If no results for {categories}

Question

Is there a way to display a fallback snippet if a {categories show_group='xy'}-Tag is empty / a entry does not have a category?

The example…

<p>Category: {categories show_group='xy' backspace='2'}<a href='#'>{category_name}</a>, {/categories}</p>

… shows …

Category: 

… if there is no linked category for this entry in this category-group. Is there a way to do something like:

Category: No categories assigned

… or hide «Category: » in the first place with a conditional or something simpler than this kind-of-complicated stuff:

{categories show_group='xy' limit='1'}<p>Category: {/categories}{categories show_group='xy' backspace='2'}<a href='#'>{category_name}</a>, {/categories}</p>{categories show_group='xy' limit='1'}</p>{/categories}

Answer 1

I have used this, which isn't the most elegant solution, but does work:

{if "{categories show_group='xy'}y{/categories}" != ""}
    Category: {categories show_group='xy'} ... {/categories}
{if:else}
    No categories here
{/if}

You could also try the BW Category Count add-on.

Answer 2

I'd look at the count parameter as a conditional: http://ellislab.com/expressionengine/user-guide/modules/channel/categories.html#count

{categories show_group='xy' backspace='2'}
{if count == "1"}Category:{/if} // If there are any cat's then show the title
<a href='#'>{category_name}</a>,
{/categories}

It's late here and the code may not be perfect but you should get the gist :)

Answer 3

Was having the same problem. I wrote a small (free) plugin that will enable you to do just that. Entry id is mandatory and has optional category groups. Available here.