[Resolved] Filter options do not appear in custom search View

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[chrisT-11]

Thanks Christian. I ended up just setting up a new sub-category and assigning the product accordingly. This way I was not overriding functionality on the site. This is now working properly in my view.

However, one thing I did notice that the new sub-category is not showing up in the drop-down within my custom search. I have previously added other sub-categories and they show up fine, but for some reason this new one is not.

You can see the search page here... hidden link

There should be a sub-category for "Pigments". But it is not displaying. I know that it is indeed working as you can see the view here... hidden link

Any ideas on what might be causing this?

Appreciate the help!
Chris

[Christian Cox]

It could be related to the use of "Show only available options for each input". When this is selected, only options that can produce results will be available. As a test, can you disable this option temporarily in your View editor? It's in the Custom Search Settings section. You must choose "Let me choose individual settings manually" to see this option. Choose "Always show all values for inputs" instead, and test again.

If the option is now available, select it and filter the results. Are any results found? If not, it's possible none of the other filters are applicable for the posts in this subcategory. For example, if you have a Query Filter applied in wp-admin that only shows results from a specific date range, but none of the posts in this subcategory exist in this date range, then it's expected that this subcategory would not appear in the filter options when you have "Show only available options" selected.

[chrisT-11]

Christian,

Looks like I isolated it down to the way the results were being sorted. I had a field that they were being sorted by a "Recommended" custom field. Because this was not set on those particular products, they were not showing up in the drop down field. I have since fixed those and they started showing up properly.

Now... the entire "Sub Category" drop down field does not return any results. I was working, then it stopped producing results entirely. I have no clue what happened as I didn't make any adjustments to this view. If you simply select a "Sub Category" it does not return anything now... hidden link

Any ideas?

[Christian Cox]

Not sure offhand, but I could take a look in your wp-admin area to see if anything looks suspicious. Please provide login credentials in the private reply fields here.

[Christian Cox]

I think the "AND" operator should be changed to "OR" in the custom field filters.

[chrisT-11]

Christian,

Although that seems to resolve just the issue with the "Sub-Category" issue, it seems to detach that item from the other parametric search drop downs. They don't all seem to work together any more.

[Christian Cox]

Although that seems to resolve just the issue with the "Sub-Category" issue, it seems to detach that item from the other parametric search drop downs. They don't all seem to work together any more.
Okay but please clarify how they do not work together. For example, give me specific combinations of filters that I should choose, and point me to a post that should be displayed but is not, or is displayed but should not be. Explain why you think those results are wrong, given the filters chosen.

[chrisT-11]

Christian,

OK, so the whole point of the parametric search is to further filter down the given options in the dropdown menus so as to find particular products that meet the selected specifications. In this case "Substrate", "Chemistry", "Category", "Sub Category", "Product Code".

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Test 1: With the "Fields Relationship" set to "AND": (This is how the site is set currently)

Test 1A: Lets select "Blends" from the "Substrate" menu. As you will see, this then filters down the rest of the drop down menus. You will notice the "Sub Category" has been filtered and now only includes 8 items, versus the initial 20 items. Now, select "Pigments" under "Sub Category".... No Items are found. However, this is incorrect because this product (and many others) meets both criteria... hidden link (You will see on these product pages, underneath "Product Overview" in the left column the same data fields the parametric search is utilizing)

Test 1B: Lets try another method, reset the fields and just select "Pigments" from the "Sub Category" Menu... nothing show up. However, that is not correct. In-fact here is a view that is properly returning the entire "Pigments" product line... hidden link

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Test 2: With the "Fields Relationship" set to "OR":

Test 2A: Lets select "Blends" from the "Substrate" menu. As you will see, this then filters down the rest of the drop down menus. However, you will notice the "Sub Category" has NOT been filtered and contains the same 20 as it did prior to selecting "Blends". This is incorrect. It should be further narrowing down its values as a user selects other items within the other drop downs.

Test 2B: Lets try another method, reset the fields and just select "Pigments" from the "Sub Category" Menu... Now the proper products are being returned. However, if you begin to select other values in the other drop down fields, they are not updating the product results properly.

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So, to summarize, Per your previous suggestion, the proper functionality is it to have the "Fields Relationship" set to "AND" so the parametric filter works the way it is supposed to. However, for some reason the "Sub Category" drop down is not responding to selections from the other drop down fields. This is the only drop down I am having trouble with.

Hopefully this is a little clearer. Thanks for hanging in there with me!

[Christian Cox]

Ah - see this screenshot, the product sub category query filter was duplicated. I deleted one, and now I can search for blends and pigments. Check it now and let me know what you think.

[chrisT-11]

Well look at that! I swear I looked at that view 100 times and never saw the duplication. Prime example of how having multiple eyeballs on it helps. Looks like it is good to go! I appreciate all of the help Christian.

[Christian Cox]

All text URLs are obfuscated by default. You can check in an incognito browser just to be sure. If there's a URL or other private information showing in any image, I can remove the image. Just let me know.