A developer is customizing the Empire theme’s ‘collection list’ section to link to external URLs instead of product collections. They successfully added an external URL field to the Liquid template, and the link functions correctly.
Core Issue:
The collection list image only displays when a product collection is selected
Selecting a collection makes the external URL link ineffective, as the collection takes priority
Without a collection selected, the external URL works but no image appears
Attempted Workaround:
The developer considered using the ‘Grid’ section instead, but it has poor UX—only 1/4 of the image area is clickable, creating a “dead spot” effect.
Desired Solution:
Either prioritize the external URL over the product collection link, or enable image display without requiring a collection selection. The discussion remains open with a community member requesting the store URL and additional screenshots to provide specific guidance.
Summarized with AI on November 1.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
I am currently working on an Empire theme for a client and I am using the section ‘collection list’ (dynamic collection list liquid)
I am wanting the collection list to direct to a external URL as opposed to a product collection. Now I would use the ‘Grid’ section but the clickable feature of this section only works on 1/4 of the space on the image so it feels like there is a dead spot. Primarily because this is designed to be a button click link as opposed to a full clickable image.
Anyway, back to the ‘collection list’ I have added the following code to the liquid template:
Which has worked a treat, the external url section shows up and the link works however, the collection list will not display the image unless a product collection is selected, the problem being the section still prioritises the product collection rendering the link useless.
Is there a way to just have the image displayed and the external URL as the priority link?
Thank you for reaching out to the Shopify community. I’d be glad to assist you. Could you kindly share your store URL and password (if it’s password-protected) so I can review it and provide you with an update? Attach pictures so I can better understand your problem.
So on the empire theme, it is the sections/dynamic-collection-list.liquid. The collection list is defaulted to send you to a product collection, when a product collection is selected, only then will it display the image. I do not want the clickable image to link to a product collection, but to the external URL only. I have added the code as previously mentioned and without a product collection selected the link will work… Problem being, without selecting a product collection, the image will not show.
So it is either a case of trying to find a way to prioritise the external URL over the product collection or just enable the option where the image will show without having to select a product collection, the latter sounds like the simpler fix but this is where I am stuck.
