Collections Template Clean Up

[TCHQ_25]

Hello! My store utilizes a unique app to help filter products in the collection page (we sell vehicle parts and they have specific fitment requirements). I recently upgraded to the latest version of the Empire theme (we were on an extremely old version previously) and I noticed that in order to use my app and have it function correctly, I have to add the “App Wrapper” product grid.

This is fine, except I can’t delete the templated “Collection Pages” and I can’t add the app to that block. It’s resulting in a duplication of my content. So far, I’ve just had it hidden. However, I know that this cannot be good for my site’s performance so I want a more permanent fix. Screenshot below to showcase what I’m talking about:

Any idea how I can fix this?

[StevenT_A7]

Hi @TCHQ_25 ,

Remove Shopify’s default product grid so only your app’s “Product Grid with Filters” shows, avoiding duplicate content and improving performance.

Steps:
Go to: Online Store > Themes > Edit code.

Open this file:
templates/collection.json

Find and remove the block that loads the default grid, usually:

{
“type”: “main-collection-product-grid”,

…
}

Save the file.

This will permanently remove Shopify’s product grid section from the collection page, so only your app’s grid loads via the “App Wrapper.”

Please let me know if it helps, Thanks!

[TCHQ_25]

Thank you so much for the reply @StevenT_A7 ! I think I have a bit of user error going on. I can’t find the exact string you mentioned. Under collection.json, I am seeing the following code:

{
“sections”: {
“main”: {
“type”: “static-collection”,
“blocks”: {
“filter-1”: {
“type”: “filter”,
“settings”: {
“filter_option”: “faceted”,
“filter_groups”: “expand_first”,
“show_filter_product_count”: true,
“filter_style”: “tags”,
“filter_limit”: “999”,
“grid_categories”: “”,
“custom_ordered_categories”: “”,
“custom_ordered_tags”: “”,
“excluded_tags”: “”,
“excluded_groups”: “”
}
}
},
“block_order”: [
“filter-1”
],
“disabled”: true,
“settings”: {
“show_collection_image”: true,
“products_per_page_range”: 24,
“products_per_row”: “4”,
“sort_by”: true,
“grid_list”: true,
“default_view”: “grid-view”,
“enable_subcollection”: false,
“show_product_count”: false,
“thumbnail_image”: “product-image”,
“image_crop”: “original”
}
},
“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”: {
“type”: “dynamic-rich-text”,
“settings”: {
“width”: “full-width”,
“title”: “”,
“text”: “{{ collection.description }}”,
“heading_size”: “large”,
“text_alignment”: “left”
}
},
“1743695720527b7964”: {
“type”: “apps”,
“blocks”: {
“convermax_year_make_model_collection_page_wXPXdF”: {
“type”: “shopify://apps/convermax-year-make-model/blocks/collection-page/874383ce-1b49-4436-9ea6-3697a3a5a3d5”,
“settings”: {
“wrapper_classes”: “”
}
}
},
“block_order”: [
“convermax_year_make_model_collection_page_wXPXdF”
],
“settings”: {
“include_padding”: true
}
},
“static-recently-viewed”: {
“type”: “static-recently-viewed”,
“settings”: {
“enable_recently_viewed_products”: true
}
}
},
“order”: [
“main”,
“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”,
“1743695720527b7964”,
“static-recently-viewed”
]
}

I tried to delete the static collection since that seems to be the most likely culprit. However, it’s not letting me save. It’s saying there’s an error in the json. Which portion should I delete?

Appreciate your support!

[StevenT_A7]

Hi @TCHQ_25 ,

Thanks for sharing the full collection.json you’re very close!

Yes, you’re right: the “main”: { “type”: “static-collection”, … } section is what’s rendering Shopify’s default product grid.

To safely remove the default product grid, you need to:

Clean Removal Without Breaking JSON

1. Delete this entire block:
   From:

“main”:

{
“type”: “static-collection”,
…
}
All the way down to its closing brace, including:

},
That includes everything from “main”: { down to its closing } and the trailing comma after it.

2. Then in the “order” array, remove “main”:
   Change this:

“order”: [
“main”,
“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”,
“1743695720527b7964”,
“static-recently-viewed”
]
To this:

“order”: [
“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”,
“1743695720527b7964”,
“static-recently-viewed”
]

Final Result:
No more default Shopify collection product grid.

Your app grid (inside the block 1743695720527b7964) remains active.

JSON is valid and theme saves correctly.

Please let me know if it resolves your problem !

[PaulNewton]

Hi @TCHQ_25 “Collection pages” is a static section in the template.

Unless every collection has the same behavior avoid modifying the base collection JSON template

Make an alternate template for those collections based of the base collection JSON template

THEN modify the alternate template to remove the static section

https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/theme-structure/templates#create-a-new-template

If you need customization for a more interchangable template,sections, and blocks, then contact me for services.
Contact info in forum signature.
ALWAYS please provide context, examples: store url, theme name, post url(s) , or any further detail in ALL correspondence.

[TCHQ_25]

I’m still getting the following error:

Any idea why that may be happening?

[TCHQ_25]

Thank you! This is a great suggestion. I really appreciate it. I have made the copy.

[PaulNewton]

It’s time burning guesswork to tell without having the actual code

Use an online JSON linter tool to check the syntax of the edits you’ve made.

Either you’ve removed more than should have been or incorrect additions have been made.

[TCHQ_25]

Hi @PaulNewton ,

Original code is pasted above. Here is the change I made. Will look into your suggestion.

{

“sections”: {

“block_order”: [

“filter-1”

],

“disabled”: true,

“settings”: {

“show_collection_image”: true,

“products_per_page_range”: 24,

“products_per_row”: “4”,

“sort_by”: true,

“grid_list”: true,

“default_view”: “grid-view”,

“enable_subcollection”: false,

“show_product_count”: false,

“thumbnail_image”: “product-image”,

“image_crop”: “original”

}

},

“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”: {

“type”: “dynamic-rich-text”,

“settings”: {

“width”: “full-width”,

“title”: “”,

“text”: “{{ collection.description }}”,

“heading_size”: “large”,

“text_alignment”: “left”

}

},

“1743695720527b7964”: {

“type”: “apps”,

“blocks”: {

“convermax_year_make_model_collection_page_wXPXdF”: {

“type”: “shopify://apps/convermax-year-make-model/blocks/collection-page/874383ce-1b49-4436-9ea6-3697a3a5a3d5”,

“settings”: {

“wrapper_classes”: “”

}

}

},

“block_order”: [

“convermax_year_make_model_collection_page_wXPXdF”

],

“settings”: {

“include_padding”: true

}

},

“static-recently-viewed”: {

“type”: “static-recently-viewed”,

“settings”: {

“enable_recently_viewed_products”: true

}

}

},

“order”: [

“dynamic_rich_text_Xn9wDF”,

“1743695720527b7964”,

“static-recently-viewed”

]

}

[TCHQ_25]

I had an error the first time. It worked! Thank you so much!