How to Make the Collection List Show All Collections on Shopify without Capping at 30

Understanding and overcoming limitations within Shopify themes can often feel like a labyrinth for many merchants. One common issue is the limitation on how many collections a list can display before requiring pagination. This blog post delves into the details of this issue, its implications, and offers a comprehensive guide to resolving it by showing all collections on a single page, specifically on the 'All Collections' page. We will also touch upon the potential drawbacks and alternative solutions to consider.

Understanding the Collection List Limitation

What is the Limitation?

By default, many Shopify themes limit the number of collections displayed on a single page to 30. This can be frustrating if your store has more collections and you want them all to be visible without requiring customers to navigate to additional pages.

Why Does This Limitation Exist?

The primary reason for this limitation is performance. Displaying a large number of collections on a single page can significantly increase the amount of data users’ browsers need to load, which may negatively impact page speed and user experience. This includes more HTML, images, and interactive elements, all of which can slow down page rendering and potentially decrease conversions.

Potential Risks of Going Beyond the Limitation

Before we proceed with the solution, it’s critical to understand the potential risks:

• Performance Issues: Loading too many collections can slow down your site's performance, especially on mobile devices or slower internet connections.
• User Experience: A cluttered page with too many collections can overwhelm users, possibly leading to higher bounce rates.
• Conversion Rates: Slower load times and poor user experience can negatively impact your conversion rates.

Steps to Show All Collections on a Single Page

Backup Your Theme

Before making any changes, always create a backup of your current theme to ensure you can revert to a working state if needed.

Locate the Collection Template

1. Go to your Shopify Admin.
2. Navigate to Online Store > Themes.
3. Click on Actions > Edit Code.
4. Find the template file that controls collection listing. This is typically under sections/collection-template.liquid or similar.

Modify the Code

In your collection template, you'll likely find a product loop that limits the number of collections shown. It might look something like this:

{% for collection in collections, limit: 30 %}
  <!-- Collection HTML -->
{% endfor %}

To make it show all collections, remove the limit: 30 or increase the limit to your desired number. However, Shopify's pagination often caps this at 50. Here's an example of increasing the limit:

{% for collection in collections, limit: 50 %}
  <!-- Collection HTML -->
{% endfor %}

For displaying all collections without any limit, you can simply remove the limit attribute:

{% for collection in collections %}
  <!-- Collection HTML -->
{% endfor %}

Implementing Conditional Logic

For applying this change specifically to the 'All Collections' page, you might use conditional logic in your Liquid code:

{% if template.name == 'all-collections' %}
  {% for collection in collections %}
    <!-- Collection HTML -->
  {% endfor %}
{% else %}
  {% for collection in collections, limit: 30 %}
    <!-- Collection HTML -->
  {% endfor %}
{% endif %}

Infinite Scroll Implementation

An alternative to increasing the limit is implementing infinite scroll. This advanced technique can provide a better balance between performance and displaying all collections. Note that implementing infinite scroll is complex and might require professional help.

Testing Your Changes

After making these changes, thoroughly test your website to ensure there are no performance issues or bugs. Check both desktop and mobile versions to confirm everything loads correctly and remains user-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do if the performance decreases after increasing the collection limit?

A: Consider reverting the changes or implementing an infinite scroll solution to balance the load. Monitor your site's performance and seek professional assistance if needed.

Q: Is there a way to customize how collections are displayed without increasing the limit?

A: Yes, you can customize the display using CSS and JavaScript to create a more user-friendly layout without displaying all collections at once. Pagination is also a viable solution.

Conclusion

While it is possible to show all collections on a single page by modifying the Shopify theme code, it's essential to weigh the benefits against potential performance drawbacks. Understanding the limitations and carefully testing any changes will help maintain a high-quality user experience and optimal site performance.

For advanced customizations like infinite scroll, consider seeking professional assistance to ensure a seamless and efficient implementation.