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
- Adding a Category to a Component
Adding Component Categories
Use Component Categories to keep similar Components grouped together so they are easier to find and manage throughout CoreBridge.
To add a new Component Category:
Navigate to Settings / Components from the main navigation.
1. Select the Component Categories.
2. Choose the appropriate tab for the type of category you want to add (for example, Material, Labor, Machine, or Assembly).
3. Click the Add New button in the header above the list.
4. In the dialog that opens, enter a Name for the new category and, optionally, a Description.
5. Click Save to create the category and close the dialog.
On the Component Categories screen you will see:
a. Tabs at the top of the page allowing you to switch between category types (for example, Material categories, Labor categories, Machine categories, and Assembly categories).
b. A search textbox just below the tabs, with a placeholder such as Search material categories... when the Materials tab is selected.
c. Add New button used to create a new Component Category for the active tab.
d. A categories grid with columns like Name, Description, and Actions, listing the existing Component Categories for the selected tab.
e. An Actions column that contains per-row icon buttons to edit or delete each category.
Linking Associated Components
Component Categories are associated to Materials, Labors, Machines, and Assemblies when you assign a category on each Component's detail screen. There is no separate "linking" screen; instead, associations are determined by where each category is used.
Navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Edit a Component (for example, a Material, Labor, Machine, or Assembly) and locate its category field.
2. Select the desired Component Category from the dropdown list.
3. Save the Component to complete the association.
When working with associations on Component detail screens you will see:
a. A category field (for example, Material Category, Labor Category, Machine Category, or Assembly Category) located within the details section of the Component.
b. A dropdown list of available categories populated from the corresponding tab on the Component Categories page.
c. The selected category displayed wherever the Component appears in lists or filters that include category information.
Editing an Existing Component Category
You can update the name and description of existing Component Categories as your organizational needs evolve.
Navigate to Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Select the tab for the type of category you want to edit (Material, Labor, Machine, or Assembly).
2. Locate the category you want to change in the grid.
3. Click the edit icon in the Actions column for that category.
4. In the edit dialog, update the Name and/or Description as needed.
5. Click Save to apply your changes and close the dialog.
Adding a Category to a Component
After creating Component Categories, you can apply them directly to individual Components.
Navigate to Settings / Components / Materials.
1. Search for and open the Material you want to update.
2. Select the appropriate Component Category from the dropdown list found under the Settings header.
3. Click Save to apply the category to the Material.