> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.payreque.st/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Category Display Types

> Learn how to customize how your products are displayed in different categories using Cards, List, or Price Table layouts

# Category Display Types

PayRequest offers three different ways to display your products within categories, allowing you to choose the best layout for each type of product you sell.

## Available Display Types

### Cards Layout (Default)

The Cards layout displays your products in a grid format with product images, names, and prices in individual cards. This is the most visually appealing option and works well for most product types.

**Best for:**

* Physical products with images
* Digital products and services
* General merchandise
* When you want a modern, visual shopping experience

### List Layout

The List layout shows your products in a horizontal format with the image on the left and product details on the right. This compact view allows customers to quickly scan through multiple products.

**Best for:**

* Services and consultations
* Digital downloads
* Products where detailed descriptions are important
* When you have many products in a category

### Price Table Layout

The Price Table layout displays your products in a structured comparison table with feature-by-feature comparison, pricing, and action buttons. Each feature is shown as a row with checkmarks or values for each product, making it easy for customers to understand what's included in each plan.

**Best for:**

* Subscription plans and pricing tiers
* Service packages with different features
* Software licenses with various capabilities
* Membership options with different benefits
* When customers need to compare features side-by-side
* SaaS products with multiple plan tiers

## How to Set Category Display Types

1. **Navigate to Categories**
   * Go to your dashboard
   * Click on "Categories" in the sidebar

2. **Create or Edit a Category**
   * Click "Create Category" for a new category, or
   * Click "Edit" next to an existing category

3. **Choose Display Type**
   * In the category form, find the "Display Type" field
   * Select from the dropdown:
     * **Cards** - Grid layout with product cards
     * **List** - Horizontal list layout
     * **Price Table** - Structured table layout

4. **Configure Features (Price Table Only)**
   * If you selected "Price Table", you'll see a "Features" section
   * Add the features you want to compare across products
   * Each feature will become a row in your pricing table
   * Examples: "Storage", "Users", "Support", "API Access"

5. **Save Your Changes**
   * Click "Create Category" or "Update Category"
   * Your category will now display products using the selected layout

## Examples in Action

### Cards Layout Example

Perfect for an "Accessories" category where customers browse visually:

* Product images are prominently displayed
* Clean grid layout
* Easy to browse and discover products

### List Layout Example

Ideal for a "Services" category where details matter:

* Detailed descriptions visible at a glance
* Compact view showing more products per page
* Professional appearance for service-based businesses

### Price Table Example

Perfect for a "Plans" or "Memberships" category:

* **Product columns** show plan names, descriptions, and pricing
* **Feature rows** display each feature with checkmarks (✓) or values
* **Visual comparison** makes it easy to see what's included
* **Setup fees** automatically displayed if configured
* **Clear action buttons** for subscribing or purchasing
* **Professional SaaS-style** presentation that customers expect

## Setting Up Price Table Features

When using the Price Table layout, you can define features that will be compared across all products in the category. This creates a professional comparison table that helps customers understand the differences between your plans or products.

### Adding Features to a Category

1. **Edit Your Category**
   * Go to Categories in your dashboard
   * Click "Edit" on a category with "Price Table" display type

2. **Configure Features**
   * Scroll to the "Features" section
   * Click "Add Feature" to add a new feature
   * Enter feature names like:
     * "Storage Space"
     * "Number of Users"
     * "Email Support"
     * "API Access"
     * "Custom Branding"

3. **Save Category**
   * Click "Update Category" to save your features

### Setting Feature Values for Products

After defining features in your category, you need to set the values for each product:

1. **Edit a Product**
   * Go to Products in your dashboard
   * Click "Edit" on a product in your price table category

2. **Configure Feature Values**
   * Scroll to the "Features" section
   * You'll see all features defined in the category
   * Set values for each feature:
     * **Text values**: "100GB", "Unlimited", "24/7"
     * **Yes/No features**: Leave blank for ✗ (no), add any text for ✓ (yes)
     * **Numeric values**: "5 users", "\$50/hour"

3. **Save Product**
   * Click "Update Product" to save feature values

### How Features Display

In your shop's price table:

* **Feature names** appear as row headers on the left
* **Feature values** show in each product column
* **Checkmarks (✓)** appear for features with values
* **X marks (✗)** appear for empty/missing features
* **Setup fees** automatically display if configured on products

### Feature Management Tips

**Naming Features**

* Use clear, descriptive names
* Keep names concise for mobile display
* Use consistent terminology across features

**Setting Values**

* Leave features blank if not included in a plan
* Use consistent units (GB, users, hours, etc.)
* Add qualifiers when helpful ("Email support", "Priority support")

**Feature Order**

* List most important features first
* Group related features together
* Put pricing-related features (like usage limits) early

### Updating Features

**Adding New Features**

* Edit the category and add new features
* Existing products will show ✗ for new features until you set values
* Edit each product to add values for new features

**Renaming Features**

* Edit the category and change feature names
* The system automatically updates product features to use new names
* Existing feature values are preserved during renames

**Removing Features**

* Remove features from the category
* Feature data is automatically removed from all products in the category

## Tips for Choosing the Right Display Type

### Consider Your Products

* **Visual products** (clothing, electronics, etc.) → Use **Cards**
* **Services or consultations** → Use **List**
* **Plans or tiers** → Use **Price Table**

### Think About Your Customers

* **Browsing behavior** → Cards work well for discovery
* **Comparison shopping** → Price tables help with decisions
* **Quick scanning** → Lists provide efficient overview

### Match Your Brand

* **Modern, visual brand** → Cards layout
* **Professional services** → List or Price Table
* **SaaS or subscription business** → Price Table

## Advanced Tips

### Category Descriptions

When using different display types, make sure your category descriptions help guide customers:

* For Cards: Focus on the product category benefits
* For Lists: Explain what makes your services unique
* For Price Tables: Highlight what customers can compare

### Product Information

Ensure your products have the right information for each display type:

* **Cards**: Good images and clear names
* **Lists**: Detailed descriptions
* **Price Tables**: Clear feature lists and pricing

### Customer Experience

You can use different display types for different categories in the same shop to create the best experience for each type of product you offer.

## Troubleshooting

**Q: Can I change the display type after creating a category?**
A: Yes! You can edit any category and change its display type at any time. When switching to Price Table, you'll need to add features.

**Q: Do all products show the same information in each layout?**
A: The layouts show different amounts of detail. Cards show basic info, Lists show more description, and Price Tables show features and structured information.

**Q: What happens when I rename a feature in a category?**
A: The system automatically updates all products in that category to use the new feature name while preserving the existing values.

**Q: Can I reorder features in the price table?**
A: Yes, edit the category and drag features to reorder them. The new order will appear in your price table.

**Q: What if I delete a feature from a category?**
A: The feature and all its values will be removed from all products in that category. This action cannot be undone.

**Q: Why don't some products show checkmarks for features?**
A: Products show checkmarks (✓) only for features that have values set. Edit the product and add values for features you want to show as included.

**Q: Can I preview how a category will look before saving?**
A: After saving your category settings, visit your shop to see how the category appears to customers.

**Q: What happens if I have products with missing information?**
A: Each layout gracefully handles missing information. For Price Tables, missing feature values show as ✗ marks. For best results, ensure your products have complete feature information.

## Price Table Best Practices

### Feature Examples by Industry

**SaaS/Software Products**

* Storage: "10GB", "100GB", "Unlimited"
* Users: "1 user", "10 users", "Unlimited"
* API Calls: "1,000/month", "10,000/month", "Unlimited"
* Support: "Email", "Priority", "24/7 Phone"

**Service Businesses**

* Response Time: "48 hours", "24 hours", "Same day"
* Revisions: "2 revisions", "5 revisions", "Unlimited"
* Meeting Time: "30 min", "1 hour", "2 hours"
* Deliverables: "Basic report", "Detailed analysis", "Full strategy"

**Membership/Subscription**

* Access Level: "Basic", "Premium", "VIP"
* Content: "Weekly", "Daily", "Real-time"
* Downloads: "5/month", "25/month", "Unlimited"
* Community: "Forum access", "Priority support", "1-on-1 calls"

### Visual Design Tips

**Feature Naming**

* Keep feature names under 20 characters when possible
* Use title case: "Email Support" not "email support"
* Be specific: "24/7 Phone Support" not just "Support"

**Value Formatting**

* Use consistent units across similar features
* Include qualifiers: "Priority email support" vs just "Email"
* Use "Unlimited" instead of very large numbers
* Keep values concise for mobile readability

**Category Organization**

* Put your most popular plan in the middle for emphasis
* Order plans from basic to premium (left to right)
* Highlight differences between adjacent plans
* Consider setup fees and trial periods in your planning

### Common Patterns

**Free Trial Indicators**

* Add "Free Trial" as a feature if applicable
* Set values like "14 days", "30 days", or "No trial"

**Setup Fees**

* Setup fees automatically display in the table
* No need to add "Setup Fee" as a manual feature

**Popular Plan Highlighting**

* Use clear naming: "Starter", "Professional", "Enterprise"
* Consider badges or special styling for recommended plans

This comprehensive comparison table approach helps customers make informed decisions and can significantly improve conversion rates for subscription and service-based businesses.