> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.ordereazi.com/central/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.ordereazi.com/central/order-management/products/categories.md).

# Categories

With hundreds of products in one long list, your reps can't find what they need to quote. Categories in OrderEazi group your products, for example Clothing, then Shirts, then Golf Shirts. Reps filter by category when they search for products on a project, and you can use categories to control what other systems see through the API.

### Before you start

You'll need the **Data Management** permission, in the **Settings** permission group.

### How to add a category

1. In the main menu, go to **Products** > **Categories Management**. This opens the **Categories** tab of **Data Management**.
2. Select **Add Category**.
3. Enter the category's **Name** and, if you want, a **Description**.
4. To put it inside another category, choose that category in **Parent Category**. Leave it as **None (top-level category)** for a main category.
5. Select **Confirm**.

You see "Category created successfully." Two categories under the same parent can't have the same name. If you try, you see "Category already exists."

**Example:** You add "Clothing" as a top-level category, then "Shirts" with **Parent Category** set to Clothing, then "Golf Shirts" under Shirts. The tree shows Clothing > Shirts > Golf Shirts, and a golf shirt in that category is found by filtering for any of the three.

### How the category tree works

The **Categories** tab shows your categories as a tree. Select **Expand All** or **Collapse All**, or type in **Search...** to find a category by its name or its full path. You can nest categories as deep as you need, but a category can't be moved inside itself or one of its own sub-categories.

Products from a supplier feed can bring their own categories, such as "Clothing/Shirts". OrderEazi splits them into a parent and a child category, and reuses categories you already have with the same name.

### How to change or delete a category

Open the cog menu on a category and select **Edit** or **Delete**.

> **Warning:** Moving products to another category when you delete one can't be undone. Check the list of products before you confirm.

* **A category with sub-categories:** You can't delete it until you've moved or deleted its sub-categories. You see "You can not delete this category as it will break the hierarchy."
* **A category with products:** OrderEazi asks "Would you like to relink them to another category?" Choose the replacement category, or **None** to leave the products without one. Check the products that will change, select **I Understand**, and confirm.
* **An unused category:** Confirm "Are you sure you want to delete this category?" You see "Category deleted successfully."

### What categories are used for

* **Product search on a project:** Reps filter the **Product Search** tab with **Select Categories**.
* **API keys:** You can exclude categories from an API key, so another system doesn't see those products. Products with no category are excluded too.
* **The product screen:** Each product can be in one or more categories, under **Basic Product Details**.

### Related pages

* [Adding and editing a product](/central/order-management/products/product-management/adding-and-editing-a-product.md): put a product in a category
* [Brands](/central/order-management/settings/data-management/brands.md): group products by brand instead
* [Data Management](/central/order-management/settings/data-management.md): the other lists you manage