# Difficult to select subcategory "none" when show\_subcategory\_list is enabled
**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004
**Category:** Bug
**Created:** [February 27, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004 "2017-02-27T04:20:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2017, 4:20am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/1 "2017-02-27T04:20:34Z")
If a category has subcategories, loading `yoursite.com/c/category_name` displays a list of topics from the category, _as well as_ any and all subcategories. If `show_subcategory_list` is disabled, (for example [on Stonehearth](https://discourse.stonehearth.net/c/support), click image below to expand), there is a second dropdown where you can select a subcategory (or none).
However, when `show_subcategory_list` is enabled, the second dropdown doesn’t appear. (See [Meta howto](https://meta.discourse.org/c/howto)). If you are attempting to view a specific subcategory, this isn’t an issue as you can select the subcategory you want from the list that appears.
If, however, you want to view only the topics in the parent category _and not in a subcategory_ there is no easy way to do so via the UI.
One way to accomplish it is as follows:
1. Navigate to a category with subcategories and `show_subcategory_list` enabled (like #howto).
2. Click on a subcategory
3. Notice that the second dropdown appears
4. Click it, and select none.
5. Notice that you are redirected to `yoursite.com/c/category_name/none` On Meta that would be [https://meta.discourse.org/c/howto/none](https://meta.discourse.org/c/howto/none), but the UI does not indicate in any way you’ve done so (other than filtering the topic list properly)
That is a very roundabout method to accomplish this. The list of subcategories is still at the top, so you have to know to scroll down, and there’s no UI method to remove the “none” (other than repeating the above steps).
---
### Author:  [@codinghorror](https://meta.discourse.org/u/codinghorror)
#### Post date: [February 27, 2017, 4:43am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/2 "2017-02-27T04:43:32Z")
@neil is working on some subcategory stuff this week and can take a look.
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [March 31, 2017, 9:37pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/5 "2017-03-31T21:37:43Z")
Curious if this was able to get looked at - or if more urgent items arose?
---
### Author:  [@neil](https://meta.discourse.org/u/neil)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/7 "2017-06-06T18:44:51Z")
I guess the easiest solution is to always show the subcategory selector.
We were trying to be smart by hiding it when the subcategories are listed below, but it makes the navigation inconsistent.
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2017, 6:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/8 "2017-06-06T18:45:54Z")
> [@neil](#):
>
> We were trying to be smart by hiding it when the subcategories are listed below, but it makes the navigation inconsistent.
The other option would be a “box” or “row” for the parent category.
---
### Author:  [@neil](https://meta.discourse.org/u/neil)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2017, 7:07pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/9 "2017-06-06T19:07:13Z")
I don’t follow. How would it look?
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/10 "2017-06-06T19:12:43Z")
Something like this? Just add a box/row for the parent category itself. Really curde mockup below.
Note, I haven’t thought about this much. No idea if there needs to be an indication that this is the parent and not a subcategory, or other details.
---
### Author:  [@neil](https://meta.discourse.org/u/neil)
#### Post date: [June 6, 2017, 9:20pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/11 "2017-06-06T21:20:09Z")
Hmm, that looks too much like a subcategory, and doesn’t solve how to clearly show that the “none” filter is active. I’ll go with showing the subcategory filter even if we’re listing the subcategories below.
---
### Author:  [@jomaxro](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jomaxro)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/difficult-to-select-subcategory-none-when-show-subcategory-list-is-enabled/58004/12 "2017-06-08T02:12:06Z")
Saw the commit to add the dropdown at all times, thanks! When filtering to `none` the subcategory boxes still appear. Can they be removed so they only show when filtered to `all`?