2 68Classifieds on one site?

[goose +]

Has anyone ever used 2 separate 68Classifieds on one website? I'm having trouble figuring out a way to set up the categories the way I want for example Category>Sub-Category>Sub-Category, because you can't add a Sub-Category to a Sub-Category with the 68Classifeds software.

I was thinking maybe if I ran two separate classified sections one for "X" and one for "Y" it might work -

X Classifieds - Category>Sub-Category
&
Y Classifieds - Category>Sub-Category

The only problem I can see would be having two separate My Account pages. It would be nice if you could manage both sections in one "My Account" page.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Originally Posted by goose

because you can't add a Sub-Category to a Sub-Category with the 68Classifeds software.

Sure you can! When you set up your category, you select the parent category. In this case, the parent category would be your subcategory. (The pull down list shows all categories AND subcategories)

Hope that helps!

-Mike

[goose +]

Mike,

Thanks, I'm not sure if I tried that when I was playing around with the Demo. The only problem I have doing it that way, is the pull down menu when you place an ad, or do a search., etc. If you have lots of categories/subcategories/subcategories the pull down list could be a mile long.

Is it possible to have multiple drop down lists that are tied together?

Basically the first drop down menu you would choose a Category. Then after you make a selection the next drop down box would load with the appropriate Subcategories. And finally one last box with the next set of appropriate Subcategories.

So if you were placing an ad (or doing a search) you could choose "Motorcycles" for example in the first drop down menu box. The "Make" box would then load with the Motorcyle "Makes". If you select "Harley Davidson" all of the Harley Davidson "Models" would appear in the next drop down box.

[midi510 +]

The only problem I have doing it that way, is the pull down menu when you place an ad, or do a search., etc. If you have lots of categories/subcategories/subcategories the pull down list could be a mile long.

To avoid such a case, try the checkout mod by http://www.mods.auscity.com. When you place an add, you get a page with all first level categories listed as links, click one and you either get your packages or another page with subs as links. It works really well.

Basically the first drop down menu you would choose a Category. Then after you make a selection the next drop down box would load with the appropriate Subcategories. And finally one last box with the next set of appropriate Subcategories.

This is basically how the mod works.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

I've not used that mod, but I've heard good things about it.

You might also want to take into consideration how many categories that you really want to have. Just as you have already pointed out, the list can get pretty lengthy. So the question is, do you really want to have that many and get that specific.

If you believe that you're going to be another "Craig's List" and have thousands of ads running, then perhaps that's the way to go.

Having many, many categories also can add to confusion for the end user. Also if you don't have thousands of ads, the ads start to look pretty lonely all by themselves buried in
Vehicles >> Cars >> Suburu >> Forrester (1).

As opposed to
Vehicles >> Cars (12) or
Vehicles >> Cars >> Suburu (3)

It's a personal choice and I'm not trying to tell you which way to go. I'm just putting out some things to ponder on. Another thing that I've noticed is as you start getting more specific with the categories, then the more specific categories you will continue to think of or get requests for... If you have a category for "Okapi" (A mammal that looks like it's half zebra and half giraffe), then someone will want a category for a "Echidna" (An egg laying mammal).

Just food for thought.

Cheers,
-Mike

[goose +]

Originally Posted by midi510

To avoid such a case, try the checkout mod by http://www.mods.auscity.com. When you place an add, you get a page with all first level categories listed as links, click one and you either get your packages or another page with subs as links. It works really well.



This is basically how the mod works.

Thanks for your help, this is hopefully exactly what I am looking for.

[goose +]

Originally Posted by Mike-N-Tosh

I've not used that mod, but I've heard good things about it.

You might also want to take into consideration how many categories that you really want to have. Just as you have already pointed out, the list can get pretty lengthy. So the question is, do you really want to have that many and get that specific.

If you believe that you're going to be another "Craig's List" and have thousands of ads running, then perhaps that's the way to go.

Having many, many categories also can add to confusion for the end user. Also if you don't have thousands of ads, the ads start to look pretty lonely all by themselves buried in
Vehicles >> Cars >> Suburu >> Forrester (1).

As opposed to
Vehicles >> Cars (12) or
Vehicles >> Cars >> Suburu (3)

It's a personal choice and I'm not trying to tell you which way to go. I'm just putting out some things to ponder on. Another thing that I've noticed is as you start getting more specific with the categories, then the more specific categories you will continue to think of or get requests for... If you have a category for "Okapi" (A mammal that looks like it's half zebra and half giraffe), then someone will want a category for a "Echidna" (An egg laying mammal).

Just food for thought.

Cheers,
-Mike

Even with say an automotive only site, once you do every car manufacturer/model and combine that with Cars, Parts, and Wanted, etc., Categories it can get pretty long.

I would like to do a "Search All", unless you want to see only a specific subcategory. Using your first example if someone chose Cars>Subaru all of the Subaru's would appear and the Subcategories (models) would be listed at the top of the page. If there was 200 choices and you only wanted to see Forrester's then you could narrow the search down by clicking on "Forrester".

[midi510 +]

I still think you should try the "Checkout Categories" mod. It accomplishes what you're describing, it just doesn't use drop downs. It only costs six bucks and takes all of a couple of minutes to install. You might be able to tweak it to use drop downs if you really want to.

[goose +]

Originally Posted by midi510

I still think you should try the "Checkout Categories" mod. It accomplishes what you're describing, it just doesn't use drop downs. It only costs six bucks and takes all of a couple of minutes to install. You might be able to tweak it to use drop downs if you really want to.

I checked it out today and I am definitely going to be using it.

Thanks for the tip. I never even realized the Checkout Categories mod would accomplish this, until you mentioned it.