RC Manage Categories

Admin Dashboard > Catalog > Manage Categories

Purpose of the Feature

The Manage Categories section in the Admin Dashboard is used to create, organize, and customize categories for products in your catalog. Properly managed categories improve navigation and customer experience, making it easier for customers to find products on your website.

What It Is Used For

1. Organizing Products:

   • Create hierarchical category structures to group similar products together.
   • Ensure your product catalog is easy to browse.

2. Customizing Category Display:

   • Control how categories appear on the frontend.
   • Add metadata for SEO to enhance category visibility.

3. Adding Products to Categories:

   • Assign products to one or multiple categories for effective grouping and display.

4. Managing Category Order:

   • Reorder categories to improve navigation and align with business priorities.

How to Use the Manage Categories Section

Accessing the Section

1. Log in to the Admin Dashboard.
2. Navigate to Catalog > Manage Categories.
3. The category tree will appear on the left-hand side, displaying all existing categories in a hierarchical structure.

Adding a New Category

1. Select the parent category under which you want to add the new category. To create a top-level category, select the "Default Category."
2. Click Add Subcategory.
3. Fill out the required fields:
   • Name: Enter the category name.
   • Is Active: Set the category to active or inactive.
   • URL Key: Provide a user-friendly URL key (or leave it blank to auto-generate).
   • Description: Add a detailed description of the category (optional).
4. Add optional settings:
   • Image: Upload an image to represent the category.
   • Meta Title: Enter an SEO-friendly title for search engines.
   • Meta Description: Provide a brief description for search engine listings.
   • Meta Keywords: Add relevant keywords for the category.
5. Click Save Category.

Editing an Existing Category

1. Select the category you wish to edit from the category tree.
2. Update any fields as needed, such as the name, description, or display settings.
3. Click Save Category to apply the changes.

Reordering Categories

1. In the category tree, click and drag a category to its new position.
2. Ensure that the category remains within the intended parent category.
3. Changes are saved automatically once you release the category in its new position.

Adding Products to a Category

1. Select the category where you want to add products.
2. Navigate to the Category Products tab.
3. Use the search bar or scroll to find the desired products.
4. Check the box next to each product to add it to the category.
5. Click Save Category to finalize the changes.

Managing Category Display Options

1. Select a category from the tree.
2. Go to the Display Settings tab:
   • Display Mode: Choose how the category displays (e.g., products only, static block only, or both).
   • CMS Block: Select a custom CMS block to display additional content.
   • Is Anchor: Enable or disable layered navigation for the category.
3. Save your changes.

Data Fields Available

General Information:

• Name: The name of the category.
• Is Active: Determines if the category is visible on the frontend.
• URL Key: A user-friendly URL string for the category page.
• Description: A detailed description of the category.
• Image: An optional image to represent the category visually.

Display Settings:

• Display Mode: Options include displaying products, static blocks, or both.
• CMS Block: Choose a custom content block to display within the category.
• Is Anchor: Enable to show filters (e.g., price, brand) for layered navigation.

Meta Information:

• Meta Title: Title for SEO purposes.
• Meta Description: Description for search engines.
• Meta Keywords: Keywords relevant to the category.

Category Products:

• A list of products assigned to the category with checkboxes to add or remove items.

Reorder:

• Organize the position of categories within the hierarchy.

Features and Benefits

Key Features

• Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for reordering categories.
• Advanced SEO options for better search engine visibility.
• Comprehensive display settings to customize category presentation.
• Easy product assignment with searchable lists.

Benefits

• Streamlined navigation for customers.
• Enhanced product discoverability through logical organization.
• Improved website performance with optimized categories.