Managing faceted navigation attributes in categories

You can manage attribute dictionary faceted navigation attributes in categories to control how facets are displayed at a category level. Managing faceted navigation attributes in categories enables changing the attributes display sequence, and assigning attributes to display or hide in category pages. Managing faceted navigation attributes in categories ensures that customers see only the appropriate facets. That is, those facets that are most effective for targeting and comparing similar products within a category.

For example, shoppers that are browsing categories see all facets that apply to the products under that particular category by default. Facets are displayed on the page in the order that is configured in the facet property field Sequence. You can override the default order at the category level. For example, size displayed in a televisions category as the first facet, and color displayed first in an appliances category.
HCL Commerce Version 9.1.9.0 or laterNote: From HCL Commerce version 9.1.9.0 onwards, you will be able to change facet configurations for the category or brand facets on a storefront through the Management Center.

You can also exclude specific facets from displaying in a category to shoppers, depending on your business needs.

Procedure

  1. Open the Catalogs tool.
  2. HCL Commerce Version 9.1.16.0 or later Open Management Center tools and from the left navigation menu, click Business Tools > Catalog > Attribute Directory.
  3. From the explorer tree or list view, go to the category you want to assign faceted navigation attributes.
  4. Show faceted navigation attributes for categories by using one of these methods:
    • From the Management Center menu:
      1. Click View > Show Facets, or right-click on the category and click Show Facets.
    • From the Management Center toolbar:
      1. Click the Show Facets iconShow Facets icon.
    The category facets list displays. This display might take some time to complete, as a delta (partial) search index update is performed when retrieving the facet data.
  5. Update the following category facet property fields:
    PropertyDescription
    Sequence Specifies the order in which attributes are displayed in the storefront. Numbers are displayed in ascending order.

    You can update the default sequence values to change the order in which the facets appear in the storefront. The sequence is ascending by table row by default.

    Display to customers Specifies attributes that are displayed in the category as a facet in the left sidebar.

    You can select the check box beside each facet you want displayed in the category, or clear the check box to hide facets from being displayed in the category. The check box is selected by default.

    The following read-only properties are displayed for reference:
    PropertyDescription
    Name The name of the attribute. This field is language-sensitive.
    Description A short description for the attribute. This field is language-sensitive.
    Maximum facet values to display The maximum number of facet values that are displayed in the storefront.
    Note: This field is hidden by default. To display this field, right-click the headers and click Configure Columns. In the Column Selector, select Maximum facet values to display and click OK.
    Values The values of the faceted navigation attribute with the total number of products that are displayed in brackets.
  6. Click Save; then click Close.