Crafting a Collection Page That Shines: Adding a Dynamic Product Count Bar and Sort Options on Shopify

Picture this: You’re meandering about your favorite online store—we’ve all been there, right? Eyes wide with excitement at the prospect of new treasures being just a click away. And then, mid-scroll, there's this elegant bar, like a beacon, gently informing you, "Hey, there are 42 glorious options right here for your shopping pleasure!" One might say pure shopping magic! Naturally, we thought, "Why not bring that enchanted bar to all Shopify store owners?" And so, here we are, about to embark on a journey to create that sublime experience on your collection pages.

Unraveling the Mystery of the Long Product Count Bar

Let’s dive straight into the thick of it—adding a long bar that not only counts your products but also has that sophisticated "Sort by" feature, wrapped neatly in a border, just as life should be wrapped—with love. This isn’t just about functionality; it’s about conversation. Your store talking directly to your customer.

The First Step: Tempt Fate with Liquid

Like mixing a perfect cocktail (alcohol optional), this begins with the ever-versatile Shopify Liquid. Now, before you sense an impending headache—fear not, dear friends. It's simpler than your cousin’s latch hook rug. Here's how you can concoct this:

Navigate into the theme editor: From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes, then click Actions > Edit code.
Locate the collection template: You'll be dealing mostly with collection.liquid or collection-template.liquid, depending on your theme.
Find where the number of products is displayed: Often, you'll see something like {{ collection.products_count }}. Here, you're bringing numbers to life, amping them up to be your store’s lead singer.

Wrap it in a stylish bar: Slide this Liquid snippet into your file where you'd like the bar to appear:

<div class="product-count-bar">
  <p>Total Products: {{ collection.products_count }}</p>
</div>

Fashioning Your Elegantly Bordered Bar

Lines can sometimes be harsh—think of arguments over whose turn it is to unpack the dishwasher—but they guide the eye. Let’s sketch that out:

Strike a Balance with CSS: Now, make it pop with some dashing CSS:
```
.product-count-bar {
  border: 1px solid #ccc;
  padding: 10px;
  margin: 10px 0;
  background-color: #f9f9f9;
  text-align: center;
}
```
Proud and poised, your product count bar now struts like it owns the place—confident yet understated.

Make Room for Order: Adding "Sort By"

Amidst all this beauty, practicality must have its say—or else chaos reigns. To add the "Sort by" droplet of joy, do this:

Incorporate Sort Options: Tangle the existing code with a sprinkle of liquid wizardry:

<form method="get" class="sort-bar">
  <label for="sort-by">Sort by:</label>
  <select name="sort_by" id="sort-by" onchange="this.form.submit()">
    <option value="title-ascending">Alphabetically, A–Z</option>
    <option value="title-descending">Alphabetically, Z–A</option>
    <option value="created-descending">Date, new to old</option>
    <option value="created-ascending">Date, old to new</option>
    <option value="price-ascending">Price, low to high</option>
    <option value="price-descending">Price, high to low</option>
  </select>
</form>

Without fanfare, your sort feature accompanies the bar, turning potential chaos into harmonious order. Neat suits, neat products.

Sewing It All Together

Here's where you lean back and admire that fastidious handiwork. Refresh your store and revel in the satisfied glow of a page transformed—32 products now gleam beneath a flawlessly lined bar. Oh, the sublime satisfaction!

Crafting a page that keeps users (and their inevitable wandering attention) on your store is an exercise in exquisite minimalism—aim well and make every pixel count. Remember, friends don't let friends code alone. Let’s keep creating spaces where our products can flaunt.

Cheers to the bits and bytes that make every digital day brighter!

And there we have it, folks! Your store, a better, brighter, bar-enhanced place. 🍸

Now, isn’t that the very picture of online artistry?