GuidePlugin DocsFacets
Create and manage facets - the data blocks that power GuidePlugin's filtering system.
Facets are characteristics of your content that GuidePlugin extracts and stores for fast filtering. Think of them as data points like "color", "price", or "category" that users can filter by.
Facet Examples
| Facet Type | Data Source | Example Values | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product Color | Custom field or category | Red, Blue, Green, Purple | Filter products by color |
| Price Range | WooCommerce price field | $0-50, $51-100, $101+ | Find products in budget |
| Post Category | WordPress categories | Technology, Design, Marketing | Browse content by topic |
| Property Size | Custom field "bedrooms" | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ bedrooms | Filter real estate listings |
Creating a Facet
Choose Data Source
Select where to extract facet values from:
| Source Type | Description | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Categories/Taxonomies | Existing categories or tags | Organized content structure |
| Custom Fields | Post meta data | Specific properties (price, size, etc.) |
| WooCommerce Fields | Product attributes or prices | E-commerce filtering |
Configure Settings
Fill in the facet configuration:
- Name - Descriptive name (becomes filter label)
- Slug - Auto-generated URL identifier
- Data Type - Text, numeric, or date values
Save and Index
Save the facet and let GuidePlugin index your existing content automatically.
Pro Tip: Use clear, user-friendly names like "Product Color" instead of "color_field" - these often become your filter labels.
Troubleshooting
Common Issues & Solutions
| Problem | Symptoms | Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Empty Facet | No values showing | Verify content has data in source field Check content type is indexed Rebuild index: GuidePlugin > Tools > Rebuild |
| Duplicate Values | Same values with variations | Standardize source data ("Red" vs "red") Use taxonomies vs free-text fields |
| Missing Content | Some posts not indexed | Check post status (published) Verify post type is included |
What's Next?
Once your facets are created, you can use them to build powerful filtering experiences:
| Component | Purpose | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Filters | Create user filtering interfaces | Learn More → |
| Guides | Build complete guided experiences | Learn More → |
| Templates | Display filtered results with custom styling | Learn More → |