Product categories group your products into a tree, such as Clothing, then Jackets, then Waterproof jackets. You manage them under **Strengthen → Commerce → Categories**. Product categories are separate from the categories used for website pages and posts, which live under **Strengthen → Content → Categories** and are covered in [Content categories and authors](/strengthen/content-categories-and-authors).

## Before you start

Your subscription needs to include Catalogue. You need permission to view categories to open the page, and separate permissions to create, edit or delete them. If an action fails or a button is missing, ask a subscription administrator about your permissions.

The fields you fill in for a category come from your category templates (attribute sets) and attributes, which a subscription administrator manages in the catalogue settings.

## How the page is laid out

The Categories page is split into two parts.

- On the left is the category tree. Select the arrow next to a category to show the categories inside it. Categories that aren't enabled are shown in red.
- On the right is the editor. Until you pick a category it shows **Select a Category**.

To give the editor more room, use the arrow button at the edge of the tree (its tooltip reads **Hide**). Select it again to bring the tree back.

## Adding a top-level category

1. Go to **Strengthen → Commerce → Categories**.
2. Select **Add Root Category** above the tree.
3. If you have more than one category template, choose one from the **Attribute Set** list on the **Choose** tab.
4. Fill in the fields. With the default template you'll see a **General** tab with **Name**, **Short Description** and **Description**, and an **SEO** tab with **URL**.
5. Select **Save** to create the category, or choose **Save and Continue** from the actions menu next to it to keep working on it.

## Adding a sub category

1. In the tree, select the category you want to add to.
2. Select **Add Category**. This button is only active once a category is selected.
3. Fill in the fields and select **Save**. The new category is created inside the one you selected.

## Editing a category

Select a category in the tree to open it in the editor. Make your changes, then select **Publish now** to make them live, or choose another option from the actions menu next to it:

- **Publish and continue** publishes and keeps the category open.
- **Save Draft** saves your changes without changing the live category. You can then use **Edit Draft**, **Exit Draft** or **Delete Draft**.
- **Schedule** and **Schedule with revert** let you set a **Go live at** time, and for a temporary change, a **Revert at** time.

**Name** must be filled in before you can save. Other required fields, such as **URL**, only give a warning and ask you to confirm.

Each category also has a **Comments** tab for team discussion.

## Enabling, disabling and deleting

Right-click a category in the tree to open its menu.

- **Disable** switches off an enabled category. **Enable** switches a disabled category back on. You'll be asked to confirm.
- **Delete** removes the category after you confirm.

You can also delete the category you have open using the delete button at the bottom of the editor. Before deleting a category that has sub categories or products assigned, check with your team, and treat deletion as permanent.

## Assigning products to categories

You assign categories from the product itself, not from the category. Open a product under **Strengthen → Commerce → Products** and use its **Categories** tab to tick the categories it belongs to. See [Managing products](/strengthen/catalogue-products). If your subscription includes AI for Catalogue, **Product categorisation** can suggest categories for you.

## Getting AI recommendations for your tree

If your subscription includes AI for Catalogue, an AI actions button appears above the tree. Choose **Category recommendations** to open **Category tree recommendations**.

1. Describe what you'd like to improve in **What should we improve?**, for example "Too many near-duplicate categories under Accessories".
2. Select **Find recommendations**.
3. Review the suggestions. Each is labelled with the kind of change, such as **Rename**, **Merge**, **Move**, **Add category** or **Remove empty category**.

These recommendations are for review only. Nothing changes in your tree automatically, so make any changes you agree with yourself.

## Troubleshooting

### The tree says No categories

You haven't created any categories yet, or you don't have permission to see them. Select **Add Root Category** to start.

### Add Category is greyed out

Select a category in the tree first. The new category is created inside the one you've selected.