> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://muveya.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Categories

> Create the categories that group your supplies, and learn what categories are used for and what they cannot do yet.

A category groups supplies in your dental clinic's catalog, for example "Gloves and barrier protection" or "Anesthesia". Every supply belongs to exactly one category, so you need at least one category before you can create a supply.

A category has only a name. It has no status, no parent category and no code of its own besides its internal id.

## Who can do it

| Action | Permission |
| - | - |
| See the categories | Any member of the dental clinic. |
| Create a category | `catalog.manage` (Owners and Administrators have it through their role; a Member needs **Manage the catalog**). |

See [Roles and permissions](/docs/en/account/roles-and-permissions).

## Where

In **Catalog**, click the **Categories** link next to the search box. The **Categories** screen (`/catalog/categories`) says **Group the supplies in your dental clinic catalog.** and has **Back to catalog** at the top.

The screen lists every category in one column, **Category name**, in the order they were created. When there are none, it shows **No categories yet** and **Add a category to start organizing supplies.**

## Create a category

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the dialog">
    On **Categories**, click **New category** in the page header. The button only appears if you hold `catalog.manage`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name it">
    Type the **Category name**: required, up to 120 characters, and not only spaces.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Click **Save category**. The dialog closes and the category appears at the end of the list. **Cancel** closes the dialog without saving.
  </Step>
</Steps>

You can also create a category while creating or editing a supply: click **New category** under the **Category** field. The same dialog opens, and the new category is selected in the supply form when you save it.

<Note>
  Category names do not have to be unique. muveya does not stop you from creating two categories with the same name, so check the list first.
</Note>

## Rename, deactivate or delete

The current release has no way to rename, deactivate or delete a category, neither in the console nor through the API.

* **To stop using a category**, open each supply that belongs to it, choose another **Category** and click **Save changes**. The old category stays in the list and in every filter.
* **To fix a misspelled name**, create a category with the right name and move the supplies to it as above.
* If a category must be renamed or removed, write to [team@muveya.com](mailto:team@muveya.com).

## Category ids

Each category has an internal `categoryId`. The console shows names everywhere except on the CSV import screen, where the table **Category IDs for your CSV** lists each **Category name** next to its `categoryId` with a **Copy category ID** button (**Category ID copied** confirms it). CSV files reference categories by that id, not by name. See [Import and export](/docs/en/catalog/import-export).

The public API lists categories with `GET /v1/catalog/categories` (scope `catalog:read`). Each item read by the API carries its `categoryId`.

## How categories are used

| Where | How |
| - | - |
| Catalog list | The **Category** filter shows only the supplies of one category, and the **Category** column names each supply's category. |
| Supply form | **Category** is a required field on every supply. |
| CSV import | Each row must carry the `categoryId` of a category of your dental clinic. |
| Orders | When a supply is added to an order, the line keeps a copy of the supply's category. Moving the supply to another category later does not change lines already added. |
| Approval policies | The approval policy model can match a rule when any order line belongs to a set of categories. The policy editor in the console does not offer a category condition on the current release; a rule that already carries one keeps it when you edit and publish the policy. The editor does offer **Only orders with high-value supplies**, which depends on the supply's **High-value supply** choice. See [Order approval policy](/docs/en/orders/approval-policy). |
| Reports | The **Consumption by supply** report groups by supply, not by category. There is no report by category on the current release. See [Consumption report](/docs/en/reports/consumption). |

## What the system records

The category and its name, in your dental clinic only. Creating a category is not written as a separate audit entry.

## What can go wrong

| Message | Cause | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| **Complete this field.** | The name is empty or only spaces. | Type a name. |
| **Use no more than 120 characters.** | The name is too long. | Shorten it. |
| **Your account does not have permission for this action.** | You lack `catalog.manage`. | Ask a workspace administrator. |
| **This category is no longer available. Choose another one.** | Seen on the supply form: the chosen category does not exist in this dental clinic. | Choose another category. |
| **Category unavailable** | Seen in the catalog list: the supply's category could not be found. | Open the supply and choose a category. |

## Related pages

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Catalog items" icon="box" href="/docs/en/catalog/items">
    Create supplies and assign their category.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Import and export" icon="file-csv" href="/docs/en/catalog/import-export">
    Use category ids in a CSV file.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Order approval policy" icon="list-check" href="/docs/en/orders/approval-policy">
    Decide which orders need approval.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Roles and permissions" icon="user-shield" href="/docs/en/account/roles-and-permissions">
    Grant **Manage the catalog**.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>


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