Material Categories group Materials so they can be filtered, and so a Product can limit which Materials are offered during order entry. They are managed on the Materials tab of Component Categories, where each category has a Name and an optional Description. A category applies after it is selected under Material Categories on Material Details and the Material is saved.
Table of Contents
- Material Categories Screen
- Adding a Material Category
- Editing a Material Category
- Assigning Material Categories
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Articles
Material Categories Screen
Navigate to System Settings / Components / Component Categories.
a. Materials is the tab for Material Categories. Labor, Machines, and Products are separate tabs.
b. Search finds a Material Category by name.
c. Add New opens Add Material Category.
d. The checkbox selects that category.
e. Actions includes Edit and Delete. Edit opens Edit Material Category. Delete opens Confirm Delete.
Adding a Material Category
Navigate to System Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Click Materials.
2. Click Add New.
3. Enter a Name.
Note: Name is required. Save stays unavailable until a name is entered.
4. Enter a Description, if you want one.
5. Click Save.
Note: Saving the category does not assign it to a Material. Select it on the Material, then save the Material.
Editing a Material Category
Navigate to System Settings / Components / Component Categories.
1. Click Materials.
2. Click the Edit icon on the category row.
3. Update the Name.
4. Update the Description.
5. Click Save.
Assigning Material Categories
Navigate to System Settings / Components / Materials.
1. Click the Material. This example uses 1/4" Acrylic White.
2. Click Material Details.
3. Select one or more categories under Material Categories.
Note: Default Line Item Category is a separate field. It is the category applied when this Material is added to an Estimate or Order. It does not group Materials.
4. Click Save.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a Material Category the same as a Default Line Item Category?
Answer: No. Material Categories organize and filter Materials. When a category is linked to a Product, the Material is available during order entry for that Product. Default Line Item Category is the category applied when that Material is added to an Estimate or Order.
2. I added a Material Category. Why is it missing on the Material?
Answer: Adding the category does not assign it. Open the Material, select the category under Material Categories on Material Details, and click Save.
3. Can one Material use more than one Material Category?
Answer: Yes. Select each category that applies under Material Categories, then click Save.
4. What happens when a Material Category is deleted?
Answer: Confirm Delete asks you to confirm. Materials that used the category lose that assignment. The Materials themselves are not deleted. To delete several categories on the Materials tab at once, see Using Component Categories.