There are two stages to complete when creating a new category, starting with creating the category itself and then adding the newly created category to the navigation menu so it appears on your learning log.
Follow the step-by-step guide below and ensure you complete the full process:
Stage One: Creating a New Category
1. To view, create or delete a category, navigate to the WordPress Dashboard by viewing your learning log, hovering over the title of your site on the toolbar and selecting 'Dashboard', as shown in the screenshot below.
2. Hover your cursor over 'Posts' located in the left-hand menu and select the 'Categories' option. If the 'Categories' option isn't visible, please contact Tech Support by submitting a support request or emailing techsupport@oca.ac.uk.
3. The 'Categories' page will display a list of existing categories that were generated when you originally chose your learning log template. To create a new category, you will need to complete the fields beneath the 'Add New Category' heading on the left, as shown in the screenshot below. Read on for an explanation of each field.
a. Name - The name refers to the title of your category and will be the text you see when your category is listed on your learning log navigation menu. Be as descriptive as possible, for example, 'Project 10', 'Assignment 10'.
b. Slug - The slug is the text you will see at the end of the URL (web address) when a user selects your category. For example, the URL for 'Project 1' is - https://spaces.oca.ac.uk/yoursitenamehere/category/category/coursework/project-1/ - so in this case the slug is 'project-1'.
The slug should reflect the name of the category, so 'Assignment 10' would be 'assignment-10'.
c. Parent Category - Categories are listed in a hierarchy, similarly to how you would use headings and subheadings. For example, the existing category 'Project 1' has the parent category of 'Coursework' and each project category sits under this heading. Choose from the existing 'Coursework' or 'Assignment' categories, or select 'None' if your new category sits on its own.
4. Once you have completed the fields outlined above, select the 'Add New Category' button to finish.
Stage Two: Adding a New Category to the Navigation Menu
5. Now your new category has been created, you will need to update your navigation menu.
Again, access the WordPress Dashboard as outlined in Step 1 and hover your cursor over 'Appearance' located in the left-hand menu and select the 'Menus' option. If the 'Menus' option isn't visible, please contact Tech Support by submitting a support request or emailing techsupport@oca.ac.uk.
6. Under the 'Add menu items' heading on the left, select the 'Categories' dropdown followed by 'View All' to view a list of all of the categories that exist on your learning log, as shown in the screenshot below.
7. Find your newly created category and place a tick in the box next to it to select it. You will then need to select 'Add to Menu' to insert it into the 'Menu structure' on the right.
8. The new category will appear at the bottom of the 'Menu structure' and you can now drag it under the 'Parent Category' so it appears in the correct order. For example, 'Project 10' can be dragged to locate it under the 'Coursework' heading.
Indenting a category under another will create a hierarchy, as shown in the screenshot below, where the category is labelled as 'sub item'.
9. When you are happy with the placement of your category, select the 'Save Menu' option to finish.
To check whether your category displays as intended, navigate to the homepage of your learning log (spaces.oca.ac.uk/yoursitenamehere) and check the left-hand menu.