Creating categories

If you are expanding your store inventory or changing your category structure, you might want to add a new category.

Before you beginYou can add a category by performing one of the following tasks:

  • Create a category by copying an existing category. When you copy a category, catalog entries (products, SKUs, bundles and kits) are not copied.

  • Create a new category.

If you are using the extended sites model, the parent category can come from the asset or extended site store. A product belongs to the asset store if it is identified with the following icon

.

  1. Open the Catalogs tool.

  2. Create a category by using one of these methods:

    • To copy an existing category, navigate to the category in the explorer tree:

      1. On the explorer tree, right-click the category; then click Show Subcategories on the context menu. The Categories list view displays.

      2. On the explorer tree or list view, right-click the category you want to copy; then on the context menu, click Copy .

      3. On the list view, right-click anywhere; then on the context menu, click Paste .

        The Category Properties view displays.

    • To create a new category in the master catalog:

      1. From the explorer filter, select Master Catalog Categories.

      2. On the explorer tree, right-click on a category; then click New Category to create a new subcategory, or from the File menu click File > New > Category, to create a new top category.

        The Category Properties view displays.

    • To create a new category in a sales catalog:

      1. From the explorer filter, select Sales Catalog.

      2. On the explorer tree, right-click on a category; then click New Sales Category to create a new subcategory, or from the File menu clickFile > New > Sales Category, to create a new top category.

        The Category Properties view displays.

  3. Click the Manage Category tab.

  4. Expand the Object Properties section. This section is read-only and only displays if you are using the extended sites model or workspaces.

    Option Description
    Associated store If workspaces are enabled, or in an extended sites model; the store the asset belongs to.
    Change Made In The name of workspace, task group or task, where the object has been changed.
    Workspace The name of the workspace that the task is associated with. This field is read-only.
    Task Group The name of the task group that the task is associated with. This field is read-only.
    Description A description of the task. This field is read-only.

  5. Expand General Category Information. Complete the following information:

    Option Description
    Code The language independent category identifier.
    Name The name of the category.
    Short description Type a brief description of the category. This field is not displayed by default in the list view. To display the field as a column in a list view, right-click on a column heading in the list view and click Configure Columns.
    Long description Type a detailed description, if applicable. This field is not displayed by default in the list view. To display the field as a column in a list view, right-click on a column heading in the list view and click Configure Columns.
    Keywords  Type one or more keywords, separated by a comma and a space, that describe the contents of the Web page. Some Internet search engines use these keywords to determine whether your page satisfies a search query.
    Parent The category to which an object such as a category, product, or SKU belongs, or the catalog to which a top category belongs.

  6. Expand the Display section. Fill in the following fields:

    Option Description
    Display to customers Select this check box to indicate that customers can view this category in the storefront.
    Thumbnail Type the path to the thumbnail image and the name of the image, such as images/shirt.jpg. All image files must be placed in the store's defined image directory. Determining the correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on your store's configuration. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path pointing to the default installation directory under the store name. Use of a relative path is most common. Use of an absolute path is dependent on your initial configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory if you are unsure.
    Full image Type the path to the catalog entry full size image and the name of the image, such as images/shirt/jpg. All catalog entry image files should be placed in the store's defined image directory. The correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on your store's configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path to the default installation path.

  7. Click Save and Close, or click Close.