FAQ Q154: How can I add searchable properties (categories) to resources (e.g. number of beds or whether animals are allowed)?

You can create searchable categories and list features of your resources by adding custom resource properties. This can be done in Site Settings > Custom Resource Properties.

This feature allows you to create searchable categories, such as the number of beds or whether animals are allowed. Additionally, it enables you to list specific features of the resource, which can be displayed in the resource listing and in the description. For example, in vacation home rentals, you can display amenities like WiFi and parking. In car rentals, you can display details such as gear type and number of seats.

In the name field, enter the name of the property that will be displayed to the users.

Search condition: this value is only used when integrating a search box on your website. This should be left at the default value (=) unless it's a yes/no value or when the search results should find values greater or lower than a value selected by the user. This is useful if for example someone's looking for a room for 1 person and it's also possible for them to stay in a double or triple room. In this case choose >= which will search for values greater than or equal to the value used in search (single/double/triple for a single person).

Possible values: this field should be only filled out when you want the user to be able to choose from one of the pre-defined values. These values should be separated by commas, e.g.: Yes, No or 1, 2, 3

Once the custom properties are set up, you should set their values for each resource in your site (or meta site). In case you have many resources, you'll find very convenient the batch edit property link available next to each defined resource property.

Once the custom resource properties are defined and their values set for each resource, you can include them in the search box. If you added a search box as a widget connected to your planyo module (advanced integration) or to the planyo.com website (simple integration), then when you go to Integrate with my website / Widgets / Availability Search Box you'll see all the custom properties defined by you and planyo will generate the HTML code for the search box which will include the chosen properties automatically. If you don't want to use the search box widget but your planyo module starts with the search box, you can add the custom resource properties to be used as search criteria in the planyo module settings / additional fields of the search box or in the attribute string. Please see the integration instructions with the CMS system used (on our Integrations page) or see Q167 for more about the attribute string and module settings.

Please note that if the search box widget contains a search criterium in form of a custom resource property, the resulting search mode in the planyo module will also automatically include the same criterium without the need to include it in both places.

Once the custom resource property values are defined for each resource, you can use the $(prop_res_xxx) tag listed in Q205 in any of your templates/email notifications to retrieve the value for given resource.