You can use product categories to group your products based on certain criteria. These criteria are set by you depending on your own business needs.
For each product category you can carry out the following:
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define a number range
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link it to a project
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create sub categories
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display them in an item tree
You can define product categories within Xentral in two places:
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App Center > Master data > Item categories
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App Center > Master data > Item tree
Product categories you create in the Item categories app are also displayed in the Item tree app, where they can be edited. The same way product categories created in the Item tree app are displayed in the Item categories app, where they can be edited.
Important
In the Item categories app can you create number ranges for your product categories.
In the Item tree app can you create subcategories, if you want to refine the grouping of your products.
Note
If you want to use different number ranges for your categories, first create the product category before you add product data. This way you can make sure, that your products will always have assigned the right product number and you save time on possible reworking.
App Center > Master data > Item categories
Xentral offers your some product category templates for guidance. Please note that these will no longer be available when you create your first custom product category.
For each category you can define a different number range, which means that the product number for products of this product category will be based on this range. When allocating product numbers there are three options:
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you assign a sequential product number based on the central number range independent of the article category. You define this in your basic settings.
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you assign an own number range per product category, i.e. article category A starts at 3000000, article category B starts at 4000000, article category C at 7000000 etc.
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you define a prefix per product category and combine it with the next number of the central number range, e.g. PM30000, etc.
Product numbers may neither have a date format nor include blanks nor special characters. When assigning product numbers, please also take into account that they have an appropriate format for further processing if required, e.g. if products are scanned.
To create a new product category:
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Click +NEW.
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Enter the name for your product category in the Designation field, e.g. seasonal products, production material, services, etc.
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Leave the Item number last assigned field empty, when you want to assign a product number based on the central numbers series. Möchtest du einen anderen Nummernkreis für diese Artikelkategorie verwenden oder den zentralen Nummernkreis um ein Präfix ergänzen, gebe die erste Nummer des alternativen Nummernkreises oder das Präfix hier ein. Stelle sicher, dass dein alternativer Nummernkreis auf Zahlen endet und sich nicht mit bestehenden Nummernkreisen überschneidet, die dann bei Anlage weiterer Artikel dieser Artikelkategorie von Xentral hochgezählt werden können.
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Select the Use the central number range check box, to use product numbers based on the central number range. If you have entered a prefix in the Item number last assigned field, the prefix and the next number from the central number range will be compiled, e.g. PM3000001 (prefix PM, next number from number range 3000001).
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If you want to assign the product category to a certain project, select the project in the Project field.
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If you need a chart of accounts for your product category which deviates from the set chart of accounts, you can enter the relevant information in the relevant Revenue and Expenses fields in the Export chart of accounts section.
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Click Save.
Your new product category is displayed in the overview.
You can edit your product category by clicking the pen icon the in the Menu column or delete it by clicking the cross icon.
In your overview you can filter your product categories using the table column filters or use the Search field to search for a specific product category.
App Center > Master data > Item tree
With version19.1 and above you can translate your product categories.
To translate a product category:
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Click on the relevant product category in the item tree. On the right of the screen the editing form for the product category is displayed.
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In the Einstellungen (Settings) section click on the globe icon next to the Name field. The Translations table is displayed in a new window.
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Click New entry.
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Select your target language from the Language drop-down.
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Enter the translation of your product category in the Translation field.
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Click Save.
Your translation is displayed in the overview.
You can edit a translation by clicking the pen icon in the Menu column or delete it by clicking the cross icon.
App Center > Master data > Item tree
You can use the Item tree app to create a structured overview over all your products based on product categories. Apart from main product categories you can also create subcategories here.
The item tree gives you an overview of your products and their relation to each other.
The item tree shows all available product categories created in the Item categories app and the Item tree app.
You can search for product categories and product subcategories using the Designation field above the item tree.
To create a new product category:
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In the item tree on the left click Create a new category.
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Enter the name of your category in the Name field, e.g. consumables, coffee supplies, books, multimedia, etc.
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Click Speichern (save).
Your new product category is displayed in the item tree on the left. The categories are displayed alphabetically. The sorting order cannot be changed.
You can create subcategories for each product category, if required, to refine your product groupings.
To create a new subcategory:
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In the item tree on the left click on the product category for which you want to create a subcategory.
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In the entry form on the right enter the name for your subcategory in the Name field in the Neue Unterkategorie (new subcategory) section.
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Click Speichern next to the Name field.
Your new subcategory is displayed in the item tree under your main product category.
To delete a product category:
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In the item tree on the left click on the product category you want to delete.
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In the Einstellungen (settings) section click löschen (delete) next to the name of your product category.
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In the dialog that appears click OK to confirm the deletion of the product category.
The product category is deleted and it's not longer available in the item tree.
Note
When deleting a category, all its subcategories are deleted as well.
Master data > Product
There are two ways to assign a product category to your product:
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In the Name and number of the item section during creation or maintenance of your product.
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In the Item tree tab.
Note
If you have assigned different number ranges to your product categories, you should assign the product category during creation. This will reduce rework.
To assign a product category in the Name and number of the item section:
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Click +NEW to create a new product and select the required product category from the Product category drop-down.
or
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Open the product which you want to assign a product category to.
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Select the required product category from the Product category drop-down.
Note
Only main product categories are displayed for selection in the Product category drop-down. You can assign subcategories in the Item tree tab.
To assign a product category or product subcategory in the Item tre e tab:
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Open your product and switch to the Item tree tab.
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Click on Bearbeitung aktivieren (activate edit mode) above the item tree on the left.
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Select the check boxes for all product categories and product subcategories which you want to assign your product to.
Your changes are saved automatically.
During import you can add item tree structures to several products at the same time. Product categories and item tree can be imported separately, if needed. You can find an instruction on the item tree import here.
Starting with Xentral version 20.3 you have the option to select a root category in the shopimporter. This will be the basis from which the shop exports the item tree.
You can choose to display the item tree in the product overview.
To display the item tree in the product overview:
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Go to Administration > System > Basic settings > System tab.
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Select the Overview of item tree check box in the Product section.
The item tree is displayed on the left side of the product overview screen.