ERP ModuleProducts
Categories
Organizing products with category hierarchy
Product Categories
Categories help organize your product catalog into logical groupings.
Category Structure
Categories form a hierarchical tree:
└── Root
├── Raw Materials
│ ├── Metals
│ ├── Plastics
│ └── Electronics
├── Finished Goods
│ ├── Widgets
│ └── Assemblies
└── Services
├── Installation
└── MaintenanceManaging Categories
Creating Categories
- Go to ERP > Categories
- Click Add Category
- Enter category details:
- Name - Category display name
- Parent - Parent category (or Root)
- Description - Optional description
- Code - Short code for internal use
- Save
Editing Categories
- Click on a category
- Modify fields as needed
- Save changes
Changing a parent category moves all child categories and products.
Deleting Categories
- Select category
- Click Delete
- Handle existing products:
- Move to another category
- Leave uncategorized
Categories with products cannot be deleted until products are reassigned.
Category Properties
Default Settings
Set defaults inherited by products:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Default Tax Rate | Applied to new products |
| Default Unit | Suggested unit of measure |
| Default Margin | Target profit margin |
Category Images
Add visual identifiers:
- Open category
- Upload image
- Image appears in navigation
Category Best Practices
Hierarchy Depth
- Recommended: 2-3 levels
- Maximum: 5 levels
- Deeper hierarchies become unwieldy
Naming Conventions
| Do | Don't |
|---|---|
| Raw Materials | Materials_Raw_v2 |
| Finished Goods | FG |
| Installation Services | IS-01 |
Organization Tips
- Group by function - What the product does
- Or by type - Material composition
- Avoid overlap - Each product fits one category
- Plan for growth - Leave room for expansion
Category-Based Operations
Filtering
Use categories to filter:
- Product lists
- Stock reports
- Sales analysis
- Purchasing reports
Bulk Pricing
Apply pricing rules by category:
- Select category
- Apply discount/markup
- Affects all products in category
Permissions
Restrict access by category:
- Configure role
- Limit to specific categories
- Users see only allowed categories
Import/Export
Exporting Categories
- Go to Categories > Export
- Download category structure
- Use for backup or analysis
Importing Categories
- Prepare import file:
name,parent,code,description Electronics,,ELEC,Electronic components Cables,Electronics,ELEC-CAB,Cable products - Upload and confirm