| # Product catalogs A product catalog is a user-defined hierarchical structure used to classify groups of items. This structure is similar to a bill of material, allowing you to group saleable items into logical categories. Product catalogs can be used during sales order entry to search for, and locate, items. At the lowest level of the catalog, you can view specific information on item, pricing, and availability. Based on the user-defined structure, searches can be performed by category, item description, or manufacturer information. When searching by category or item description, LN searches the product catalog(s), level by level. Effectivity and expiration dates can be defined to restrict the use of the catalog to a specific time period. Product catalogs can be defined for sales transactions. They can be created for general use, or for a specific sold-to business partner. The following items cannot be included in the product catalog: List items (except for kits). Generic items and product variants. Subcontracting items. Equipment items. To create product catalogs Catalogs consist of one or more product categories, which can be structured hierarchically and contain, at the lowest levels, items that can be sold. To create a product catalog, take the following steps: Enter a new category in the Category (tdpct0501m000) session and select the Catalog check box for the entered category. This is the highest category level. Enter the subcategories that you want to include in the catalog in the Category (tdpct0501m000) session. These are the categories for which the Catalog check box is cleared. If you link items directly to the catalog, you can skip this step. If the catalog is defined as Specific in the General/Specific Identifier field of the Category (tdpct0101s000) session, you must link the catalog to (a) sold-to business partner(s) in the Category - BP/Employee Linkage Data (tdpct0103m000) session. Structure the product categories hierarchically by linking subcategories or items to the category that is defined as a catalog. For this purpose, select the relevant catalog and click Category Structure on the appropriate menu of the Category (tdpct0501m000) session. As a result, the Category Structure (tdpct0502m000) session starts in which you can link the subcategories/items. If subcategories are linked to a catalog, you must also link items to the subcategory. For this purpose, select the relevant category and click Category Structure on the appropriate menu of the Category (tdpct0501m000) session. As a result, the Category Structure (tdpct0502m000) session starts in which you can link the items. Generate a catalog based on the category that is defined as a catalog. For this purpose, select the relevant catalog and click Create Product Catalog on the appropriate menu of the Category (tdpct0501m000) session. As a result, the Create Product Catalog (tdpct0204m000) session starts, which you must run with the Save Catalog check box selected. Note When the catalog is created, you can view the catalog in the Catalogs (tdpct0510m000) session. To have a tree structure of the generated catalog structure, click Tree Structure on the appropriate menu of the Catalogs (tdpct0510m000) session, or click Tree Structure on the appropriate menu of the Category Structure (tdpct0502m000) session. You can insert product catalogs into sales orders in the Sales Order - Lines (tdsls4100m900) session. To copy category structures You can copy category structures in the Copy Category Structure (tdpct0201m000) session. When copying from one category structure to another, the following rules apply for the following fields in the Copy Category Structure (tdpct0201m000) session:
Copy type | From and to values | For fields:
--- | --- | ---
Create New Structure | Must match | General/Specific Identifier
Append Structure | Can differ | General/Specific Identifier
Replace Structure | Can differ | General/Specific Identifier
Note If you run the Copy Category Structure (tdpct0201m000) session with the Type of Copy field set to Append Structure, and if the Source is General and the Target is Specific, links that are defined in the Category - BP/Employee Linkage Data (tdpct0103m000) session, are not copied. Related topics To use templates and catalogs in sales orders |