We have been trying to figure out a way to create a dynamic custom menu (based on categories & subcategories) in a sidebar. The start of our manual version of this can be seen here: http://envirologek.com/envirologekwordpress/product-category/environmental-monitoring/solinst-instruments/#ubermenu-dynamic_terms

We have also been trying to create a filtered list of sub-categories within a tabbed section on the homepage for easier usability/visibility to our sub-categories product pages. Our goal on this was a list of sub-categories grouped by tab (tabs being major categories) so that our visitors could more easily get to the individual product categories. The manual version of this that we have right now can be seen here: http://envirologek.com/envirologekwordpress/

These are both able to be done with a static list of the category links which generates a search results page. The problem arises because we would like the lists/menus to be dynamic, where they will update as categories get added or renamed instead of the links breaking on us each time and needing to be manually updated.

We found what we thought might be a solution in the plugin UberMenu, however because Savia has only one main menu featured, we wondered if there was anything that would interfere with us trying to put the menu into the sidebar using their manual installation processes, before we start messing around with the coding . I believe we would need to be able to select the desired menu, but if that can be overridden by indication within the code that would work as well.

Looking for feedback on whether this has been attempted before, problems we will face, or if there is an alternative solution that we haven’t thought of. Initial attempts to do the automatic installation were unsuccessful, so now we’re moving towards manual, or changing solutions.

Thank you,
Envirologek

First off not sure if I understand correctly, thanks for a thorough explanation and please bear with me if I didn’t follow at places..

1. You already have that in Woocommerce out of the box – it’s a widget named ‘Woocommerce Product Cateogories’ that you simply can place in your sidebar (if I understand correctly that this is what you are after).

2. For a dynamic list of categories that you want to list in tabs… I would create a shortcode that will pull all categories with a single query, then format the output anyway i please, then simply place it in the tabs.

Hope those help, let me know if I am missing something.