Categories management in Opencart 4

In this Opencart user manual, we will learn to manage categories in Opencart 4, a fundamental task for organizing your products and improving your store’s navigation. Here’s a step-by-step guide to managing categories from the Opencart admin panel.

Accessing the Admin Panel

Log in to the Admin Panel:

• Navigate to http://yourdomain.com/admin (In Opencart 4, the admin URL can be different as per the installation).
• Enter your username and password to log in.

Navigating to Categories Management

Access Categories:

• In the admin dashboard, go to Catalog > Categories.
• This section will display a list of all existing categories.

Creating a New Category

Add New Category:

• Click on the “+” (Add New) button at the top right corner.
  

Category Details:

• General Tab:
  • Category Name: Enter the name of the category.
  • Description: Provide a detailed description of the category. Format the text using the editor and add images if necessary.
  • Meta Tag Title: Enter a title for SEO purposes.
  • Meta Tag Description: Add a meta description for SEO.
  • Meta Tag Keywords: Include relevant keywords for SEO.
    
• Data Tab:
  • Parent Category: If this category is a subcategory, select the parent category.
    You can start typing in the Parent and select the parent category.
  • 
  • Filters: Add filters that apply to this category.
    Read more about Opencart filters
  • Stores: Select the store where this category will be available (useful for multi-store setups).
  • Image: Upload an image representing the category.
  • Top: Choose whether to display this category in the top menu bar. If you don’t check this checkbox it will not show in the Top main menu.
  • Columns: Specify the number of columns to use for the bottom categories.
  • Sort Order: Define the order in which this category appears relative to others.
  • Status: Set the status to “Enabled” to make the category active or “Disabled” to hide it.
    
    SEO Tab:
  • SEO URL: Create a search engine-friendly URL.  Do not use spaces, instead replace spaces with – and make sure the SEO URL is globally unique.
    
    
• Design Tab:
  • Choose a layout override if you have custom layouts for this category.
    Read more about Design layout overrides in Opencart

Save Category:

• Click the “Save” button to create a new category.

Editing an Existing Category

Edit Category:

• In the Categories list, find the category you want to edit.
• Click the “Edit” button (pencil icon) next to the category name.

Modify Details:

• Make necessary changes in the General, Data, and Design tabs.

Save Changes:

• Click the “Save” button to update the category.

Deleting a Category

Delete Category:

• In the Categories list, select the checkbox next to the category you want to delete.
• Click the “Delete” button (trash can icon) at the top right corner.
• Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Managing Subcategories

Creating Subcategories:

• Follow the steps for creating a new category.
• In the Data tab, select the appropriate parent category.

Viewing Subcategories:

• In the Categories list, subcategories are usually displayed hierarchically under their parent categories.

Bulk Actions

Bulk Editing:

• Select multiple categories by checking the boxes next to their names.
• Use the bulk actions (e.g. deleting) at the top right corner.

SEO and Best Practices

SEO URL Management:

• Ensure each category has a unique and descriptive SEO URL.
• Use keywords in the meta tags to improve search engine rankings.

Optimized Descriptions:

• Write clear and detailed descriptions for each category, incorporating relevant keywords.
• Use the editor to enhance descriptions with images and formatted text.

Category Images:

• Use high-quality images that represent the category well.
• Optimize images for fast loading times.

Managing categories in Opencart from the admin panel is straightforward and crucial for maintaining an organized and user-friendly ecommerce store. By effectively creating, editing, and organizing categories, you enhance the shopping experience for your customers and improve your store’s SEO performance.

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