Magento: Display sub-category list - php

Question

I'm building a Magento store and want to be able to display a list of categories and have each category link to its own page.
I have a 'Brands' category with an ID of 42 and I want to display a list of the sub-categories and ensure that each one links to the designated URL key in the CMS.
Has anyone had experience of doing this with Magento?

Answer 1

If you're comfortable editing your theme, this code snippet will bring you a list of all sub-categories of the current category (from the session, so this should work anywhere in your theme). I typically use this in app/design/frontend/default/theme_name/template/catalog/category/view.phtml
<?php
$_category = $this->getCurrentCategory();
$collection = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->getCategories($_category->entity_id);
$helper = Mage::helper('catalog/category');
?>
<ul>
<?php foreach ($collection as $cat):?>
<?php if($_category->getIsActive()):?>
<?php
$cur_category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($cat->getId());
$_img = $cur_category->getImageUrl();
?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo $helper->getCategoryUrl($cat);?>">
<img src="<?php echo $_img?>" title="<?php echo $cat->getName();?>"/>
<cite><?php echo $cat->getName();?></cite>
</a>
</li>
<?php endif?>
<?php endforeach;?>
</ul>

Answer 2

If You want to Display top level categories and subcategories U can do Like This..
<?php $_helper = Mage::helper('catalog/category') ?>
<?php $_categories = $_helper->getStoreCategories() ?>
<?php $currentCategory = Mage::registry('current_category') ?>
<?php if (count($_categories) > 0): ?>
<ul>
<?php foreach($_categories as $_category): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo $_helper->getCategoryUrl($_category) ?>">
<?php echo $_category->getName() ?>
</a>
<?php $_category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($_category->getId()) ?>
<?php $_subcategories = $_category->getChildrenCategories() ?>
<?php if (count($_subcategories) > 0): ?>
<ul>
<?php foreach($_subcategories as $_subcategory): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo $_helper->getCategoryUrl($_subcategory) ?>">
<?php echo $_subcategory->getName() ?>
</a>
</li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
</li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
For Displaying Top Level Categories and Current Categories SubCategories you can Do like ....
<?php $_helper = Mage::helper('catalog/category') ?>
<?php $_categories = $_helper->getStoreCategories() ?>
<?php $currentCategory = Mage::registry('current_category') ?>
<?php if (count($_categories) > 0): ?>
<ul>
<?php foreach($_categories as $_category): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo $_helper->getCategoryUrl($_category) ?>">
<?php echo $_category->getName() ?>
</a>
<?php if ($currentCategory && $currentCategory->getId() == $_category->getId()): ?>
<?php $_category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($_category->getId()) ?>
<?php $_subcategories = $_category->getChildrenCategories() ?>
<?php if (count($_subcategories) > 0): ?>
<ul>
<?php foreach($_subcategories as $_subcategory): ?>
<li>
<a href="<?php echo $_helper->getCategoryUrl($_subcategory) ?>">
<?php echo $_subcategory->getName() ?>
</a>
</li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>
<?php endif; ?>
</li>
<?php endforeach; ?>
</ul>
<?php endif; ?>

Answer 3

This question requires a long answer. I will point you to the right places.
1) Best solution is to use the free extension. I haven't tried it, but it will suit the purpose. You will have to do some CSS to achieve the right look and feel.
http://www.magentocommerce.com/extension/1562/magento-easy-catalog-images
Demo: http://extension01.templates-master.com/gb/electronics.html
2) I do not trust in modules as it might become difficult to upgrade if the vendor decided to stop supporting it. I have used the information from the following forum thread to create a vew sites. Have a look... Might not be straight forward. You might have to make some copies of core files to the local directory.
http://www.magentocommerce.com/boards/viewthread/3770/P30/
Hopefully this will be of help to you :)

Answer 4

I made this little video on how I create custom category listing blocks with Magento.
I am sure there are better ways of achieving this or even something I could have done better, but it’s just my method. I only created this it in hopes that it helps explain somethings to some people out there.
Magento Custom Category Listing Block
Thanks!

Answer 5

after looking at all the solutions on the magento site, i found that wookiehangover's solution above worked and took about 8 seconds to implement.
creates a UL that you can style. thanks.

Answer 6

After creating static block you can get any list of the subcategories by this script:
$_helper = Mage::helper('catalog/category');
$_category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load(5);
$_subcategories = $_category->getChildrenCategories();
if (count($_subcategories) <= 0) { return; }
$count = 0;
foreach($_subcategories as $_category) {
$category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($_category->getId());
$ret->{"object_".$count} ->url = $_helper->getCategoryUrl($_category);
$ret->{"object_".$count} ->name = $_category->getName();
$ret->{"object_".$count} ->id = $_category->getId();
$ret->{"object_".$count} ->image = $category->getImageUrl();
$count++;
}
return $ret;
}
$list = list_subcategories(5);
echo "<pre>"; print_r($list); echo "</pre>";
?>

Answer 7

How about listing only the categories belonging to the current item. Not all the categories on the page.
But in a tree like view.
CATEGORIE - sub cat 1
CATEGORIE 2 - sub cat 1 - sub sub cat 1
BR Cveto