearing where expected, these should be the first settings you verify.

Remember that creating a category does not automatically make it visible on your website. To display publicly, a category must typically be marked as Featured and be associated with active content. If a category is not appearing where expected, these should be the first settings you verify.

Understanding category hierarchy, category inheritance, and featured category widgets will help you build a well-organized directory and avoid the most common category-related issues.