Category Specific Fields

This page gives you the ability to override the default site-wide settings (all categories settings) and instead implement only the fields that you want to display specifically for this category. By default, the "Use Site Default Settings" button will be checked on this page. However, if you uncheck this button, the page will automatically display a listing of available fields similar to the LISTING SETUP > FIELDS TO USE menu.

NOTE: If you make changes to the fields for this category, the remainder of the categories on your site will still be governed by the site-wide settings under the site wide Fields to Use submenu.

This section allows you to specify certain attributes to the most commonly used fields within this category of your site. These fields help the seller provide clear and concise information of their listings, as well as, provide the site visitor fields to search by on the Search Page. The columns are explained below:

Check this box if you want to use this field on your site. Some 'fields' are required for you to use. Therefore, there is no box to check.

Check this box if you would like to display this field to your visitors as a column while they are browsing your site's categories. In most cases, this will automatically become a "sortable" column for your customers to sort the listings they are viewing by clicking on the column header for this field.

This section allows you to further specify various attributes across this category. These settings are explained below and if adjusted will override the site wide Additional Miscellaneous Settings on the Fields to Use submenu.

While browsing your site, visitors will typically see the "newest (most recently placed) listings first" in that order. However, you can alter this default display by using this setting. For instance if you want to offer a "directory" listings (Yellow Pages) site, you would likely want to have your customers create their listings by entering their "name" or "business name" as the "title" of the listing. In this case, you would specify this category (or all categories) to default the order of the listings by "title". Therefore, all of the listings would appear in alphabetical order by "title" (or name).

NOTE: This setting will be applied to this category and all of its subcategories.

You can specify the maximum number of characters that will be displayed within the category browsing tables. The full description will be displayed on the individual Listing Display Page.

Optional Site Wide Fields are similar to "category questions" in that they can be displayed as additional fields during the Listing Process to help sellers better explain their listing. If you decide to "use" one of these fields, it will automatically be displayed during the listing process of every category. When used, Optional Site Wide Fields become searchable criteria on the Search Page.

Although the use of these fields is entirely optional, they can provide you with the ability to gather more information from your sellers and/or make it easier for them to place their listings. You will notice that each “optional field” has its own individual column settings and properties. Additional settings are applied under the main Fields to Use page within the Listings Setup menu. These Category Specific entries are not much more than "on/off" switches for this particular category. These "category specific" columns are explained below:

This is simply the name of the field. If you entered an "admin name" in the text space for the field under the site wide Fields to Use page, it will be displayed here.

Check this box if you want to use this field on your site. Some 'fields' are required for you to use. Therefore, there is no box to check.

You are not quite finished yet. As mentioned earlier, any Optional Site Wide Fields you decide to "use" from this page will automatically be displayed on the Search, Browse and Listing Details Pages. Therefore, you must access those “pages” in this Software’s Admin and adjust the label (name) that will be shown on the page for your each field.

Access each of the pages below and click the [edit text] button. Scroll down the page until you find the Optional Field text that you need to edit. Note that the "field admin name" that you entered for each field on the Fields to Use page will also be displayed as a reference. Also, if you chose "display" for any of your fields, you will need to edit the text for the "column header" that represents that field as well. Furthermore, you may noticed that each field contains its own “error” message as well. This message will only display if you selected to make this particular field a “required” entry on the Fields to Use page. If applicable, edit the desired error message. In most cases the default "error" message will state "required field", but you can change this if you like.

We would recommend setting up all of your Optional Site Wide Fields first and then access the following pages to make your text changes all at once:

This setting allows you to duplicate the settings you have made for this category to all of its sub (or child) categories.