Category sorting and "sticky" Category "feature"

[scottstreet]

On our site (VM 3.8.4 10335, Joomla 3.9.20 Stable, PHP 7.2.30, Apache Server, GoDaddy hosting)

we stay up to date with Joomla and VM updates.

Sometime in the last two updates these things happened:

1. On VM splash page, the categories (30) were no longer in alphabetical order. I had to manually resort them using the Ordering field on the products page.

2. Our categories are now "sticky" once one is selected, any navigation goes back to that category.

3. If you return to the homepage and then you click "store" you get this page,
http://biotechequipmentsales.com/equipment-for-sale
only it's the category you chose before. Not the list of categories.

Help!

[jenkinhill]

The VM category ordering was changed to make it easier to insert new categories between others. Now they are 5,10,15,20 etc.

As for the Joomla menu issue, are you using a VM Category Layout menu link?

I'm all for clean simple displays, but is unusual to see just one menu item linking to the store with no link to cart, and no category menu module displayed.

[scottstreet]

Yep, I reordered in alpha order using the 5, 10, 15 thing.

There is no cart because no online ordering, site is just a showroom.

But the other problem is real.

For some reason when you pick a category on my site, you get stuck in that category forever. Clearing web history does it, but otherwise, you can't get to any category besides the first one you chose.

scott

[Jörgen]

Check Your cache settings, conservative or no cache in Joomla, turn off Joomla cache plugin. Be careful with other serverinstalled cache programs.

Jörgen

[scottstreet]

I have set Global Settings - System - System Cache to NO - It was Yes-Progressive

No change

I never had the Page Cache Plug in Enabled

There are still some Persistent Memcache settings set to Yes

Problem is on biotechequipmentsales.com -

Click pic to enter VM/see categories- choose a category, view a particular item if you want.
Return to home page, then back to VM and category is still selected. Can not go to another category.

[Jörgen]

If clearing cache not helps permanently, you still have cache integrering. You may fond some help using hraccess rules as a last resort to turn of special cache items. If it works with ALL cache turned off, turn on item for item until it breaks. If not you may have site specific server based cache, super cache etcetera. These need special consideration, maybe also with htaccess rules.
Jörgen

[scottstreet]

I changed every "cache" thing to NO or OFF -- Still not fixed.

I am not sure what to add to htaccess, mine is pretty simple.

[Jörgen]

Have You turned of all super cacher or similar (cpanel settings) ?

Jörgen

[scottstreet]

Yes all cPanel references to caching are turned off.