Insights and Inspiration – The Hostnicker Blog

Filtering and Sorting CMS Content in Webflow

May 11, 2024

Setting up your CMS collections is the initial step towards filtering and sorting your content on Webflow. First, access your project dashboard and select the CMS tab from the left sidebar. Create a new collection by clicking on + New Collection and define the necessary fields such as title, image, description, and category. Ensure that you include a field for filtering, like category or tags.

With your collections ready, start adding content by selecting your collection in the CMS section and clicking on + New Item. Fill out each field as specified in your collection setup and publish each item. Continue this process for all your content entries.

Designing your CMS collection list involves displaying your content on a designated page. In the Webflow Designer, go to the page where you want the content shown, then drag and drop a Collection List element from the Add Panel into your desired section. Choose the appropriate collection from the Collection List settings and design your Collection Item by customizing layouts, styles, and elements like images and text.

To filter your CMS content, select the Collection List element you added and locate the Filters section in the Rights settings panel. Add a filter by selecting + Add Filter, then choose the field for filtering, like Category. Set the filter condition, for example "is" or "contains," and specify the value. You can add more filters as needed.

For sorting options, with the Collection List highlighted, locate the Sort Order option in the Settings panel. Click on + Add Sort to create a sorting field and select the sorting criteria, such as created date or category. Choose between ascending or descending order based on your preference.

After setting up filters and sorting, test everything by clicking on the Preview button (the eye icon) at the Designer's top left. If everything is satisfactory, click Publish in the upper right corner to make the changes live. Keep in mind dynamic filtering through dropdowns or buttons for user selection and ensure a good UI/UX by making filter and sort options accessible and user-friendly. Avoid excessive filters to maintain optimal load times, and restrict the number of displayed items for better performance. Make sure to optimize images as well.

In conclusion, organizing your CMS content through filtering and sorting in Webflow enhances the user experience by creating a more engaging and tidy display of content. By methodically following these steps, you can manage your content presentation effectively, whether it's a gallery, blog, or product list.