5.3. Product Category

Product categories are used group products in order to easily assign material policies, accounting parameters, run processes and generate reports. The Product Category window, located in the Product Setup menu, is used to define product categories. The following fields are available:

• Name, Description - are used to identify the record withn the system;

• Active - indicates whether the category is active in the system;

• Default - if checked, the category will be used by default by SocrateCloud processes and reports;

• Self-Service - check for products that are available on the Web Store;

• Material Policy (LIFO or FIFO) - determines the cost calculation method. Details in Costs.

• Planned Margin - not used in the current SocrateCloud version;

• Customer Asset Group - select a customer asset group for this product category. Details in Customer Assets;

• Asset Group - select a fixed asset group for this product category. Details in Fixed Assets;

• Print Color - select a print color in which the names of products belonging to this category will be printed in reports.

• Attribute Set - you can select an attribute set used to filter products on the WebStore.

Product subcategories are a classification level, subordinate to product categories and can be managed in the Product Subcategories window. The following fields are available:

• Product Category - select the parent classification level, the product category;

• Attribute Set - you can select an attribute set used to filter products on the WebStore.

Accounting

The Accounting tab contains the product category accounting information. The accounts defined here will be used by default for each product defined with this product category.

You can select a Costing Method and a Costing Level for this product category. By selecting a value for these fields, you will specify the desire to have the products in this category use a costing method or costing level different from the ones defined in the Account Element. Accounts of the account element can be modified as necessary and they will be applicable to any product in this product category. Details in Costs.

The Copy Accounts process needs to be used with precaution. It will copy the updated standard accounts for all the defined products. If specific accounts have been defined at Product level, these will erased. Details in Accounting.

The Check Products Accounts report can be used to display the accounts used for each product. The report can be generated for a product category or for all products except a product category.

Assigned Products

The Assigned Products tab displays the products found in this product category. Products are not assigned to the Product category using this tab. This is done in the Product window for each individual product.