Thread

I’m using the Category URL indicator with Category URL Titles and trying to stop non-existent category names from outputting any results.

Currently attempting to display a non-existent category is displaying all the entries from that channel. I’d rather have the page show a custom message.

I made a thread here about it:

http://ellislab.com/forums/viewthread/197068/

... but for the life of me I cannot get require_entry=“yes” to work. It simply shows my No Results message for all categories now, even the ones that do exist.

Is there something I’m overlooking or is this the normal operation with Category URL Titles? If so, if there a workaround?

I the page working now by another member’s suggestion, but would still like to know whether require_entry can somehow be used in this situation.

Hi businessessentials,

Your frustration might be because the require_entry parameter applies to {exp:channel:entries} tag. When dealing with {exp:channel:categories} you may have some success using the show_empty parameter. Unless I misunderstand what you are trying to do?

Feel free to include relevant template code in your anytime you need assistance with tag questions.

Cheers!

I was trying to use require_entry parameter with {exp:channel:entries} tag, but when I add it I cannot see any results at all.

businessessentials,

You mention using category titles above. The require_entry parameter is looking for either a Channel entry ID or Channel entry URL title specifically. Can you provide an example of a URL that is returning no results? Also provide an explanation of each URL segment.

Cheers,

URLs are structured like:

http://example.com/news/category/category-name-here

And the code is like:

{exp:channel:entries
    channel="news"
    category="{segment_3}"
    dynamic="yes"
    require_entry="yes"  
}

    {if no_results}No Results!{/if}
    
    {title}


{/exp:channel:entries}

Without the require_entry it works but non-existent category entries attempt to display.

But when I add it in, even existing category entries fail to display anything at all.

Am I correct in thinking the require_entry is supposed to simply stop non-existing categories only from attempting to display entries?

businessessentials,

The require_entry parameter has no effect on categories. It’s not related to category use in ExpressionEngine. It’s expressly for Channel Entries. By using that parameter, you are telling ExpressionEngine to look in the URL for the title of an entry in the channel you are calling. So it only works with regards to my-entry-title not my-category-title. To work with categories, you would use the {category} tag pair inside your {exp:channel:entries} loop or use the separate {exp:channel:categories} loop.

Does that help clarify?

Cheers,

It certainly does, thank you for all your help.

businessessentials,

Thank you for using ExpressionEngine! Feel free to start another thread anytime you have questions or issues.

Cheers!