Title: How do I use shortcodes?
Last modified: August 21, 2016

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# How do I use shortcodes?

 *  [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * (@jdk1313)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/)
 * I am new to WordPress and have been doing fine until now. I am trying to use 
   a plugin for index the categories in a food blog. Plugin is Post Category Index
   Generator. Website is [http://kathrynskitchenblog.com.previewdns.com/](http://kathrynskitchenblog.com.previewdns.com/)
 * The code I am trying to use is
    [pcig category=category-2 show=post_title links
   =subcategory_name,post_title order=asc orderby=title]
 * My questions…
    What do I do? Do I just insert the shortcode? Do I replace category
   with the category name? Do I need to put all my subcategories under a recipe 
   category for this to work?
 * Sorry if these are silly questions, I can’t seem to find step by step instructions
   on the internet.
    Thanks in advance for your help!

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

 *  [chiaroscuro1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chiaroscuro1/)
 * (@chiaroscuro1)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292749)
 * Just put your shortcode where you want the widget to be
 *  Thread Starter [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * (@jdk1313)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292752)
 * I did that at first but I got this:
    There is no unique category with the slug‘
   category-2’. Please insert a valid slug.
 *  [chiaroscuro1](https://wordpress.org/support/users/chiaroscuro1/)
 * (@chiaroscuro1)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292792)
 * It seems like you would get that error if there is no content to display. Did
   you create a category 2 using the plug in? Did you look at the support section
   on the plug in page and see if anyone else had this problem and what the solution
   was? Are you sure you’re using the right shortcode? When you install a plugin,
   you need to look for all the settings that go with it. They could be in a new
   category or in the settings category in the left margin of WordPress, in the 
   widgets section, or in a link on the plugins page.
 *  Thread Starter [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * (@jdk1313)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292879)
 * Thanks for trying to help me. I’ve tried 3 different shortcodes and keep getting
   the same error.
    How do I create a category 2? And what is a category 2? There
   doesn’t seem to be any settings. I looked to the left and that isn’t there where
   I’ve seen others come up with options. And what do you mean by new category?
 *  [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/)
 * (@alchymyth)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292880)
 * instead of ‘category-2′ you’ll need to use one of your categories’ _slug_;
 * the _slug _is a sanitized version of the category name with all lowercase characters
   and linked by hyphens; you can find the category’s _slug _when you edit the category
   under **dashboard – posts – categories**
 * [http://codex.wordpress.org/Manage_Categories_SubPanel](http://codex.wordpress.org/Manage_Categories_SubPanel)
 *  Thread Starter [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * (@jdk1313)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292884)
 * Ok, I went into my categories and chose recipes as the parent. But I am still
   getting the same error. Do I need to type the name the shortcode? I’m so confused…
 *  [Michael](https://wordpress.org/support/users/alchymyth/)
 * (@alchymyth)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292886)
 * if you want to show the posts of the ‘recipes’ category, try:
 * `[pcig category=recipes show=post_title links=subcategory_name,post_title order
   =asc orderby=title]`
 * if you still have problems, please post in the plugin’s forum at [http://wordpress.org/support/plugin/post-category-index-generator](http://wordpress.org/support/plugin/post-category-index-generator)
 *  Thread Starter [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * (@jdk1313)
 * [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292891)
 * Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! It worked. You saved me from pulling my hair
   out the rest of the night.
    And I did post there, but found it after I posted
   here.
 * Thanks again!

Viewing 8 replies - 1 through 8 (of 8 total)

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 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 8 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [JDK1313](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jdk1313/)
 * Last activity: [12 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-do-i-use-shortcodes/#post-4292891)
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