# Layouts Plugin

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/layouts-plugin/55208
**Category:** Plugin
**Tags:** pavilion, broken
**Created:** [January 5, 2017, 9:41am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/layouts-plugin/55208 "2017-01-05T09:41:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 273

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### Author: ![jord8on](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jord8on/32/166809_2.png) [@jord8on](https://meta.discourse.org/u/jord8on)
#### Post date: [July 20, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/layouts-plugin/55208/273 "2020-07-20T03:50:03Z")

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Continuing the discussion from [Sidebar with categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-with-categories/104165/32):

> [@Sidebar with categories](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-with-categories/104165/32):
>
> I have a couple questions…
> 
> 1. Would it be possible to add some highlight/indicator to show which category a person is in, by highlighting (or some other visible distinction) the category one is currently viewing?
> 2. Would it be possible to show sub-categories? Perhaps when a user is viewing a Category that has sub-categories, it would be great to see that Category open and showing the sub-categories beneath it.  
> ↳ another point to this that would be nice is that if a Category has sub-categories, if there was a way to instantly see this… maybe kinda like the Discourse “Hide Details” feature works…
> 
> ## Example…
> 
> 🔹 Category 1
> 
> 🔸 Sub-Category 1
> 
> 🔸 Sub-Category 2
> 
> 🔹 Category 2
> 
> 🔹 Category 3
> 
> 🔹 Category 4

I posted that question ⬆︎ in the [Sidebar with categories - #30 by Stranik](https://meta.discourse.org/t/sidebar-with-categories/104165/30) Plugin discussion.

I’m wondering how difficult it would be to customize that or write some custom code/plugin/theme component to allow extend that functionality and offer a nested folder type view of the categories and sub-categories.

# Specs:

I want the Categories listed in the Sidebar menu to show the main categories and Categories with Sub-Categories would clearly indicate this. then when you click on one, it shows the sub-categories. And the last key functionality is that no matter where you are in the forums, the sidebar would indicate the source/location of the active discussion that you are viewing.

e.g. So if someone visits our forums from an organic google search, and end up viewing a Topic in a Sub-category, we want them to see that they are in a Sub-category, within the main Category.

Not sure how difficult it would be to develop this and/or what the cost would be, but if anyone can help with this, please let me know!

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