Listdom Dummy Data Documentation

Listdom’s Dummy Data Import tool helps you set up sample content on your directory site with a single click. This is great for seeing how Listdom works or for quickly populating a new site with example data (so you’re not starting from scratch). The dummy data includes example listings, categories, locations, tags, custom fields, and more. If you have certain add-ons installed (for example, the Pro add-on), the importer also adds extra demo items that showcase those capabilities, such as additional single-listing templates or richer sample fields where relevant.

Where to find it: In WordPress admin, go to Listdom → Import / Export and select the Dummy Data tab.

Hinweis

The Google Places Addon adds a separate Google Places tab under Listdom → Import / Export. That workflow searches real Google businesses and creates minimal draft listings linked by Place ID; it is separate from both general Dummy Data and coordinated Data Collections.

What Dummy Data Can Import

On the Dummy Data page, you’ll see a list of toggle switches for various content types. You can choose which types of sample content to import:

• Listings: A few sample listing posts with placeholder content and images (for example, “Sample Bank”, “Sample Business”). These demonstrate how listings look on the front-end, complete with featured images and gallery images.
• Categories: A set of example listing categories such as Beauty Salon, Cafe, Hospital, Hotel, Restaurant, Super Market. These come with colorful icons to show how category icons appear.
• Locations: Sample location terms like Florida, London, Los Angeles, New York, Paris, Rome, Madrid. Useful for testing the location filtering and map features.
• Tags: Example tags like Discount, Easy Access, Parking Friendly, Recommended.
• Features: A few feature terms like Free Wifi, Live Music, Valet to demonstrate listing features.
• Labels: Sample label terms such as Exclusive, Hot Offer, Must See, Recommended (with label colors) to see how labels can highlight listings.
• Custom Fields (Attributes): Some pre-made custom attributes:
  • Discount (Text field)
  • Pets Allowed (Dropdown with options “Yes, No, Only Cats, Only Dogs”)
  • Parking Capacity (Number field)
    These show how additional attributes can be used in listings (they’ll be assigned to the sample listings).
• Frontend Dashboard: Creates a page for the user dashboard. Specifically, it will add a WordPress page titled “Manage Listings” with the [listdom-dashboard] shortcode. This page allows frontend users to manage their listings (submission, editing, etc.).
• Shortcodes & Pages: Generates several preset listing view shortcodes and a default search form:
  • A default Search Form (saved in Listdom’s Search Builder) with common fields (text search, category dropdown, location dropdown, label dropdown).
  • Multiple Listing view shortcodes saved under Listdom → Shortcodes: for example, “Side By Side” (listings alongside a map), “List” view, “Grid” view, “Single Map” view, “List + Grid” (toggleable), “Halfmap”, “Table”, “Masonry”, etc. Each shortcode is preconfigured with a particular skin and settings to demonstrate the variety of listing layouts. (These shortcodes are saved in the backend; you can insert them into pages as needed to replicate demo layouts.)
• Profile: Creates a page titled “Profile” with the [listdom-profile] shortcode. This page is used to display a directory user’s public profile (including their info and listings). It’s useful for testing the profile/contact functionality.

You can toggle ON any items you want to import. For example, to set up everything, turn on all switches. If you only want dummy listings and taxonomies but not pages, you might toggle on Listings/Categories/etc. and leave “Frontend Dashboard” and “Profile” off.

Importing the Dummy Data

After selecting the desired content types, click the Import Dummy Data button. Listdom will proceed to generate the selected content. The process is usually fast (just a few seconds for all content).

Here’s what happens for each item:

• Taxonomies (Categories, Locations, Tags, Features, Labels): For each enabled taxonomy, Listdom will create the sample terms listed above (if they don’t already exist). It skips any term that is already present to avoid duplicates. For example, if you run it twice, it won’t create “Cafe” category twice, it will detect it exists.
• Custom Fields: If enabled, the system will create those sample attributes in Listdom’s custom fields (under Listdom Settings). Again, it won’t duplicate them if they already exist from a previous import.
• Listings: If enabled, a few sample listings will be added. These listings are assigned to the sample categories, locations, etc., and filled with placeholder text. They also come with example coordinates, prices, contact info, and gallery images. (The images are fetched from Listdom’s demo site URLs.) The sample listings give you a quick way to see how a listing appears on the front-end with all its sections.
• Shortcodes/Search Forms: If enabled, Listdom will create the default search form and multiple shortcode entries as described. Each will appear in the Listdom → Search and Filter Builder or Listdom → Shortcodes list. They will not be placed on pages automatically (except the special pages below), but you can copy their shortcodes and paste into a page or widget to use them.
• Frontend Dashboard Page: If enabled, a WordPress page named “Manage Listings” (or similar) is created with the [listdom-dashboard] shortcode. If such a page already existed (even in Trash), it will be restored or updated rather than duplicated. This page allows front-end listing management.
• Profile Page: If enabled, a page “Profile” with [listdom-profile] shortcode is created (if not already present). This page is used to display user profiles on the front-end.

Once the dummy data import finishes, you can navigate around your site to see the effects:

• The Listings menu will now show the sample listings. Try viewing them on the front-end; you’ll see example content, images, and the various elements (maps, contact form, etc.) in action.
• The Categories, Locations, etc. will show the new terms (each with icons/colors if applicable). These will appear on listing cards and filters.
• Under Listdom → Shortcodes, you’ll find entries like “Side By Side”, “Grid”, etc. You can edit these to see how they’re configured, or use their generated shortcodes on a test page.
• The Manage Listings page (frontend dashboard) is now available. If you have the Listdom user dashboard enabled, visiting this page as a logged-in user will show the dummy listings and allow editing, etc.
• The Profile page is available. If you have user profiles enabled in Listdom, you can view this page (likely by adding a link or by visiting as a logged-in user) to see a sample profile.

Removing Dummy Data

Dummy content can be removed when you no longer need it. You can delete the sample listings from the Listings menu, and likewise delete sample categories, tags, etc., from their respective menus. Pages (Manage Listings, Profile) and shortcodes can also be trashed if not needed. The dummy import will not overwrite or duplicate content that already exists, so you can run it again to add missing pieces without worrying about creating duplicates.

Set up a directory with Data Collections

Data Collections provide a coordinated starter structure for a specific directory model. Unlike the general Dummy Data sub-tab, which imports selected sample data types, a collection prepares related categories, locations, labels, custom fields, a search form, required frontend pages, and optional demo listings as one reviewed plan.

Use a Data Collection when you are starting or prototyping a directory and want to inspect every planned operation before Listdom changes site data. For an established directory, create a backup and test the collection on a staging site first.

Open the Data Collection screen

1. In WordPress administration, go to Listdom → Import / Export.
2. Open the Dummy Data tab.
3. Select the Data Collection sub-tab.

The Current Structure summary shows the site’s existing Listings, Categories, Custom Fields, Search Forms, and Skin Shortcodes. Review these counts before choosing a collection.

Available Data Collections

Business Directory

Designed for local businesses, shops, venues, and public listings. It prepares:

• Categories: Restaurant, Hotel, Medical Clinic, Beauty Salon, and Auto Services
• Labels: Featured and Open Now
• Custom fields: Price Range, Amenities, and Reservation Required
• Search form: Business Directory Search
• Pages: Manage Listings and Submit Listing
• Optional demo listings: Sample Neighborhood Bistro and Sample City Hotel

City Portal

Designed for neighborhoods, attractions, public services, and city discovery. It prepares:

• Categories: Attractions, Government Services, Restaurants, Events Venues, and Community Resources
• Locations: Downtown, Old Town, Waterfront, and University District
• Labels: Family Friendly, Tourist Favorite, and Open Late
• Custom fields: Neighborhood, Accessibility, and Best For
• Search form: City Portal Search
• Pages: City Portal Dashboard and Suggest a Place
• Optional demo listings: Sample Riverside Museum and Sample Community Help Desk

Service Marketplace

Designed for service providers, lead generation, and paid-provider workflows. It prepares:

• Categories: Home Services, Professional Services, Beauty & Wellness, Coaching & Training, and Tech Support
• Labels: Verified, Top Rated, and Available This Week
• Custom fields: Service Area, Response Time, Pricing Model, and Remote Service Available
• Search form: Service Marketplace Search
• Pages: Provider Dashboard and Apply as a Provider
• Optional demo listings: Sample Home Repair Pro and Sample Business Consultant

Preview a Data Collection

1. Choose a collection from Data Collection.
2. Keep Include Demo Listings selected to include its two sample listings, or clear it to create only the directory structure.
3. Click Preview Data Collection.
4. Review every planned operation before applying it.

Preview is read-only. It classifies each planned item as:

• Create: A new item will be created.
• Update: A matching item will be updated where that action supports updates.
• Reuse: Existing matching content will be used instead of duplicated.
• Errors: The operation could not be validated or prepared.

Resolve preview errors and review proposed updates before continuing. If you change the selected collection or Include Demo Listings, Listdom requires a fresh preview and disables Apply until that preview is complete.

Apply and review the result

1. After a successful review, click Apply Data Collection.
2. Wait for Listdom to process the plan.
3. Review the final created, updated, reused, and failed counts.
4. Open the generated terms, fields, search form, and pages and replace sample content with your directory’s real content.
5. Create the listing skin shortcodes needed for your public directory pages and connect the generated search form to the intended results page or shortcode.

Data Collections reuse matching content by default. Depending on the item type, Listdom can restore or synchronize reused content. For example, a matching frontend page can be restored from Trash, checked for its required shortcode, and assigned to the relevant Listdom setting. Always inspect reused pages and configurations on an established site.

History and rollback

The History section records the most recent application and its collection name, along with the number of items created, updated, reused, or returned as errors. History is an activity summary, not an undo or transactional rollback control.

If you need to reverse an application, use its summary to identify the generated content and review or remove unwanted listings, terms, fields, forms, and pages manually. Restore a site backup when a complete reversal is required.

Finish the directory setup

A collection creates a foundation, not a complete production website. After applying one:

• Review sample terms, field choices, pages, addresses, contact details, and website values.
• Configure the generated search form’s layout and responsive behavior.
• Create and place public listing skin shortcodes, then connect the search form to the correct results view.
• Replace or remove demo listings.
• Configure required add-ons, payments, booking, reviews, claims, and submission rules separately.
• Test frontend Dashboard permissions and listing submission.
• Review the single-listing layout, maps, contact information, and schema settings.

Recommended skins and add-ons are guidance only. A collection does not install add-ons or create every recommended public listing view.

Achtung

Applying a collection changes WordPress content and Listdom settings. Preview carefully and use a staging site when evaluating a collection for a live directory. Data Collection history does not provide automatic rollback.

Troubleshooting Data Collections

• Apply Data Collection is disabled: Select a collection and run Preview Data Collection. Preview again after changing the collection or demo-listing option.
• The preview reports an error: Read the failed action’s message, confirm the administrator has the required permissions, resolve the content or setting problem, and preview again.
• Fewer items were created than expected: Check the Reuse count and confirm whether Include Demo Listings was enabled.
• The generated pages show no listing grid: Create a shortcode under Listdom → Shortcodes, place it on the intended results page, and connect the generated search form. Collections do not place every public listing view automatically.
• You need to undo a collection: Review the application summary and remove the generated items manually, or restore a backup for a full reversal.

Use Cases for Dummy Data

• Learning and Testing: If you’re new to Listdom, importing dummy data is a great way to explore the plugin’s features. You can see how a fully set-up listing looks and how the search and display shortcodes function without having to manually create everything.
• Design and Styling: Developers or designers can use dummy listings and terms to test how the directory will appear with real content. It’s easier to adjust styling or settings when you have example data visible.
• Demo Sites: If you’re setting up a demo for a client or on a staging site, the dummy data gives you a quick directory to show off, which you can then replace with real data later.

Feel free to mix and match the dummy content types. For instance, you might import just taxonomies and custom fields, then add your own listings manually. Or import everything for a complete demo setup.

When you’re ready to go live with your own data, simply remove the dummy entries. They are all standard WordPress posts/terms, so deletion is straightforward. Nothing the dummy importer adds will affect your actual settings - it’s only content.