WordPress Parts Specifications Website

  • Hello,
    I am using BoldGrid to build a WP site that is intended to provide visitors the ability to search for detailed specifications information regarding one particular line of automotive engines. This line of engines share identical components but each with different part numbers and specifications throughout the years. I would like the user to be able to pick from a drop-down menu of engine > year > component, etc. and also be able to enter a specific part number and be returned with any matches in my site’s “database”.
    I will NOT be selling anything, only displaying part numbers and specifications for each individual engine and possibly a few images. Also, I will not need any front end functionality for users to create information themselves. I will be compiling all the information myself.
    For an example of the desired menu-driven approach and also the ability to manually enter a part number, please see https://www.gmpartsdirect.com or https://www.gmpartswarehouse.com
    I am obviously a beginner to WP as I am using a “site builder” like BoldGrid. I have looked at plugins like Ninja Tables and also full functionality offerings like Formidable Forms. (I am assuming that I will need to create an individual “form” or “custom post” for each engine and or component).
    I am hoping someone out there can offer up details as to the the best approach to building this kind of WP site.
    Thanks in advance!
    John

    • This topic was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Steven Stern (sterndata).
    • This topic was modified 2 years, 4 months ago by Jan Dembowski. Reason: Moved to Fixing WordPress, this is not an Developing with WordPress topic
Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

  • Hi,
    Seems you actually need a search-enabled site where users will be able to make a search easily to find specific data.
    You can create a custom post type for 'Engine' and you can use ACF plugin to tie some custom fields like YEAR etc. And then use a search plugin to make it easy for your user to do the search. For this, you can use Custom Search by BestWebSoft OR Search & Filter

    Both of them have tons of options to make your search system so easy for your user.

    Thread Starter johnwoods21

    (@johnwoods21)

    Akramul,
    Thank you for the reply. At this point, I am looking specifically for the two to three horizontal menu functionality that is shown in the two URLs I provided. I’ve been searching quite a bit and am surprised that all I seem to find is header navigation “tweaking” plugins. I want/need to simply have a single page with the aforementioned functionality as shown. Left-most menu titled “Engine” with a drop-down menu selection of engine numbers such as “265”, 283″, “327”, etc. Adjacent menu to the right needs to be dependent upon the selection made in the first menu. This second menu would be titled “Year” with a drop-down menu selection of years such as “1955”, “1956”, “1957”, etc. but only valid years per the selected engine. After selecting Engine and Year, the user would be redirected to the corresponding post or page that I will build for each particular engine. I will keep looking. thank you again for your reply. Maybe it’s time for me to learn some coding…
    John

    Hi,
    I think this would be great if you go with a custom post type of ‘Engine’ with custom taxonomy ‘Year’ and ‘Model’.
    Instead of a meta field, taxonomy will be better to interconnect and make the search query more interactive.
    For example, the user, search year of 2020 and model of 256, only the posts of associated with these terms will be in the search results.

    Best of luck

    Thread Starter johnwoods21

    (@johnwoods21)

    Akramul,
    The more I read and learn, the more I agree with your recommended method of using custom taxonomies. Correct me if I am wrong, but the taxonomy approach will better “tie together” similar information in the custom posts. What I mean is, using my site as an example, the engines that I am providing information on all share identical internal components as far as functionality but each with different part numbers and specifications from engine to engine. Your recommendation of using taxonomies seems to lend itself to better “linking” similar specs together? Maybe if you looked at my site you might better understand what I am trying to ask.
    https://smallblockchevy.org
    Thank you again for your knowledge and advice.
    John

    Hi @johnwoods21
    No matter how many similarities within your Engine components or specs etc, Taxonomy will differentiate. If you have a Taxonomy named ‘Year’ and it has terms like ‘2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 ….’ and when you will publish a post of Engine you will assign any of the terms. You may have multiple Taxonomy and 100 of terms of each, no matter. Everything will be hierarchical according to the Taxonomy. And your Search query will be based on Taxonomy.
    In this case, this link will help you lot
    https://developer.www.ads-software.com/reference/classes/wp_query/#taxonomy-parameters

    Thanks

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)
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