Why categories matter

Categories group your products so you can find them quickly. Without categories, a list of 500 products is hard to scan. With categories, you can jump straight to "Airway Supplies" or "PPE" and find what you need in seconds.

Getting to the Categories page

Click Inventory in the menu. Along the top of the Inventory page, click the Categories tab. The page is titled Item Categories.

Managing categories is an admin-only task. If you don't see Inventory in the menu, your account doesn't have the Admin role for this agency.

Creating a category

Click Add Category. Fill in:

  • Name — a clear, short name like "Bandages" or "Cardiac Supplies."
  • Slug — optional. Leave blank to default to the name.
  • Parent category — leave as None for a top-level category, or pick a parent to nest this one under it.
  • Sort order — a number that controls display order. Lower numbers sort first.
  • Active — keep this on.
  • Description — optional free text.

Click Create to save.

Nesting categories

Categories can be nested inside other categories. For example:

  • Medical
    • Airway
    • Cardiac
    • Bandages & Dressings
  • PPE
    • Gloves
    • Eye Protection
    • Masks

To nest a category, pick a parent when you create it. You can also use the Add child action on a row to add a sub-category underneath the selected one. Two or three levels usually works best.

Sorting categories

Categories display in order of the Sort order number you set on each one. Lower numbers appear first. Edit a category to change its sort order.

Moving a category

If you need to change a category's parent, click the Move action on its row and pick a new parent. All products in the category stay assigned to it.

Deactivating a category

If a category is no longer relevant, click Edit on its row and turn the Active toggle off. Inactive categories stop showing up as options, but the products inside them are not deleted. Turn the toggle back on later if you need it again.

Deleting a category

You can only delete a category after its child categories and products have been moved to another category. The delete confirmation will tell you if something is still attached.

Tips

  • Start simple. You can always add sub-categories later as your inventory grows.
  • Use names that match how your team talks about supplies. If everyone says "O2 Supplies" instead of "Oxygen Equipment," use "O2 Supplies."
  • Review your categories once a year to clean up anything you no longer use.