How to Hack the WordPress Search Function: Search Categories and Child Categories
Recently, we had a client who wanted a special recipe search. There were 2 ways to extend the search functionality – manually or dynamically.
1. Search One or More Categories Manually
If we want to search one category, we could have used this solution which lets you manually add category numbers to the search function:
[Replace value="5" with your category number.]
<form method=”get” id=”searchform” action=”<?php bloginfo(‘home’); ?>/”>
<div>
<input type=”text” value=”<?php echo wp_specialchars($s, 1); ?>” name=”s” id=”s” />
<input type=”hidden” name=”cat” value=”5″ />
<input type=”submit” id=”searchsubmit” value=”Search” />
</div>
</form>
2. Search Subcategories Dynamically
However, we wanted to dynamically search only the subcategories of the Recipe Category. The reason being that if you’re already in the Recipes section of the site, seeing a recipe labeled as Recipes is not helpful. However, seeing a recipe labeled as Dessert (mmm..) and Breakfast is helpful. So, each recipe that the client adds will be in a subcategory of recipes (ex. Dessert), but they won’t have to check off the checkbox next to the Recipes category itself.
Anyway, I’ve been looking for this solution for a long time and now, thanks to Ilan Cohen, I present it to you.
[Replace the number 5 with the parent category.]
<form method=”get” id=”searchform” action=”<?php bloginfo(‘home’); ?>/”>
<div id=”search”>
<input type=”text” value=”Search… ” onclick=”this.value=”;” name=”s” id=”s” />
<?php $categories = get_categories(‘child_of=5′);
$catlist = ”;
foreach ($categories as $cat) {
$catlist.= $cat->cat_ID.’,';
}
$catlist.’5′;
?>
<input type=”hidden” name=”cat” value=”<?php echo “$catlist”?>” />
<input name=”" type=”image” src=”<?php bloginfo(‘stylesheet_directory’); ?>/styles/<?php echo “$style_path”; ?>/search.gif” value=”Go” class=”btn” />
</div><!–/search –>
</form>
The code searches through all the child categories of Category 5 (Recipes). Then, you’ll see we added an additional “5″ in this line: $catlist.’5′; just in case the client puts a recipe in the Recipes category, and not one of its subcategories.
Category: Code Snippets, WordPress as CMS
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Hi,
Thanks for Sharing,
I tried the multiple categories search and all I did was copy/paste the code above in my index page replacing “5″ with cat”3″.
I had an error message saying there was something wrong on line:
<?php $categories = get_categories(’child_of=5?);>
Please advise,
Many thanks,
Michel
I LOVE YOU MAN!… works perfectly.. unlike most of those other tutorials out there..
Thanks for this. You are a ninja. How would you code a search that searches all categories EXCLUDING one?
To exlcude a category you must add – (minus) in front of the cat id.
In the first example it would be <input type=”hidden” name=”cat” value=”-5? />
You are my master:)
I’m working on wordpress 2.92 + plugin Exec-PHP and I past in to html/text widget you’r code:
<form method=”get” id=”searchform” action=”<?php bloginfo(‘home’); ?>/”>
<div><input type=”text” value=”<?php echo wp_specialchars($s, 1); ?>” name=”s” id=”s” />
<input type=”hidden” name=”cat” value=”28,7″/>
<input type=”submit” id=”searchsubmit” value=”Search…” /></div>
</form>
I separate categories by comma and it’s working
Doesn’t seem to be working with Search Unleashed plugin. Thats too bad. Otherwise, good addition.
Hum, I might be stupid or something but how do you implement this on a page?