Managing Product Categories with Category Trees (Early Access)

When your store carries a large number of products with similar attributes, a single-layer category structure may not be sufficient to organize them effectively. In this case, you can use Category trees to build hierarchical relationships between categories. This helps you quickly locate the correct product category and improves the accuracy and efficiency of product management.

Additionally, with the Smart Search Recommendation app, you can set up Category trees as filtering conditions in your online store. This allows customers to find their target products more precisely, increasing conversion rates in search scenarios.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to build a category tree, see how products are linked to categories in the tree, and set up a category tree as a filter in your online store.

Building a Category Tree

If you have already created multiple product categories in your admin panel that can be organized hierarchically, you can use the Category tree feature to create and structure the hierarchy.

• A Category tree supports up to 100 categories, with a maximum of 6 levels per category.
• You can add categories step-by-step or adjust them in bulk by dragging and dropping.

Steps to build a category tree:

1. In the SHOPLINE admin panel, go to Products > Collections, then click Set category tree in the top-right corner.

   

2. In the pop-up window, select the categories you want to add to the category tree, then click Select.

   

3. On the Set category tree page, you can manage categories using the following features:

   • Bulk Level Adjustment: Click Batch adjust hierarchy to move multiple categories at once.

     • Drag Left/Right: Adjust hierarchical relationships.
     • Drag Up/Down: Reorder category display.

     

   • Add Category: Click Add, select the categories you want to include in the tree, and then click Select.

     

   • Add Subcategory: In the Operation column, click + to create a subcategory under a parent category.

     

   • Delete Category: In the Operation column, click the trash bin icon to remove a category.

     

   • Search Categories: Use the search bar to quickly locate categories in the tree.

     

   • Collapse/Expand All: Click Collapse all or Expand all to collapse or expand all category levels at once.

     

   • Bulk Delete: Select multiple categories and click Remove to delete them all at once.

     

How Category Trees Are Displayed on the Collections Page

When customers browse a collection page in your store, the system determines which products are shown based on category tree hierarchy and displays the result directly on the storefront.

If a category is part of a category tree and hierarchical relationships are configured, products from all its subcategories are automatically included and displayed on the frontend collection page. This allows parent collections to showcase a broader product range without manual duplication.

This section focuses on what customers see on the storefront after the category tree is set up.

Example Category Structure

You have configured the following three collections and products:

• Women’s Wear
  • Soft Mist Minimal Tee
  • Glow Drape Sleeveless Top
• Dresses
  • Sunlit Layer Dress
  • Soft Line Fitted Dress
• Summer New Arrivals
  • Summer Breeze Flow Dress

You then set up the category tree hierarchy as follows: Women’s Wear → Dresses → Summer New Arrivals

Frontend Display After Setting Up the Category Tree

Once the category tree is configured, the collections page displays products according to the hierarchy logic below.

Women’s Wear Collection (Parent Category)

Because Women’s Wear is the top-level category, it displays products from itself and all subcategories. 

Products displayed on the frontend:

• Soft Mist Minimal Tee
• Glow Drape Sleeveless Top
• Sunlit Layer Dress
• Soft Line Fitted Dress
• Summer Breeze Flow Dress

Dresses Collection (Middle-Level Category)

The Dresses collection displays its own products and products from its child category (Summer New Arrivals), but not products from its parent category. 

Products displayed on the frontend:

• Sunlit Layer Dress
• Soft Line Fitted Dress
• Summer Breeze Flow Dress

Summer New Arrivals Collection (Leaf Category)

As the lowest-level category, Summer New Arrivals only displays products directly assigned to it.

Products displayed on the frontend:

• Summer Breeze Flow Dress

Rules for Collections Assigned to Multiple Category Trees

When a collection is associated with multiple category trees or appears in multiple branches within the same tree, the system applies a default selection strategy to determine which category structure is used on the collections page and in breadcrumbs.

These rules ensure that customers see a single, consistent category path on the storefront.

Default Selection Strategy

By default, the system determines which category path to display using the following rules. These rules apply to both the collections page and breadcrumbs.

• Top-level category priority: The system first selects the category tree whose top-level category appears earlier in the category tree order.
• Deepest subcategory priority: Within the selected category tree, the system chooses the category path that reaches the deepest level of subcategories.
• Subcategory order priority: If multiple category paths have the same depth, the system compares the order of subcategories level by level and selects the path whose subcategories are ordered earlier.

Using Category Trees as Filters

By setting a category tree as a filter, you can improve product discovery and guide customers more efficiently. Customers can quickly find their target products while also browsing other products in the same category, increasing both exposure and sales.

To use this feature, install the Smart Search Recommendation app from the SHOPLINE App Store and add the category tree as a filter.

Configuring Category Tree Filters

Follow these steps to configure category tree filters:

1. In the Smart Search Recommendation app, go to Filters > Default filter.

   

2. Click Add filter condition in the top-right corner.

   

3. Under Filter type, select Category tree and customize the filter name displayed in your storefront.

   

4. In Filter value, hide any category values you don’t want customers to use as filters

   

5. Click Add to finish setup.

Setting the Filter Display Style

To ensure the category tree filter displays correctly on your storefront, you must configure its display style:

1. On the Default filters page, click Display settings in the top-right corner.

   

2. In the Style settings section, under Filter style, select Custom style.

   Note: If you choose Apply theme style, any personalized filter configurations will not take effect.

   

3. Below, you’ll see all configured filter value blocks. Locate the Category tree block, where you can customize its name, choose whether it is collapsed by default, set it to single- or multi-select mode, and adjust its display style.

   

4. To adjust the position of the category tree filter, click the six-dot icon in the top-left corner and drag it to your desired location.

   

5. Click Update to save your settings.

Storefront Display

Once configured, customers can use category trees as filters on your storefront, helping them find products faster and more effectively.