Adding recommendations through app blocks (OS 2.0 blocks)

Learn about Recommendation widgets, their types, and available settings in the Using Recommendations guide.

If your store uses themes that support app blocks, you’ll see the OS 2.0 blocks tab in the Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section. From there, you can add Recommendation widgets to your theme using app blocks in the Theme Editor.

Add a widget

To add a Recommendation widget to your theme using an app block:

1. Go to Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab.
2. Click Add in the top-right corner.
3. In the installation dialog, select the widget type, theme, and page where you want to place the widget, then click Install.
   
   
4. The Theme Editor will open with the corresponding app block added.
   
   

   Configure the widget settings:

   • Optionally, change the Title.
   • For Featured Products, select the products to display.
   • For Similar Products, choose a value for the Based on setting.
   • For Recently Viewed Products, specify how long viewed products should remain visible.
   • Optionally, move the block to a different position on the page.
5. Click Save in the Theme Editor.

After you save the changes, the Recommendation widget will appear on the selected page. In the Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab, you’ll see the added widget along with its title and status, which will be shown as Active.

To display the widget in another location, repeat the steps above and select a different page or theme during installation.

Widget statuses

You can view the status of each Recommendation widget in the OS 2.0 Blocks tab. The status is synchronized with the corresponding app block in your theme.

• Active — the widget is installed and visible on the selected page and theme.
• Hidden — the widget is installed but hidden on the selected page and theme.
• Missing — the widget is no longer present or wasn’t present on the selected page and theme.

Hide a widget

To hide a Recommendation widget:

1. Go to Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab.
2. Click Edit next to the block.
3. The Theme Editor will open with the corresponding app block selected.
4. Hide the app block in the Theme Editor and save your changes.

The widget’s status in the admin panel will change to Hidden, and it will no longer be displayed to shoppers.

Activate a widget

To activate the hidden Recommendation widget:

1. Go to Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab.
2. Click Edit next to the block.
3. The Theme Editor will open with the corresponding app block selected.
4. Activate the app block in the Theme Editor and save your changes.

The widget’s status in the admin panel will change to Active, and it will be displayed to shoppers.

Edit a widget

To edit a Recommendation widget:

1. Go to Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab.
2. Click Edit next to the block.
3. The Theme Editor will open with the corresponding app block selected.
4. Update the app block settings as needed.
5. Save your changes in the Theme Editor.

The updated settings will be applied immediately after the changes are saved.

Delete a widget

To delete a Recommendation widget:

1. Go to Searchanise Search & Filter control panel > Merchandising & Promo > Recommendations section > OS 2.0 blocks tab.
2. Click Edit next to the block.
3. The Theme Editor will open with the corresponding app block selected.
4. Remove the app block and save your changes.
5. Return to the OS 2.0 Blocks tab. The widget status will change to Missing.
6. Click Delete next to the block and confirm the action.

The widget will be removed from both your theme and the Searchanise admin panel.