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Taxonomy - Multilevel

Turn a taxonomy custom field into a multilevel one, so visitors pick a top-level category and then narrow down to a subcategory — both when they add a listing and when they search.

1 minute read

Create the multilevel field

  1. 1 Open the custom fields list

    Go to Listivo Panel → Custom Fields and click Add New Field. If the field already exists, skip ahead to editing it.

    WordPress admin with Custom Fields open under Listivo Panel and the Add New Field button highlighted
  2. 2 Name the field and set its type

    Enter your field name and set Type to Taxonomy. Only this field type offers the multilevel option.

    Add New Field form with a name typed into the Name box, Type set to Taxonomy, and the Add Field button below
  3. 3 Edit the new field

    Find your new field in the custom fields list and click Edit.

    Custom fields list with the Edit button on the Category row highlighted
  4. 4 Tick Multilevel

    Select the Multilevel checkbox and save. Search Logic is then locked to "and" and Allow Multiple Values is switched on — both are required by a multilevel taxonomy and are set for you.

    Edit Field screen for the Category field: Multilevel is ticked, Search Logic shows a greyed-out AND reading "Always 'and' for multilevel taxonomy", and Allow Multiple Values reads "Always enabled for multilevel taxonomy"

What visitors see

When the category field is set as Multilevel, a visitor can choose the category Electronics and then pick a subcategory such as Computers.

Search results filtered to Electronics, with the sidebar Category filter expanded into subcategories: Any, Computers, Games & Consoles, Phones and Software

When the category field isn't set as Multilevel, the visitor chooses Electronics and there is nothing further to select.

The same search results page with the Category filter collapsed to a single Electronics dropdown and no subcategory list underneath

Keep reading

Taxonomy - allow multiple values Taxonomy - search logic

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