Customizable way to display portfolio categories

[arstearnaitst]

Hi, I have many portfolio items, divided into categories (using X theme, with “integrity”). I see two ways to display a list of the items in a category, but both give me problems. I need your help to understand better how this system works.

The first way is though the category page generated by the X theme, which we can view by going in the admin interface to Portfolio > Portfolio Categories and clicking “view” on the desired category to view its page listing all the items belonging to this category. The problem with this method is that the page is not customizable at all. For example, I cannot say how many columns of items I want to show at the same time. My first question is hence 1) is there any way to customize this kind of page? (change the layout, add some custom content before the portfolio items listing, etc)

The second way to display the items belonging to a category is to create a regular wordpress page, to select the template “Layout - Portfolio,” and select which category I want the page to display. This way gives a few more customization options, like hiding the sorting button or choosing how many columns of items I want. However, if I add regular content to the page using wordpress’ editor, it won’t display at all on the page. And also, the items do not appear the same way as they do in the first type of page mentioned above. For example, my portfolio items both have a featured image and an embedded (YouTube) video code. On the portfolio category page generated by X (the first approach I mentioned), the featured image is displayed for each item in the listing and an excerpt of the text of the item, along with the item’s title. With this second approach of creating a page and using the template “Layout - Portfolio,” it is the YouTube embedded image that is displayed on the listing page along with the item’s title, with no trace of the featured image nor of the excerpt. Hence, I have three more questions 2) Why this difference in how the items are displayed between these two approaches? 3) Can I customize this behavior? (e.g. make the excerpt and/or the featured image appear in the second approach) 4) How can I make the page’s content (the one I’m creating within the wordpress page editor) appear on top of the portfolio items listing with this second approach?

Here is an example of approach one: https://old2.tedxgeneva.net/talks-category/2022-regeneration/
Here is an example of approach two, displaying the exact same portfolio items: https://old2.tedxgeneva.net/2022-regeneration/

Thanks in advance for your help!

[ruenel]

Hello Thomas,

Thanks for writing in!

1.) You can customize the Portfolio category archive pages by utilizing the Archive Layout builder which is only available to the Pro theme. You may need to upgrade from the X theme to the Pro theme.

• https://theme.co/docs/the-difference-between-x-pro
• https://theme.co/docs/converting-from-x-to-pro

2.) When you go to Portfolio > Portfolio Categories then click the “view” link of the specific category, this goes to the portfolio category archive. When you create a normal page and use the “Layout - Portfolio” page template, you are creating a custom portfolio category archive page. This is useful when you want to have a different archive page slug.

3.) Yes, you can with a little bit of overriding the “Layout - Portfolio” page template on a child theme. Only do this if you are more familiar with hands-on coding.

4.) This would also need template override and some PHP coding which will be added to the child theme.

Be advised that custom coding is beyond the scope of our support under our Support Policy. If you are unfamiliar with code and resolving potential conflicts, you may select our One service for further assistance.

Best Regards.