The Listdom Advanced Portal Search (APS) Addon enhances the search and browsing experience on your directory. It provides more control over how filters match listings and ensures your directory looks professional by displaying a fallback image for listings that don’t have their own featured image. Essentially, APS gives you fine-grained search logic (AND/OR) for taxonomy filters and a way to avoid blank image slots on listing cards.
By default, when users select multiple terms in a filter (e.g., multiple categories or multiple features), Listdom uses an OR logic - it will show listings that have any of the selected terms. The APS Addon allows you to switch this to AND logic on a per-taxonomy basis, meaning users can find listings that strictly match all selected terms.
In the APS settings (Listdom Settings → Addons → Advanced Portal Search), you will find Matching Logic controls for each taxonomy:
Categories Logic: Choose OR (default) to show listings that belong to any of the selected categories, or AND to require listings to be in all selected categories simultaneously.
Locations Logic: Toggle between OR or AND if you allow selecting multiple locations in search.
Tags Logic: OR shows listings having any of the selected tags; AND would only show listings that have every selected tag.
Features Logic: Often multiple features can be selected (e.g., “Free WiFi” AND “Parking”). Using AND here means a listing must have all chosen features to appear in results. OR would list any with at least one of the features.
Labels Logic: If you use labels (like “Featured” or other flags), you can decide if multiple label filters narrow down (AND) or broaden (OR) the results.
Attributes (Custom Fields) Logic: For additional custom taxonomies, you can set their matching as well. For instance, if you have a custom field taxonomy for “Amenities” with values, AND logic would only find listings that have every amenity selected.
Each taxonomy has a simple toggle in the settings represented by OR/AND radio buttons. Select your preferred logic and save. The search forms on your site will then follow these rules.
APS also introduces a Fallback Image setting - a single image that you designate to show whenever a listing has no featured image of its own.
Setting the Image: In the APS settings, you’ll find an “Fallback Image” picker. Upload or choose an image from your media library that will serve as the default image. Common choices are a logo, a generic “no photo” graphic, or a placeholder relevant to your niche.
Where It Appears: Once set, if a listing has no featured image, Listdom will automatically use this fallback image in its place on the front-end. This applies to listing cards, grids, map infowindows, or anywhere a featured image would display. The addon hooks into the featured image retrieval and injects the fallback where needed.
Consistent Dimensions: The fallback image will be output in the same dimensions/cropping as normal listing thumbnails. It’s recommended to use an image with appropriate aspect ratio (e.g., a 16:9 landscape if your listings normally use that) to avoid any design inconsistencies. The addon ensures the proper CSS classes are applied so the image fits the layout.
By using a fallback, you avoid empty image frames or broken image icons on listings that contributors might have forgotten to add images to. It gives your directory a more polished look since every listing appears to have an image.
Open APS Settings: Navigate to Listdom Settings → Addons → Advanced Portal Search. This panel contains all APS addon options.
Adjust Matching Logic: For each taxonomy listed under Matching Logic, decide whether search filters should use OR or AND. Click the corresponding radio button for each (e.g., set Features to AND if you want all selected features required). If you’re unsure, leaving it on OR (default) is a safe choice.
Set a Fallback Image: Under Fallback Image, click “Choose Image”. Upload a new placeholder image or select one from your media library. Once chosen, it will appear as a thumbnail in the settings page.
Save Changes: Click Save The Changes. Your new search logic and fallback image are now active. Test on the front-end by running a search with multiple filters and by viewing a listing without a featured image to ensure the fallback displays.
A job directory allows filtering by multiple skills (tags). With APS, the admin sets Tags logic to AND. Now if a user filters jobs by JavaScript AND React, they only see jobs that require both skills, not jobs that require either. This delivers more precise results to the user.
Cleaner Listing Grid with Fallbacks
An event directory has some older events added without images. The admin uploads a branded “Event Coming Soon” graphic as the Fallback Image. Now, on the homepage event grid, every event tile shows either its unique featured photo or the fallback image. The grid looks consistent and professional, with no empty image slots.
Combining Filters with AND Logic
On a real estate site, the admin enables AND logic for Features. A visitor can filter for homes that have PoolandGarageandFireplace simultaneously. Thanks to APS, only properties with all those features show up, saving the visitor time by not showing homes missing one of the amenities.
