Left-hand navigation is fairly standard across the web. Because of this, many visitors will look to the left hand panel of your store for category lists and other information. This quick article will assist you in presenting category information on the left hand panel using the PrestaShop 1.6 default theme. This way you can make navigation even easier for shoppers visiting your site.
In this article, we’ll show you how you can display categories in the left panel in PrestaShop 1.6.
How to display categories in the left hand panel
- Log into your PrestaShop 1.6 admin dashboard.
- From the main dashboard, look to the left hand navigation panel and hover over Preferences and then click Themes.
The top portion of the page displays your current theme. Find the Configure your theme section and click on the Advanced settings button.
You are now on the theme editor page. Be sure that the Default left column is set to Yes (this should already be set by default.)
- Next, scroll down to the Appearance of columns section and ensure the Category option is checked for the Left column.
- Scroll down a bit further and ensure the Index option is also checked for the Left column.
The changes you make in the Appearance of Columns section are automatic, so no saving needed. You should now see your categories and other items you had checked on the left hand side panel.
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Super! Thanks 5+
How do I link the social media buttons to my website?
im using Prestashop 1.6 is this the latest version or should I be using 1.5 …so confused. lol
I recommend running the latest version of PrestaShop (1.6) at all times for security purposes.
The easiest way to link to your social media in PrestaShop is using a 3rd party module. They range from free to hundreds of dollars. Here is a link to the search results page for Social Networks – PrestaShop Modules.
Thank you,
John-Paul
Hello everybody,
I am currently using the Oslo theme on Prestashop, and I would like to know where I can choose which categories are to be presented in my left column menu and in which order. Can’t seem to do that in Modules > Position > displayleftcolumn.
I appreciate your help and thank you in advance,
Julien.
Hello Julien,
If you are having problems placing them using the default options with the Modules Position options, then the placement might be affected by the theme. You may need to contact the theme developers as to why the items are not appearing. Apologies that we can’t provide an immediate answer.
If you have any further questions or comments, please let us know.
Regards,
Arnel C.
Hi guys,
I have a issue with PS 1.6.1.2 and “default-bootstrap 1.0” theme. I dont know why, but I cannot set the right column for this theme. I’ve set both left and right column as default, I’ve set it also for each site where I want it to be visible. But I see right column nowhere and also I can’t hook there any module coz displayRightColumn isn’t shown in module> position. Have you any hints how to solved it?
BR and thanks for response.
Mingo
Hello Mingo,
The default bootstrap theme doesn’t use columns like in PrestaShop 1.5. When I look around for solutions on the issue, I did find this particular post that may give you the answer you seek.
If you have any further questions or comments, please let us know.
Regards,
Arnel C.
The site is www.highfillcustomwoodworks.com/store. I am using Prestashop 1.6.1.0, the default-bootstrap theme. Thanks for your help!
Hello Wes,
The store is not showing up in default layout. What other layout changes did you make prior? Was there a sidebar originally?
Kindest Regards,
Scott M
I am using PS 1.6.1.0, default-bootstrap theme. I am in the section described in the original article where you can click X or checkmark for things to display in the left (or right) column. I have “Default Left Column” marked as Yes. I have “category” marked as Yes (checkmark). However, “index” does not show up in the list, and my categories in my front office shop do not show up in the left column (there IS no left column showing up in my actual shop webpage). Please help. If there is more info I should provide, just let me know.
Hello Wes,
Can you provide your domain so we can look into the problem further? Also what theme are you using?
Best Regards,
TJ Edens
How do I increase the number of sub categories displayed in the sidebar please? – Ver 1.6 default responsive theme.It is set to 10 only…. Also, Google’s responsive test site fails this template saying links to close together?? Thanks, Adam
Hello Adam,
Sorry for the problem with the number sub-categories. If you cannot increase the sub-categories per Admin options to customize the theme in the backend, then it would require MANUAL modification of the template files in the theme. Like the issue of of the Google responsiveness you would need to contact the theme’s developer – in this case PRESTASHOP – to get the answers you’re looking for. You can often fin the answer by simply looking the PrestaShop support forum.
If you have any further questions or comments, please let us know.
Regards,
Arnel C.
Kindest regards
Hello, I use prestashop for my online shop and I am interested to know how do I set up page ,,about us,, but not in the footer so as the main page.
Hello Mara,
Are you asking how to change the content of the About Us page or have the link moved from the footer to another section?
Kindest Regards,
Scott M
Hi, I am having the same issue where Category is not in the meta list on theme configurator. It is not an option. I don’t know why this is an I need help.
Prestashop version 1.6.0.11. Default theme.
Hello Savion,
If this is a new install you may want to try and re-install as it should show. I am showing ‘category’ in the meta list of the default theme in Theme Configurator. I am running 1.6.0.14 however.
Kindest Regards,
Scott M
Hello Scott
I tried every road but no luck 1) I activate Puerto Rico like country
2) I desactive Puerto Rico as state
3) I i activate puerto rico as a default country
4) I set all zones and activate it
5) I redo everything back and put US as default country
But still no work the only carrier i see is ” My Carrier” I actually have USPS but is no
way to set it up . when i set any USPS services on products no work, if i Select “My Carrier ” works
I dont know what the problem is if you have any suggestion please help me.
Thank You again Scott.
Hello Jimmy,
Sorry for the continued issues with PrestaShop. I looked at your response and decided to see if anyone else using PrestaShop was having the same problem. Check out the conversation with PrestaShop in this forum entry.
I hope this helps to answer your question, please let us know if you require any further assistance.
Regards,
Arnel C.
Hi
Thank You Scott for your help
Well i have a problem I live in Puerto Rico but actually Puerto Rico has two diferent zones
North America and Antilles and I dont know how to deal with this situation for my carriers.
Puerto Rico appear is a Country as well a US state, how i can to deal with this?
i will appreciate your help
Best Regards
Hi
Thank you Scott for your reply!
After you reply to this post I was checking everything again check the Block and I reset it and started working!
The problem of ” No carriers Available” Still There if you have any suggestions that could help me I would appreciate it.
the theme I’m using is jewelry Theme
Thank You Again Scott !!
Jimmy
Hello Jimmy,
If you have the carrier selected, be sure that you have assigned the proper zones to the carrier. This will cause it to either display the carrier, or display the ‘No carriers’ message in the checkout process.
Kindest Regards,
Scott M
Hi
I just install a 1.6.0.14 and my theme is a jewelry theme, i have 2 problems
1) No carriers available, my default country is US but i live in Puerto Rico we are
part of US i uninstall and install a complete fresh site but the problem still there.
2 ) I tried to set categories using top menu categories block, the categories is already
set but insted of show the categories horizontal at the top , all i see is the categories
on the left side in vertical.
Iam not an expert in this matter of course but i will really appreciate any suggestion
or any kind of help from the peole who have a great expertise in prestashop.
Thank You.
Hello Jimmy,
When you say you see the categories listed on the left hand side when trying to activate the top category block, does it look like it is CSS error? Are you using the default theme?
Kindest Regards,
Scott M
The default template for 1.6.0.11 is basically a very badly designed and useless template.
I now do not lik the fact there is no Free templates available for this version.
Very bad Prestashop very bad
Hello Mike,
Thank you for your comment, I can understand your frustration.
There aren’t many, but I was able to find some free 3rd party PrestaShop 1.6 templates, by performing an online search.
If you have any further questions, feel free to post them below.
Thank you,
John-Paul
Hello,
I have same problem Category is not in the meta list on theme configurator and displayleftcolumn is not in module position list i use new prestashop 1.6.0.11 I need help please.
Regards
Fincosat
Hello FinsCoat,
Sorry for the problem with the Categories block. If you are using the latest version of PrestaShop and you are using the default theme, then the displayLeftColumn option is there. You should use the ctrl-F function to search for “displayleft” and should find it. I loaded PrestaShop with a default install to test and it’s always there for me. If you’re using a different theme with the sample data, then it should all be there. If not, then please provide a URL and access to your admin so that we can take a look to see what’s going on. If you’re using a different theme, you may need to communicate with the theme builder to resolve the issue.
Regards,
Arnel C.
I have the newest version of Prestashop just downloaded it. Yes, I have inventory and categories to display as there was dummy data installed originally with the default template. I am currently loading the site on localhost. thanks for your help!
Hello Lee,
Thanks for the reply. I decided to re-load the latest version of PrestaShop (1.6.0.11) and then I looked at the interface described in the tutorial above. As PrestaShop often does, the update their product to make improvements. In this case, it basically changed the interface described in the article above. The only way you can get to the categories block and then change it’s display position, is to go into Modules>Positions> and then EDIT the Categories Block so that you can move it to the location you want.
Sorry for the confusion. I will be updating Scott’s article soon so that there’s no further confusion on the issue.
Regards,
Arnel C.
Hi there, categories do not show up for me as an option to check… I must be missing something here. Index isn’t there also. Any idea why?
Hello Lee,
Sorry for the problem with the categories. First, what version of PrestaShop are you working with? Also, do you have any inventory or categories to display? If not, then the option won’t be there. If you continue to have the problem, please let us know what version of PrestaShop you’re using, themes you are using, and if you have any category related plugins/modules loaded. It would also help if you can give us any information on how you loaded the site or steps that we would need to take to duplicate the problem. If we cannot duplicate the problem, then we would need to be able to login to the site to see what’s happening if the issue persists. Please let us know if you have any further questions or comments.
Regards,
Arnel C.
Hello,
Thanks for your help in learning how to enable categories module on the left. But now how do i make my categories be on top of the left module and all other modules be below the categories as its here in your sample image after enabling:https://cdn.inmotionhosting.com/support/images/stories/edu/ps16/show-category-left-column/after.png
Your help will be highly appreciated
Thank you
Ronnie
Hello Ronnie,
You can change the order of the blocks in the left hand sidebar by going to Modules >> Positions. Once on the Positions page, look for the displayLeftColumn section. From there you can rearrange them in the order you wish to display them.
Kindest Regards,
Scott M