Low Search show multiple selected categories

Question

I am using Low Search with 2 category select field filters. I'd like to display the selected categories on the page, but when only one category group is used, the results effect the other categories display.

For example:

<p>Industry: {if '{low_search_category}' != ''}{exp:channel:categories show="{low_search_category}" channel="attorneys" category_group="2" style="linear"}{category_name}{/exp:channel:categories}{if:else}All{/if}</p> <p>Practice Area: {if '{low_search_category}' != ''}{exp:channel:categories show="{low_search_category}" channel="attorneys" category_group="3" style="linear"}{category_name}{/exp:channel:categories}{if:else}All{/if}</p>

I have 2 select fields, Industry & Practice Areas. If I select a category from the Industry select field but not from the Practice Area select field, I need the above code to show the correct category for Industry (which it does) but show "All" for Practice Areas since nothing was selected.

With the above code, nothing gets displayed for Practice Areas instead of "All" because {low_search_category} does not distinguish between the 2 different category groups.

Is there any way to achieve this?

Answer 1

Take a look at the Category Groups option. That might be better for your use case.

Edit: Something along these lines, if you're allowing only one selection per group:

Form

{exp:low_search:form query="{segment_3}"}
    <select name="category:industry">
        <option value="">All industries</option>
        {exp:channel:categories channel="attorneys" category_group="2" style="linear"}
            <option value="{category_id}"{if low_search_category:industry == category_id} selected{/if}>
                {category_name}
            </option>
        {/exp:channel:categories}
    </select>

    <select name="category:area">
        <option value="">All practice areas</option>
        {exp:channel:categories channel="attorneys" category_group="3" style="linear"}
            <option value="{category_id}"{if low_search_category:area == category_id} selected{/if}>
                {category_name}
            </option>
        {/exp:channel:categories}
    </select>

    <button type="submit">Go</button>
{/exp:low_search:form}

Filters

{exp:low_search:filters query="{segment_3}"}
    <p>
        Industry:
        {if low_search_category:industry != ''}
            {exp:channel:categories show="{low_search_category:industry}" channel="attorneys" category_group="2" style="linear"}
                {category_name}
            {/exp:channel:categories}
        {if:else}
            All
        {/if}
    </p>
    <p>
        Practice Area:
        {if low_search_category:area != ''}
            {exp:channel:categories show="{low_search_category:area}" channel="attorneys" category_group="3" style="linear"}
                {category_name}
            {/exp:channel:categories}
        {if:else}
            All
        {/if}
    </p>
{/exp:low_search:filters}

Search results

{exp:low_search:results query="{segment_3}"}
    ...
{/exp:low_search:results}