Product categories: the list, merging and undo

Category on a product is picked from your category list. Type to search. A name that isn't listed can be added with Add "…". If it looks like an existing category (Accessory vs Accessories), you're asked Did you mean first.

The Categories page

Products → Categories→ keeps the list tidy. The top line counts categories, products categorised and products uncategorised.

• + New category: add one before any product uses it. You're warned if it already exists, was merged away, or looks like another.
• Search and sort by A → Z or Most products. The product count opens the Products list filtered to that category.
• Sits under: pick a parent to make a sub-category, or Top level. A category with sub-categories stays top level. In the A → Z view with no search, the arrows set the order the dealer portal and POS show them in.
• Used by: the kiosk tabs, margin rules and compatibility rules that name the category.
• Engineer needs vehicle details & photos: tick it for categories like GVM upgrades. Orders for every product in it then ask for the VIN, make, model, year, approval type and photos.
• Pick from: which bin this category's products are picked from (for example Oldest stock first for fluids). Sub-categories inherit it; Warehouse rule leaves it to the warehouse, and a product's own rule beats it. See Pick and put-away rules→.

Needs tidying

The Needs tidying panel flags categories that look like the same thing spelled differently, and categories whose products use mixed capitalisation.

• Review & merge opens the merge with the most-used name already picked.
• Not the same hides a suggestion (for you, on this device).
• Use "X" fixes one category's capitalisation, and Tidy all capitalisation fixes them all.

Merge, rename, delete

• Merge moves every product in the merged categories into the one you keep. Kiosk tabs, margin rules and compatibility rules that used the old names move too. Tick several rows and click Merge into… to merge them in one go.
• Rename changes the name on every product. Renaming to a name that already exists merges into it.
• Delete either moves the products to another category (Move and delete) or leaves them uncategorised. Leaving them also removes kiosk tabs and rules for that category.
• A merged spelling is remembered. If a CSV import, Shopify import or supplier feed sends it later, the product is filed under the category you kept.

History and undo

Every change is listed under History at the foot of the page, with Undo. Undo puts products back where the change found them and skips any product edited since. Capitalisation never makes two categories: lighting and Lighting are the same one, and filters match every spelling.

Who can do it

Changing categories needs inventory.edit. Without it the page is read-only.