What are some suggestions for creating a website with two main categories, multiple subcategories with 20-150 software programs each, and individual pages for each program using Webflow's CMS functionality?
TL;DR
- Create CMS Collections for Software Programs, Categories, and Subcategories, with relevant reference fields.
- Establish Relationships where Software Programs reference Categories and Subcategories, and Subcategories reference Categories.
- Set Up Dynamic Template Pages for Software Programs, Categories, and Subcategories to display relevant content.
- Use Collection Lists to filter and display Subcategories on Category pages and Software Programs on Subcategory pages.
- Implement Dynamic Navigation with dropdowns or sidebars, using conditional visibility to show relevant content.
- Optimize Performance with pagination for large lists and built-in search for quick content discovery.
Creating a structured Webflow CMS for a website with two main categories, multiple subcategories, and individual pages for each software program requires careful database planning and content relationships. Here’s how to approach it efficiently.
1. Define CMS Collections
- Create a CMS Collection for “Software Programs”
- Fields: Name, Description, Features, Image, Category (reference), Subcategory (reference), etc.
- Create a CMS Collection for “Categories”
- Fields: Category Name
- Create a CMS Collection for “Subcategories”
- Fields: Subcategory Name, Linked Category (reference)
2. Establish CMS Relationships
- Software Programs should reference both Categories and Subcategories
- Subcategories should reference Categories
- This ensures a structured hierarchy and easy filtering.
3. Set Up Collection Template Pages
- Software Programs: Create a dynamic CMS template page that displays program details dynamically.
- Categories & Subcategories: Create CMS template pages that list related software programs.
4. Use Collection Lists for Filtering
- On Category pages, add a Collection List of Subcategories filtering by the selected category.
- On Subcategory pages, add a Collection List of Software Programs filtering by the selected subcategory.
5. Implement Dynamic Navigation
- Use Webflow’s dropdown menus or sidebar navigation to dynamically show categories and subcategories.
- Use conditional visibility to display only relevant subcategories/software programs.
6. Optimize for Performance
- Enable pagination if listing large numbers of software programs.
- Use Webflow's built-in search to help users quickly find software programs.
Summary
By leveraging CMS Collections and Reference fields, you can create a structured, scalable website that dynamically displays software programs sorted by categories and subcategories. Dynamic navigation, filters, and pagination ensure the best user experience.