Configuration
How to configure Product Listing Pages in the Malachyte Portal
The PLP Configuration Page is the single control surface for all PLP behavior for a given collection. From here, you can manage merchandising rules, filters, banners, sorting, and preview your changes before publishing.
Selecting a Collection
When you navigate to the PLP section, you will see a searchable table of all Shopify Collections available in your store.
Collection Table Overview
| Column | Description |
|---|---|
| ID | The unique Shopify Collection identifier |
| Name | The collection title as defined in Shopify |
| Product Count | Number of products in the collection |
| Conditions | Collection rules (if applicable) |
[!TIP] Use the search field to quickly find a specific collection by name or ID.
Configuration Page Layout
Once you select a collection, the configuration page displays all current settings for that PLP:
Sections Available
- Merchandising Rules — Existing Promote, Bury, Hide, Only Show, and Pin rules
- Associated Banners — Linked MetaObjects and their metadata
- Enabled Filters — Which product attributes are visible as filters
- Sorting Configuration — Current sort options and defaults
Grid & Layout Engine
The Grid & Layout Engine controls the responsive visual rendering of products returned by a collection.
Designer Goals
- Configurable column counts by device (e.g., 4 columns on desktop, 2 on mobile)
- Support for inline storytelling or promotional spots within the grid
- Consistent visual rhythm even when content is injected
Layout Benefits
Merchants vary in density and branding preferences. A flexible grid prevents theme forks while preserving visual consistency across different collection pages.
[!NOTE] Grid configuration is designed to maintain layout stability. Personalization and ranking changes will not cause unpredictable grid shifts or fragmented design patterns.
Saving & Publishing
After making changes to your PLP configuration:
- Save — Configuration is stored in Malachyte
- Preview — Use the Playground to validate changes before publishing
- Publish — Runtime behavior updates automatically for that collection
[!IMPORTANT] Shopify theme code is not modified. Behavior changes are injected at runtime, allowing for rapid iteration without deployment cycles.
Key Principles
Collection-Governed Design
Every PLP configuration is tied directly to a Shopify Collection. The PLP Engine enhances collection behavior without creating duplicate page entities.
Non-Engineering Control
All configuration is accessible through the Portal UI. Merchants and marketers can adjust placement, filters, and banners without requiring developer involvement or theme changes.
Performance-First
Configuration changes are designed to preserve first render speed and avoid layout instability.