[Anders]

Hello

I would like to be able to make a filtered search option in my Connections directory.

Right now, I can sort the results using the category dropdown menu. I would like to make a new dropdown menu with information from a field – or maybe as a second category list. Is this at all possible?

I can see that you had it on your “short list of to dos” in 2013, but as far as could see from a 2015 question, it’s not possible yet. Is that true? Or am I missing something? If not, do you have plans to make this possible in the near future? Or is it something I can fix myself with your help?

Apart from that: Thanks again for this plugin and thanks for all your support.

Br, B

[Steven Zahm]

@ boerup

Yes, very possible to code up. Here’s one example of a custom search extension I was commisiond to develop. The top three drop downs are of three different parent categories, the list shows their children. The zip code leverages the internal radius search support in Connections. The last is just the simple keyword search field that comes with most templates, just restyled.

There’s nothing point and click available but all the underlying code support is in place and robust. If you know PHP, putting something like this together is not all that difficult. The example I linked to, I spent far, far, more time doing the javascript for the geo-autocomplete and styling that I did with the base PHP code.

That said… this is not something that I can just give you a few little code snippets either. I can not recall what template you’re using, but if you open the code, you’ll see the function that creates a category drop down. My code in Connections is heavily documented, that documentation gives all you need to know how to create category drop downs displaying different category choices.

Hope that helps!

[Anders]

Ok, I’ll see what I can do myself.

I hope you are still considering developing Connections so that it can contain several category lists/the ability to search using these. It seems like an important feature to me….

Thanks and best regards,
Anders

[Steven Zahm]

@ boerup

Everyone has different requirements… not sure a generic setup other than what is available, would do anyone any good.

[Anders]

Sure they have, I don’t question that.

But we may disagree on what’s basic features. For me, filtered search would be a basic feature for a plugin that does exactly what this does….

Anyway, as stated many times now, the plugin is good and your support is better!

Br, B

[Steven Zahm]

@ boerup

I’ve looked at what others are doing, and for the most part, they all only have one category search though they do provide additional filters in addition to the category search. This is one area that I can improve and will be. I have a new store locator type of extension in the works now. The basic search includes category, radius and keyword which are all fairly standard offered by other products.

The issue with offering multiple category drop down search comes right down to how to provide that feature in a flexible package that is easy to configure so it can meet everyones differing expectations. I just don’t see that as a basic feature, so we’ll disagree :)

[Author]

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