Table of Contents
This is a themes and plugins features comparison for a better overview of our directory business website solutions. You can learn here the main differences between our new and older products. We post here a short progress report and what is coming soon. Plus, we have information on how it will be possible to move from a third-party solution to ours.
Especially news for existing customers about migration process: In this article, you will learn new information about the options for migrating from old templates to Citadela Directory solution in our FAQ section.
Short overview: New Citadela Directory Solution
We released a new Citadela WordPress theme and plugins back in 2019. It is built on plain WordPress, and it is customisable using Gutenberg Editor. Since then, we have constantly been working on new functions.
Citadela solution is our 3rd WordPress products generation. We incorporate all our 11 years of experience with WordPress and directory sites. We put attention to speed, multipurpose content usability and compatibility. Production is divided into phases. We bring you a better overview of upcoming things in the monthly reports.
Brief recapitulation as of 8th March 2021
We have finished the 2nd and start working on 3rd phases of developing the Citadela Directory solution. We fulfilled the plan and released everything planned. We also fit into the time frame. We are adding now new extra feature – Filter Search. It will be released in the coming days. Another great news is that Citadela DirectorPRO Layout is live now.
FAQ section
Where we would like to answer the most frequent topics related to our products. Please have a look on our Citadela Directory Plugin documentation and let us know what are you missing there.
1. How to decide which directory theme to use?
It depends on your project. If you are going to build a brand new portal, we would recommend you to use Citadela solutions. Why? Because it is fast and based on pure WordPress. You have a lot of blocks that are easy to use in the Gutenberg editor. Furthermore, Citadela products have unique directory functions also for non-traditional catalogue sites. We develop new features only for this theme from now on.
2. I use DirectoryPRO, should I change the template and plugins to Citadela Directory Pack?
Individual decision-making applies for the change from DirectoryPRO to Citadela directory. Items and Items Reviews are sufficient for some of you. Other customers need more features than Claim listing or Advanced Search.
3. What are the plans with the Citadela products?
The new Citadela template and plugins have fewer classic directory features than DirectoryPRO but are continually evolving. It already contains functions that are unique and will serve not only to catalogue websites. We are gradually adding new features to cover everything DirectoryPRO can do. Subsequently, the development will continue focused on such functions that were not part of DirectoryPRO either.
4. What is the future of DirectoryPRO?
We released the last features for DirectoryPRO in March 2020. We’ve added the much-needed OpenStreetMap.We also made a new modern design.
We believe in the future of WordPress associated only with the Gutenberg editor. Business directory websites should serve their visitors primarily, and we can deliver new perfect and long-term solutions only with the Gutenberg editor. Unfortunately, DirectoryPRO will not meet these requirements soon. That’s why we started developing a purely new solution in advance — solutions for the future. But don’t worry. We issue security and bugs updates for all old products as long as we achieve new goals.
Software is constantly evolving, just like everything around us. We flexibly adapt to current conditions to deliver to our customers the highest quality products for the next ten years of AitThemes’ existence. The code principles we have chosen for Citadela products assure us that they will be more flexible and less maintenance-intensive for our customers.
5. What about data migration into the new Citadela solution?
Already at the launch of the Citadela products, we introduced the possibility of automatic migration. It is a basic solution to cover the migration of only basic data.
We bring good news to you all our customers and new user from 3rd party solution. We have included functionality for importing data in a CSV file in our short-term production plan. Customers who use Directory PRO or another AitThemes listing template will be able to export and import data. This option will also be available to users who are not yet our customers and want to switch to a solution built on the Gutenberg editor. This solution will allow the migration from any product to Citadela Directory solution.
The preparation of this functionality is a relatively complicated and demanding task. And not an easy decision when to put it into production. We still have the third phase full of exciting features that is also challenging. Write in the comment below – what would you prefer more? To migrate data, or would you prefer faster progress of Phase no.3?
Previous updates change log
Update 2021-03-12
New: Filter Search using Item Extensions
Update 2021-03-04
New: Advanced Search with Geolocation support
Update 2021-02-19
New: Advanced Filters using Item Extensions
Update 2021-02-11
Permission Manager and Multiple Subscription functionality.
Update 2021-01-21
Custom Item Extensions additional improvements
Update 2020-12-21
Custom Item Extensions feature is ready and the new update will be released today.
Update 2020-12-11
This week we published another listing feature. Now you can use Clam listing in Citadela Directory plugin.
Update 2020–11-10
We update the information in this article regularly. In addition to our quarterly progress reports on the development, you can also see what’s new in the Citadela Directory package compared to DirectoryPRO and older directory templates.
Since the first edition of this article, the following have been added:
- Automatic updates for the Citadela Pro, Directory and Block plugins
- Automated import of pre-designed layouts directly from wp-admin
- Item reviews
- Get directions
Multipurpose content
We have expanded listing features to have more ways how to display data. Besides that you can create portal content as classic Page, now you can show listings data inside your Posts as well. And it is so easy, drag the block in between of text paragraphs. The content is a king, and therefore listing data integration plays a considerable part. Let’s get new ideas for a new type of content on your website. Now Citadela Directory Pack with WordPress and its Gutenberg editor offers better work with Posts and Pages. Get some flash about how to build micro portal site.
During past months we enhanced some of the portal features and new are coming each month. Citadela Directory Pack features growth is our primary goal for next months. We plan to match our older portal products.
Website Monetization
We added a Subscription Plan feature. We decided to use WooCommerce as a basement. The package parameters are modular, and you can configure your own. Also, you have a big choice for payment gateways. WooCoomerce offers variable payments methods. The full documentation can be found under our Documentation section.
Easy admin feature brings a more elegant environment for listings owners while editing their items. Next, you can expect some data display enhancements and also some new major features coming soon.
Products Comparison
Try both of them
Sign up and try all of AitThemes listing portal WordPress themes. You gain access to all our products and their updates.
Hello,
Will those features under LISTING ADVANCED FEATURES be coming soon to Citadela theme?
Hello,
thanks for asking. Yeah, we are hardly working on adding new features and layouts, we aim to add new features on monthly basis.
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello! This is a funny mistake, but “hardly working” in English means “working very little”, “almost not working”. You meant “we are working hard” 🙂
Hello Kiwi,
Thanks for your feedback. That’s exactly what I was thinking – we are of one mind 😉
Have a good day!
Zlatko
Hi Emilia, thank you very much for this blog post. You answer my questions right now. I have decided to go with Citadela – for speed and Gutenberg editing and features.
looking foreward to new features 🙂
Awesome! I can’t wait for the Citadela automatic updates! The theme is so incredible and versatile, and this has been the one thing holding me back from wider use. I’m so glad I got this membership! 🙂
Hi Emilia,
ich hätte gerne alle Features der AIT Themes PageBuilder weiterhin gehabt. Für jemand der nicht gut mit Code umgehen kann, war das super! Einfach per Drag&Drop Elements, Taxonomie, usw.
Auch die viele “Advanced Features” vermisse ich!
Trotzdem, ein gutes gelingen mit dem neue Citadela Theme.
Gruß
Johann Lang
First of all, great praise all 2 Directories have a great design!
But, one of the important things about a successful directory is the payment plans. In the Citadela Directory there is WooCommerce integration in the listings, which is great but only 1 payment plan (at least 4 are nice). Directory Pro has unlimited payment plans, which is great, but no WooCommerce integration in the listings. Do you have a theme that has both or when will the two directories be upgraded?
Hello there,
that’s a great idea, Oli! We really like your example of how this particular feature would come in useful to you. Our engineers have put this on the roadmap, and we expect to roll it out in the near future. When it’s available, we’ll be sure to let you know if you subscribe for the newsletters. Thank you again for writing in and taking the time to provide your feedback.
Kindest regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Will those features under LISTING ADVANCED FEATURES be coming soon to Citadela theme?
Hello there,
thanks for asking. Mentioned features have the highest priority to be released them for the market. We aim to finish all of them by the end of this yer but yet we will release one by one on regular basis during coming weeks/months.
Thanks for your patience.
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hi,
I have been a client of yours for a long time and now I make the websites with Citadela . Do you know if it will be able to use AIT Languages in Citadela?
thanks
Hello there,
thank you for asking. We are sorry, AIT Languages plugin comes compatible with group of products we have named as Multilingual and Translated themes, plugins:
– https://www.ait-themes.club/wordpress-plugins/#translated-multilingual-plugins
In order to provide the translation for Citadela products, please follow the instructions posted at: https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/translate-citadela-products/
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
I find the sales process of directories (price tables) very important to make money with a directory. E.g. with DirectoryPro it is not very clear to me, when I go to your demo I see the price tables (Basic $ 200, Premium 400 and Medium $ 300), usually I press the button under the price and then make the entry and pay directly. But with the demo I come up with your offer, which has nothing to do with the entry. At the top of Register you can still book 3 packages (Free $ 0, Basic $ 9.99 and Premium $ 29.99), right? How is that related? Is that really the case, if not where can you really see the sales process of DirectoryPro?
Can you create a normal sales process (select package in the price plan, use the button below to book, make an entry and pay) with DirectoryPro?
Hello Kuhn,
thanks for contacting us back and for asking.
The purpose of demo site is just to show how does the design looks both on PC and in smartphones.
In order to see and better understand the options that you can have by using Price Table element in page builder, please check out the documentation page: https://www.ait-themes.club/doc/price-tables-post-type/
If there’s anything else We can help you with, please let us know.
Thanks for your understanding.
Best regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello,
cant find a description how the cluster works. I need 3 blocks in a row inside a cluster.
Documentations are Totally poor!
Denis
Hi again,
thanks for additional question. I’d like to ask you to post technical question directly in our dedicated support ticket system. Please login into your account at https://system.ait-themes.club/support/add-question.
Our technicians are ready to answer you most efficiently even as quick as possible when you decide for priority question (obviously within a few working hours). Customer Support is provided during working days from 8am to 5pm Central European Time.
Have a good day!
Zlatko
AIT team
I am most confused by this article. I have been trying to use Directory Pro for some time now but there has been no response on one critical feature I need. I have invested countless hours in creating categories all with custom icons and descriptions. I wanted to only show the parent categories with a drop down list of the sub categories but was told that this is not possible. Is Directory Pro now being replaced with CitaDela and, if so, is this still functional as a plugin? I am not changing my theme if not. I also paid for Directory Pro so I’m not sure if there is an upgrade path.
Appreciate any help.
Hello,
thanks for writing in. We are sorry theme don’t have element which would display hierarchical structure of all Locations on the page. Locations are hierarchically displayed only in the search bar dropdown of Locations. To implement the same list elsewhere on the site I’d recommend custom implementation of necessary functions by third part developer.
Secondly,
depending on the features and functionalities you are using you are free to decide to upgrade from DirectoryPRO to Citadela: https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/migration-from-other-ait-directory-themes/
In addition, Directory Sub-locations and Sub-categories lists are available. Further info can be found at:
– https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/directory-sublocations-list-block/
– https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/migration-from-other-ait-directory-themes/
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
I’d like to add information. Focusing now only on the development of the Citadela products gives us room to deliver more features based on customer requirements soon.
I couldn’t find your customer account based on your email, so I can’t tell you more info about your membership. Please contact us over support ticket and we’ll find the solution.
Thank you
I love your directories but support is lacking. I would love to use Citadela, especially the plugin but there is limited tutorial information available and when I ask questions I get little to no answers and i have colleges that have the same concerns. We need good support in order to invest in a product and I do not believe it is currently available.
Hello there,
thanks for contacting us back. A complete citadela documentation is available at: https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-documentation/
After purchase you have year access to support forum where our technicians are ready to answer you most efficiently even as quickly as possible when you decide a priority question (obviously within a few working hours). Customer Support is provided during working days from 8am to 5pm Central European Time.
If there is anything else we can help you, please contact us back.
Have a good day!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hi Courney
You are our customer since 2017, thank you for your loyalty 🙂 Additionally, I would like to confirm that the quality of support and documentation is also one of our priorities. We are gradually improving the documentation for Citadela products. We focus on delivering the best answers as soon as we can. Do you have a specific idea, do not hesitate to share it with us.
I have a site in Directory Pro that is just weeks away from launch, but it seems the future is Citadella. I don’t really want to invest that time if I have to redo it all in the new year, I’d rather wait.
1. Is there a conversion / migration path from Directory Pro to Citadella Directory?
2. Claim Listing is a really important aspect of my site, how confident are you that this would be released for Citadella Directory by the end of 2020?
3. Similarly, Geo Location search is crucial to my site, how far away is this?
It is really important that there is visibility of the development roadmap so that people can make an informed decision. Is the development plan to make Citadella Directory equivalent to Directory Pro measure in months or quarters?
Cheers
Mark
Thank you for your questions.
For brand new websites, we recommend using the Citadel also due to the time needed for copywriting and indexing of the page for search engines. As our development is up and running, and we are continually adding new features, it is better to choose this path. Please read the answers to the production plans below.
1. Please have a look here https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/migration-from-other-ait-directory-themes/
2. Claim listing is in progress and in almost final stage. It iss going to be release next weeks.
3. Geo Location is in our mid-term plan, we would like to add this feature within 6 months.
For development roadmap please see at the moment this post. We will work to improve the flow of information that is key to our customers. Regarding the equivalence of Citadel product and DirectoryPRO, we strive to complete it within six months. https://www.ait-themes.club/roadmap-4q2020-blog/
Have a nice day
I just wrote an article on this for a long time, about 20 minutes…
Meanwhile the recaptcha disabled the hook, and i postetd the comment>
I’ve got an error page, with the possibility to go back.
HORROR: Complete text is gone!!!!
Not the best way to make an website, even for an theme designer!
Very disappointed 🙁
Klaus
Hello Klaus,
thanks for your feedback. We are very sorry for that, should you be still interesting to get some info, feel free to contact us via zlato@ait-themes dot com.
Kindest regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello,
will there be the geo location search (former Advanced SEARCH) be added?
Thats the most im portant thing.
Thanks,
Denis
Hello Denis,
Thank you for being asked. Yes, GEO localisation feature is planned, should be added during 1 quarter next year.
Best!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hi,
Could you inform when layout for citadela directory pro will be launched?
Best Regards,
Hello Magozi,
Thanks for asking. We expect the layout to be designed during 1st quarter 2021. Currently we are working on the other projects with the highest priority. Please stay tuner, we’ll keep you informed via newsletter once the layout is ready to use.
Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Have a good day!
Zlatko
AIT team
Why isn’t anyone responding to my messages? I’ve left 2 messages requesting help resetting my account password because I’m not receiving the emails your system is supposed to send. It’s going on 3 or 4 days now without any response from you.
Hello there,
Thanks for getting back on this. Please check out your spam folder settings.
If the expiration of new password setting has expired (as it’s highly possible) please reply on private message.
Sincerely!
Zlatko
AIT team
Use WP import export and Go to third phase
Hello,
Geo Location Search, thanks so much, I love it so much.
Citadela gets better and better!
But how do I change the results map to Google maps?
Thanks,
Denis
Hi Denis,
Thanks a lot for your comments and for your compliments.
Yeah, geo location search is in progress and we expect this feature available for the marked within coming days/weeks.
Directory Map Block settings is described in the documentation at: https://www.ait-themes.club/citadela-doc/directory-map-block/
Have good day!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello,
I got it, Thanks!
Denis
Hello,
please add “SOCIAL MEDIA” to the CONTACT Tab.
Like, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube
That is urgend missing 🙂
Thanks,
Denis
Hi again,
that’s a great idea, Denis! We really like your example of how this particular feature would come in useful to you. Added to the list, we expect to roll it out in the near future.
How would you rate your experiences with our products?
-> https://www.trustpilot.com/review/ait-themes.club
Thank you for your time!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hey Zlatko,
DONE!
Cheers,
Denis
Hello,
I like to have the “IS OPEN” Status like in DIRECTORY/Pro. This is so cool.
It would be even more cool, if there will be a checkbox in the SEARCH FIELD, like.
“Show only open Items”
This will be a USP.
Thanks,
Denis
Hello Denis,
Thanks a lot. We’ll definitely have a look at it closer later and make decision.
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello,
how do I export my created/changed SPECIAL PAGES?
So I can use them on other projects.
Thanks,
Denis
Hello Denis,
we are very sorry, this feature is not available by default. In fact it is not supposed having it as an offer for the market. Anyhow, further customization is needed.
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hi there,
I apologise for my mistake, the previous answer belongs to the other issue and client. Please ignore it.
Here is an additional answer regarding exporting “special pages”:
Yes, you’ll find them in database saved as a standard page, you can export them.
Best regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Hello Zlatko,
“Yes, you’ll find them in database saved as a standard page, you can export them.”
Is there tool I can use, or do I need to edit the database?
Via the wordpress export I cant select a special page.
Denis
Hello Denis,
Thanks for your reply. I apologise for my misunderstanding. The answer belongs to exporting the content or pages. Indeed, to use this, simply go to Tools » Export in your WordPress admin.
Regarding exporting the following pages https://prntscr.com/10jpgvu – there is no option in panel administration to be used by default. In fact we didn’t plan it due to fact that Citadela Directory plugin comes compatible with “3rd” theme + “3rd” plugins (based on Gutenberg editor).
Thanks for your understanding.
Kind regards!
Zlatko
AIT team
Please add Login / Register button in the top menu to the right – like in the old Directory theme, thanks
Hello Carsten,
Thanks for writing in.
The process of selling on the front end from the point of view of item owner – purchase directory subscriptions is as follows:
1. user chooses the package https://preview.ait-themes.club/citadela/directorypro/register-to-submit-your-items/.
2. he’ll read the details of the package https://citadela.wpthemes.sk/product/premium-subscription/
3. goes to the cart https://citadela.wpthemes.sk/cart/
4. and consequently the accounts is going to be created (foreign registration process) https://citadela.wpthemes.sk/checkout/
5. payment procedure (it must be set in woocommerce settings before)
6. then the customer should already be logged in with the ability to add or manage the item custom post types etc..
steps described above will be added into the documentation too)
Best!
Zlatko
AIT team