Display Banner Ads based on Category ID

[rhound]

I would like to have different banner ads that are triggered by the category ID for the page. The pages would be the showlistings and any of the search results. So, for example, if my category ID is 24, I might want to show an ad for dogs. If my category ID is 18, I might want to show an ad for cats. These ads would be above the list of search results displaying either at showlistings.tpl or showlistings2.tpl.

I'd love to get the category number and then do the Smarty logic. What is the variable {$something} that I can grab the category ID on the pages such as search results or even category.php?....

Thank you.

[Mike-N-Tosh]

The results that are displayed for a search result aren't category specific.

For example, the user types in "brown"

Your results may show:
Category Dogs: Description="A wonderfully friendly brown dog."
Category Cars: Extra Field 'Color'="Dark Brown"
Category Furniture: Description="Nice brown leather high back managers chair"

An FYI: to see what variables are given to any template or displayed page, place "{debug}" in the layout.tpl file of the template that you are using. Make sure that you turn off any pop window blocker that you may have. This built in smarty function will then pop up a separate window displaying all available variables for that page.

Please post your 68 Classifieds type (Designer, Developer), version (4.0.x, 4.1.x) and template in your postings asking for help. This information will help you get better answers for your posts. A great place to do this is in your signature!

[seymourjames]

I would do it this way but it is not particularly tidy.

First of all in the showlistings.tpl just test for the $category id, $categoryname or $category and assign the banner adverts you want to display in the place you wish within the showlistings.tpl . For example,

{if $categoryname == "blabla"}

showbanner blabla

{elseif $categoryname == "rara"}

showbanner rara

{elseif $categoryname == "lala"}
.
.

{/if}


Don't see how you can do it for general searchresults as these can come from different categories. As Mike says all the variables for determining which category you are on can be found using {debug}; if you are using
.