Component Categories are predefined classification labels used to organize different types of Components - such as Materials, Labor, Machines, and Assemblies - within your system. They act as grouping mechanisms that help structure your component database, making it easier to sort, filter, and select items during Estimate and Order creation, and Assembly-building workflows.
By assigning a category to each Component, you enhance consistency, improve searchability, and add flexibility when creating Assemblies.
Your system comes pre-populated with a basic set of Component Categories that you can add to and edit at any time.
Table of Contents
- Adding Component Categories
- Linking Associated Components
- Editing an Existing Component Category
- Exporting a Component Category
Adding Component Categories
To begin navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Select the Component Category type by clicking on the appropriate tab at the top of the screen.
Note: This will update the screen to show the selected Category type, and where your new Component Category will appear.
Note: All Component types use the same screen layout and adding a new Component Category follows the same process. For this example we will use Materials.
2. Click the Green Plus button.
3. Enter a Name for the new Category.
4. Include a short Description.
5. Click Save.
Linking Associated Components
To begin navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Select the Component Category type by clicking on the appropriate tab at the top of the screen.
Note: This will update the screen to show the selected Category type.
Note: All Component types use the same screen layout and linking Associated Components follows the same process. For this example we will use Materials.
2. Select the Component Category that you would like to link a Material to.
3. Select the Associated Tab.
4. Click the Green Link button.
Note: This will bring up a pop-up.
5. Select the Component from the list.
6. Click Add and Close.
Editing an Existing Component Category
To edit an existing Component Category, navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Select the Component Category type by clicking on the appropriate tab at the top of the screen.
Note: This will update the screen to show the selected Category type, and where your new Component Category will appear.
Note: All Component types use the same screen layout and edit a Component Category follows the same process. For this example we will use Materials.
2. Click on the individual Component Category you would like to edit.
3. Click on the Associated tab and review the information.
Note: Before making changes to Component Category Details, items in the Associated tab should be reviewed as these will be linked to the changed Category.
4. Click on the Category Details tab.
5. Review any Associated Assemblies.
Note: These are present in Material Categories.
Note: Before making changes to Component Category Details, Associated Assemblies should be reviewed as these will be linked to the changed Category.
6. Make any necessary changes to the Category Details.
Note: Any changes made will be automatically saved.
Exporting a Component Category
To export an existing Component Category, navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Select the Component Category type by clicking on the appropriate tab at the top of the screen.
Note: This will update the screen to show the selected Category type.
Note: All Component types use the same screen layout and exporting a Component Category follows the same process. For this example we will use Materials.
2. Click the ellipsis at the end of the row containing the category to be exported.
3. Click Export.
Note: This will open a pop-up.
4. A file name will automatically populate which can be changed if desired.
5. Click Save.
Note: Associated Materials and Associated Assemblies must be exported separately.
Note: This will be exported as a JSON file.
