Product categories
Create, order and assign nested product categories to products – incl. the register, invoice notes and channel sync
→ Open product categories in SimpliServ
Product categories structure your catalog in a nested tree. You assign products to one or more categories and then use this structure to filter in product lists, group in the register's quick sale, for invoice notes and for channel sync (Shopify, Wix).
You'll find the management area under Administration → Products → Categories. The area shows your entire category tree; clicking a category opens it for editing, the plus icons create subcategories.
Create a category
Open the area
In Administration, under Products, go to Categories.
Start a new category
Click Create category in the top right for a top-level category. For a subcategory, hover over the parent category in the tree and use Add subcategory (plus icon) – the parent category is then already pre-selected.
Fill in the fields
The side panel offers the following fields:
- Parent category – places the category in the tree. Leave empty for a top-level category.
- Name – required, 2 to 100 characters.
- Description – optional text (max. 500 characters).
- Image – an optional category image (max. 1 MB), to upload, replace or remove.
- Colour – an optional colour to highlight the category at the register.
- Show at the register – if enabled, the category appears in the register's quick-sale view (default: on).
- Note for invoices – optional text that appears automatically in the invoice's note area when a product of this category is used.
Save
Create it with Create category. When editing, the button reads Save changes.
Order the tree
The category list is an interactive tree:
- Expand/collapse – use the arrow icon to show or hide subcategories.
- Nest – when creating or editing, you determine the level via Parent category. Any depth of nesting is possible.
- Reorder – drag and drop categories into a new order. The sorting is saved and applies everywhere the tree appears.
Note for invoices is inherited along the hierarchy: for a product in a subcategory, the notes are collected from the root down to the category and output together on the invoice.
Delete multiple categories
In the tree you can mark categories via checkbox – marking a category automatically selects its subcategories too. Via the Delete selected bar you remove the selection in one step; a confirmation must be acknowledged. You also delete individual categories directly in the edit side panel via Delete category.
Assign products
You don't assign products here but on the product itself: in the product form you choose one or more categories in the Categories section (multi-assignment possible). See Create a product.
The assignment takes effect in several places:
- Product lists – categories serve as a filter to narrow down products.
- Register / quick sale – products are grouped by category; only categories with Show at the register enabled appear, optionally coloured via the Colour field.
- Invoices – the stored note for invoices is output automatically.
- Channel sync – on shop sync, the category is transferred (see below).
Export
Via Export in the header bar you download the entire category tree as JSON or CSV. Before downloading you choose the columns (name, description, parent category, full path, level, etc.).
Categories can also be imported in bulk – but not from this area, rather under Administration → Imports (target Product categories), see Import & export data. There you upload a CSV or JSON file and either provide a full_path column with > as the level separator (e.g. Electronics > Cables) or combine parent_path and name. Already-existing paths are skipped, and the categories are created by level (parents first, then children) so nesting is built correctly. If a parent category referenced in the path is missing, the row is reported as failed.
Channel sync
If your products are connected to a shop, the category flows along:
- Shopify – on initial creation (initial push), the first assigned category is transferred as the product type (
productType). If you import a product from Shopify, its product type there is taken over as the category. - Wix – when importing a product from Wix, the categories stored there are taken over and assigned to the product.
Details on the sync are under Channel sync.
Permissions
Creating, editing and deleting categories are tied to their own permissions (products.categories.create, products.categories.update, products.categories.delete). Without the right permission, the respective buttons are hidden or the area is shown read-only. You manage roles and permissions under Users & roles.
Related topics
- Create a product — capture products and assign them to one or more categories
- Product variants & families — model options like colour and size via product families
- Import & export data — import product categories in bulk via CSV/JSON
- Set up channel sync — how the category flows along on sync with Shopify and Wix
- Point of sale (POS) — sell products in the quick sale grouped by category
How is this guide?