Empty Category Messages: Configuration
Fields of the Empty Category group in the Admin: message, image, size, alignment, CSS classes and inheritance, with defaults and practical examples.
Configuration
The plugin has no global settings. Everything is set per category through custom fields.
Setting up the fields
- In the Admin, go to Catalogues > Categories.
- Select a category.
- Scroll to the Custom Fields section.
- Fill in the fields of the Empty Category field group and save.
Available fields
| Field | Technical name | Type | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empty category message | mmd_empty_category_message |
HTML text | empty | HTML text shown when no products exist in this category |
| Image | mmd_empty_category_image |
Media selection | empty | Optional image (e.g., a sad smiley) shown when the category is empty |
| Image size | mmd_empty_category_image_size |
Select | Medium | Small (150px), Medium (250px) or Large (400px): maximum width of the image |
| Image alignment | mmd_empty_category_image_align |
Select | Center | Left, Center or Right |
| Text alignment | mmd_empty_category_text_align |
Select | Center | Left, Center or Right |
| CSS classes | mmd_empty_category_css_class |
Text | empty | Additional CSS classes for custom styling (e.g., my-class another-class) |
| Inherit from parent category | mmd_empty_category_inherit |
Switch | off | If enabled and no own text is defined, the parent category text is used |
Image, size, alignments and CSS classes are only evaluated when a message is set for the category. An image alone is not enough, see Troubleshooting.
Inheritance
If a category has no message of its own and Inherit from parent category is enabled, the plugin uses the message of the parent category.
- A category with its own message always shows that message.
- If the parent category has no message of its own, the search only continues upwards when Inherit from parent category is also enabled there.
- The search covers at most 10 levels, including the category itself.
- Image, size, alignments and CSS classes come from the category whose message is displayed.
- If no message is found, the storefront shows the default Shopware message.
Practical examples
Seasonal category
A "Christmas Specials" category that is empty outside the season.
Message:
<h3>Coming Soon!</h3>
<p>Our Christmas specials will be available from November. Check back soon!</p>
Image: a festive placeholder image, Image size: Large, Text alignment: Center.
Temporarily sold out
Message:
<p>All products in this category are currently sold out. We are working on restocking. Please check back soon!</p>
CSS classes: alert-warning
Category hierarchy with inheritance
The parent category "Electronics" gets the message:
<p>No products are available in this category at the moment.</p>
The child categories "Smartphones", "Tablets" and "Laptops" leave the message empty and enable Inherit from parent category. All three then show the parent's message without being maintained individually.