Product catalogs
You can specify product catalogs to group items into logical product categories. Catalogs can be structured hierarchically and contain, at the lowest levels, items that can be sold or purchased.
Catalogs can be used to search for and locate items during sales order, sales quotation, and purchase requisition entry. 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. At the lowest level of the catalog, you can view specific information on item, pricing, and availability. You can specify effectivity and expiration dates to restrict the use of the catalog to a specific time period.
Product catalogs can be specified for sales and purchase transactions. They can be created for general use or for a specific sold-to business partner.
These items cannot be included in product catalogs:
- List items (except for kits)
- Generic items and product variants
- Subcontracting items
- Equipment items
Specifying product catalogs
To create a product catalog:
- Specify a new category in the Categories (tdpct0501m000) session and select the Catalog check box for the category. This is the highest category level.
- Specify the subcategories that you want to include in the catalog in the Categories (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 on the appropriate menu of the Categories (tdpct0501m000) session. Consequently, 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 on the appropriate menu of the Categories (tdpct0501m000) session. Consequently, 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 on the appropriate menu of the Categories (tdpct0501m000) session. Consequently, the Create Product Catalog (tdpct0204m000) session starts, which you must run with the Save Catalog check box selected.
- 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, select from the appropriate menu in the Catalogs (tdpct0510m000) session, or select from the appropriate menu in the Category Structure (tdpct0502m000) session.
- You can insert product
catalogs into:
- Sales orders in the Sales Order (tdsls4100m900) session.
- Sales quotations in the Sales Quotation (tdsls1600m000) session.
- Purchase requisitions in the Purchase Requisition (tdpur2600m000) session.
Copying 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 | Fields |
|---|---|---|
| Create New Structure | Must match | General/Specific Identifier |
| Append Structure | Can differ | General/Specific Identifier |
| Replace Structure | Can differ | General/Specific Identifier |