Categories group related equipment together. Instead of scrolling through a flat list of everything your agency owns, you can filter the inventory by category and jump straight to what you need.
Where categories live
Categories are managed from the Inventory page itself — there is no separate Categories screen. You can create them two ways:
- From the inventory header, click Add Category.
- While adding or editing an item, use the inline Add Category action next to the Category dropdown.
Creating a category
- Open Equipment from the menu.
- Click Add Category in the header.
- Enter a Category Name.
- Optionally add a short Code, Type, and Description.
- Save.
Assigning items to categories
When you add or edit an inventory item, pick a category from the Category dropdown. Each item belongs to one category.
Browsing by category
On the Inventory page, use the Category filter to show only items in that group. This is fast when your inventory has dozens or hundreds of items.
Tips for naming categories
- Keep names short and descriptive.
- Avoid overly specific categories. "Motorola Radios" is too narrow — use "Communications" instead, so all radios, chargers, and headsets fit together.
- Avoid overly broad categories. "Stuff" does not help anyone find anything.
Example
You create the following categories: Personal Protective Equipment, Communications, Medical Supplies, Tools, and Vehicles. When you add a new SCBA mask to the inventory, you assign it to Personal Protective Equipment. When someone wants to check PPE stock, they filter the inventory by that category and see everything in one view.