Creating categories

If you are expanding your store inventory or changing your category structure, you might want to add a category.

Before you begin

You can add a category by completing one of the following tasks:
  • Creating a category by copying an existing category. When you copy a category, catalog entries (products, SKUs, bundles, and kits) are not copied.
  • Creating a category.
HCL Commerce EnterpriseNote: If you are using the extended sites model, the parent category can come from the asset or extended site store. A product belongs to the asset store if it is identified with the following icon Asset store category.

Procedure

  1. Open the Catalogs tool.
  2. Create a category by using one of these methods:
    • To copy an existing category, navigate to the category in the explorer tree:
      1. On the explorer tree, right-click the category; then, click Show Subcategories on the context menu. The Categories list view displays.
      2. On the explorer tree or list view, right-click the category that you want to copy; then, on the context menu, click Copy.
      3. On the list view, right-click anywhere; then, on the context menu, click Paste.

        The Category Properties view displays.

    • To create a category in the master catalog:
      1. From the explorer filter, select Master Catalog Categories.
      2. On the explorer tree, right-click on a category; then, click New Category to create a subcategory, or from the File menu click File > New > Category, to create a new top category.

        The Category Properties view displays.

    • To create a category in a sales catalog:
      1. From the explorer filter, select Sales Catalog.
      2. On the explorer tree, right-click on a category; then, click New Sales Category to create a subcategory, or from the File menu clickFile > New > Sales Category, to create a new top category.

        The Category Properties view displays.

  3. Click the Manage Category tab.
  4. Expand General Category Information. Complete the following information:
    PropertyDescription
    Code The language independent category identifier.
    Name The name of the category. This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Short description Type a brief description of the category.
    Long description

    Type a detailed description, if applicable. You can enter HTML code in this field. If you choose to specify HTML code, you should receive this source code from your developers. Before you paste HTML code into the field, you must select Source in the editor toolbar. For more information about rich text editors, see Rich text editor (CKEditor).
    Keyword Type one or more keywords, which are separated by a comma and a space that describe the contents of the Web page. Some Internet search engines use these keywords to determine whether your page satisfies a search query. This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Parent category (master catalog) The category to which an object such as a category, product, or SKU belongs, or the catalog to which a top category belongs.
  5. Expand the Display section. Complete the following fields:
    PropertyDescription
    Display to customers Select this check box to indicate that customers can view this category in the storefront.
    Thumbnail All image files must be placed in the store's defined image directory. Determining the correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on your store's configuration. For example, the HCL Commerce starter store images use a relative path that points to the default installation directory under the store name. Use of a relative path is most common. Use of an absolute path is dependent on your initial configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory if you are unsure. This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Full image Type the path to the full-size image and the name of the image, such as images/shirt.jpg. The path can be either a full path, or a relative path from your store directory.
  6. Optional: Click the Search Engine Optimization tab. You can override the default values for fields by using text and SEO substitution parameters.
    To insert an SEO substitution parameter, use the format: <seo:SEOSUBSTITUTIONPARAMETER />. For example, to add the page title "Shop coffee-makers from Aurora" in the coffee maker category page: "Shop <seo:CategoryName /> from <seo:StoreName />"
    SEO substitution parameters
    <seo:StoreName/>
    The name of the store. For example, Aurora.
    <seo:StoreDescription/>
    The store's description. For example, Online Department Store.
    <seo:CategoryName/>
    The name of the category. For example, Furniture.
    <seo:CategoryKeyword/>
    The category keyword. For example, housewares,furniture,chairs,desks,tables,sofas,loveseats,outdoor.
    <seo:CategoryShortDescription/>
    The category's short description. For example, Furnish your entire home with this elegant collection.
    <seo:CategoryHierarchy/>
    The category hierarchy. For example, Furniture/Lounge Chairs/.

    Override the default values for any of the following fields:

    PropertyDescription
    URL keyword Specify a unique name for the category to be used in the URL on the storefront. If you do not specify a keyword, the name is used.
    Page title The language-specific page title for this category. The title that you provide displays in the title bar in the customer's browser.
    Meta description The language-specific meta description for the page. The meta description is used by a search engine to provide a description of your site and this category on a search results page. The text that you provide is put in the page's META tag.
    Image alt text The language-specific image alternative text for the category image. The alt text describes the contents of the image for search engines to accurately rank and index the image. The text that you provide displays when a customer hovers over the category image.
  7. Click Save; then click Close.