Get filters to work

Hi,
I have the Hika business edition. We are in the final stages of a big new membership website. It's gone well until now.
I've read the documentation 10 times and am still no closer to getting filters to work.
First, I found that when you create a filter, any clicks hooked up to categories show nothing but the filter module across the top. Is it really true that I will have to go into the code to accomplish this simple task? What is the filename and path? Where exactly will I find it in the back end?
Please, in simple terms, how do I stop the filters from displaying at the top of category pages? How do I get my category pages back working again? And still have usable filters.
Second, so I set it up a filter to search by keywords. And I selected my umbrella category for all store products. And I set the parameters to include all sub elements. And then that didn't work. Some pages went into sort of an endless loop with the filter module appearing multiple times at the top. And no results shown at all. This was probably because the click had a category with sub-categories. And the module displayed at each category instance. Correct?
Please, in simple terms, explain what I did wrong. Do I really have to go into the code for a simple thing like this?
Third, I wanted the filter module to appear in a left top position and only on selected pages. But I found that the filter module doesn't work either. By default it is toggled to a menu ID: 571. Do you know what that is? I didn't put it there. The documentation indicates that I need to plug in a menu ID. But which menu? The public one for the store? (The actual working menu.) Or, is this not working because 571 is the default Hikashop menu; and I have not hooked up that default menu to my products and categories?
Please, in simple terms, can you explain what I did wrong with configuring the filter module? Can you please tell me where to find the right menu ID to plug in, instead of "571"? And will that get everything to work?
When I create a filter, it doesn't ask me for a menu ID? I wonder why. Is one necessary, and do I have to go into the code to do it? Would rather not.
I hope you will elaborate on the documentation with a step-by-step tutorial. What is there now is maddeningly vague. Causing people like me to write these desperate requests for help. Because filters are such a critical part of any big online store, for it to pose these challenges in Hikashop took me by great surprise.
If you could take a quick look at what's wrong, I would really appreciate it. Please respond and I'll e-mail you the url and admin password.
I really do like Hikashop. It is a pleasure to use on the front end. But, as you can see, I feel frustrated by these annoying quirks with setup and configuration.
-jgribble

I appreciate the quick reply and will have a go. Would you consider adding this to the documentation?
-JG

Hello,

I turned off filter view via the menu options. So now filters are not showing automatically on top of category pages - all good. I hooked up the default Hika menu, ID 571, to a category that contains all my products. I created a search by keyword filter. I did not select a category for the filter. I created a filter module and added the search by keyword filter to it. Made sure it was toggled to menu ID 571. I published the module successfully here: redevelop-ela.com/bookstore-home . But still it doesn't work. No results are shown. Really scratching my head. Please point out where I went wrong. I e-mailed you back-end access. But, I really want to learn how to do this myself so that in the future I need not bother you.

Thanks again,

I stand corrected on one critical point. I have category containing all bookstore products. I have a menu click toggled to the "all products" category. In the menu params for that click I said no to "display filters." But now, when I click on the menu item, only the filter module shows in its published position at top left. All the products have vanished. It's really confusing because the filter module is NOT hooked up to the public menu ID. It is hooked up to the default Hikashop menu ID; and that menu is toggled to the same "all products" category that is being used by the public menu. Please, what did I mess up?
All the other menu clicks work fine. The filter module is where it should be. But it just doesn't work.
-JG

How do you clear the filter in the front end? It is stuck on the original search term I entered. It can't be erased. Because it can't be erased, pages keep coming up blank when I click search. How does the user clear the search field so that this doesn't keep happening?
Thanks,
-JG

After a lot of trial and error, I found what was wrong. It was the filter. I had it set up to search by keywords. When I changed it to search product descriptions "(in Options)," it started working. I do hope you'll update and expand your filters documentation. It would have been nice to have tutorial on setting up a simple search using page titles or product descriptions. I would think those are the two most common needs for users. You wouldn't need to explain in detail ALL the many filter options. Just the few that people use all the time. I hope we're smart enough out here to take it from there.
All in all, however, this store gave the clients everything they needed and then some. I won't hesitate to use Hikashop again, especially now that I've navigated the maze of nuances.
-JG

Glad to see you found a solution
We'll think about expanding the documentation.
Video Tutorial are already in our todo list, it should come in the coming months!

Hello, I am also having a lot of trouble getting the filters to work. I have tried to follow the post above and implement the suggestions but I'm not getting anywhere I'm afraid.

If I asked nicely, would you mind going into the backend and seeing what I am doing wrong? It really would be much appreciated.

I can PM the u/n and p/w to dubai.directrouter.com/~uwkhsvka

Jonathan

Hi,

Can you explain with more details you problem ?
And give us screenshots of your filters configuration ?

Hi Xavier, thanks for getting back to me. I've attached 2 screenshots for you of my setup.

The main problem is just getting the filter module to display properly - see dubai.directrouter.com/~uwkhsvka/index.p...services/online-shop

and then the filters 'double up' and won't display any search results on this page - dubai.directrouter.com/~uwkhsvka/index.p...ting/product/listing

I must be doing something fundamentally wrong I'm afraid

JR

Hi,

For the 1st problem, it's a css issue, so you can follow this tutorial to try to correct the problem.
www.hikashop.com/fr/support/documentatio...ize-the-display.html

The second problem, is probably due to the module 121, try to disable it.