Using Item Categories
Dynamics 365 Business Central lets users search for items by Item Name or Item Number. If you place items in categories, you can also search by Item Category to return every item in that category, or by an Item Attribute such as colour to return every item in that colour. For a furniture retailer whose customer wants everything in blue, that is the difference between a useful catalogue and a spreadsheet.
Creating an item category
- Choose the search icon, enter Item Categories, and choose the related link.
- On the Item Categories page, choose New.
- On the Item Category Card, on the General FastTab, fill in the fields. Hover over a field to read a short description.
- On the Attributes FastTab, specify any item attributes for the category.
Categories as a template for attributes
Item Attributes such as colour or weight are set up separately for items. When you add attributes to a category, you are asking Business Central to apply those attributes to any item assigned that category. In other words, a category acts as a template for item attributes.
Categories are also useful for reporting, and they complement the use of Dimensions as you mature your use of the system. Microsoft documentation covers the mechanics of categorising items in detail.
For related inventory topics, see our guides on assembly orders and freight and shipping charges. For help structuring your catalogue and reporting from the start, see our Dynamics 365 implementation page.