Title: Create multi-level identification key
Last modified: March 21, 2017

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# Create multi-level identification key

 *  [wcameron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wcameron/)
 * (@wcameron)
 * [9 years, 2 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-multi-level-identification-key/)
 * I’m fairly new to wordpress. I run a nature based website and a podcast. The 
   nature site is at [http://www.mountainnature.com](http://www.mountainnature.com)
   and the wordpress site for the podcast is [http://www.mountainnaturepodcast.com](http://www.mountainnaturepodcast.com).
 * The nature site is an online identification guide to some 600 plants animals 
   and birds of the canadian west. I’m hoping to be able to convert some of the 
   identification keys to wordpress if possible.
 * As an example, if you want to identify a flower, you can identify it by colour,
   family, genus or group like asters or anemones.
 * I want to be able to create multiple pathways to identification. For instance,
   if you choose color, then you should be given a list of sub-categories like 5-
   petals or 6-petals, etc.
 * I would love any suggestions on how to do this without coding. If coding is necessary,
   is it possible to point me in the right direction?
 * At its most basic level I thought that I could get it to show only parent categories.
   Currently, I’ve experimented with birds. I created the following hierarchy:
 * Field Guide
    -plants -animals -birds –dabbling ducks –diving ducks –heron-like
   birds
 * I want people to only see parent categories until they click on it and then only
   see the next level. Once they click on a bottom level, like dabbling ducks, I
   want them to see a list of particular species.
 * Is there a reasonably easy way to do this?
 * Currently if I list a mallard under the category dabbling ducks, birds and Field
   guide, all three categories show up right from the home page.
 * I appreciate any help anyone may be able to offer

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

 *  [Peter Hardy-vanDoorn](https://wordpress.org/support/users/petervandoorn/)
 * (@petervandoorn)
 * [9 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-multi-level-identification-key/#post-8940417)
 * Have a look at WooCommerce. Although it is an online shop solution, it can be
   configured to run as a catalogue (ie, without purchasing and add to cart links).
 * Create categories as you have already, and then create a “product” for each creature/
   plant (you can change the terminology used, btw, so it doesn’t have to be called
   a “product” to the end user).
 * The good thing about WooCommerce is it allows you to tag each product with many
   different “attributes” which can then be selected in a side-bar widget to narrow
   down the search.
 * Have a look at [https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/managing-product-taxonomies/](https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/managing-product-taxonomies/)
   and [https://www.templatemonster.com/help/woocommerce-how-to-work-with-layered-navigation-widget.html](https://www.templatemonster.com/help/woocommerce-how-to-work-with-layered-navigation-widget.html)
 * Hope that ehlps
 *  Thread Starter [wcameron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wcameron/)
 * (@wcameron)
 * [9 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-multi-level-identification-key/#post-8941054)
 * Thanks Peter. I think that might be exactly what I’m looking for. Let me see 
   if I understand this correctly. For wildlfowers for instance would this work?
 * Set up category for plants
    Set up subcategories for trees, shrubs, red flowers,
   white flowers, green flowers, yellow flowers, orange flowers.
 * I want these to be broken down further so they aren’t confronted with a huge 
   list of yellow flowers. I’m thinking that attributes will help this. Once they
   select yellow flowers, I want a list of attributes like the following:
 * Attributes:
    flowers with 5 petals and leaves in pairs flowers with 5 petals 
   and leaves arranged alternately flowers with 6 petals orchid like flowers nodding
   flowers
 * Once they select the descriptor that closest matches the plant they are looking
   at, it should provide a much more filtered list.
    Alternatively they can select
   to view all of the yellow flowers.
 * Does this sound like I’m on the right track?
 * I really appreciate your help.

Viewing 2 replies - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)

The topic ‘Create multi-level identification key’ is closed to new replies.

## Tags

 * [key](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/key/)

 * In: [Developing with WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/wp-advanced/)
 * 2 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [wcameron](https://wordpress.org/support/users/wcameron/)
 * Last activity: [9 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/create-multi-level-identification-key/#post-8941054)
 * Status: not a support question

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