Dynamic Categories

What is a Dynamic Category?

Dynamic categories allow you to automatically organize products based on rules instead of manual handling.

A dynamic category uses rules to automatically include products that match specific criteria. In contrast to a static category:

• Static Category: Products are added manually.
• Dynamic Category: Products are added automatically based on rules.

You can set rules based on criteria such as stock status, product tags, prices, and more.

Examples of use:

• "New Arrivals" (products created in the last 30 days)
• "Sale Items"
• "Products from Brand X"
• "Campaign of the Month"

Before You Start

• A dynamic category must first be created as a regular (static) category.
• Rules are added afterwards.
• Existing products may be replaced (see the Important to Know section).

How to Make a Category Dynamic

1. Create a category the usual way.
2. Hover your mouse over the category in the side menu.
3. Click the lightning bolt icon.
4. You will be redirected to the rule setup page.
5. Add one or more rules.
6. Save.

Defining Rules

You can set up one or more rules. For a product to appear in the category, all rules must be met. This is because the rules use an AND-condition.

At any time, you can:

• Change the rules
• Remove the rules

Available Rule Types

You can filter products based on:

• Product Tags: Custom tags you have added (e.g., "Gift Card").
• Product Properties: Custom attributes (e.g., material, size, type).
• Manufacturer
• Sale Status: Show products on sale, full price, or both. This is great for combining with other filters.
• Retail Price: Products above or below a specific price.
• Gross Profit: Products with a specific margin. Useful when combined with sale prices.
• Days Since Product Was Created: Perfect for "New Arrivals." Combine it with rules for manufacturers or gross profit for more specific displays.
• Stock Availability: Products with a specific stock quantity.
• Discount Percentage Range: Filter within a specific discount range. Practical for clearing out end-of-line items.
• In Active Campaign: Products that are part of an active campaign. (Ideal for "Offers of the Month" – products are automatically added and removed when the campaign starts and ends).

Update Frequency

Dynamic categories are updated via background jobs. When you create or change rules, a background job starts. If there are many jobs in the queue, it may take a little time before the changes are visible in the webshop.

How to Recognize a Dynamic Category

You can identify it in two ways:

1. In the side menu, it is displayed with a folder icon with a lightning bolt.
2. Inside the category, a label is displayed under the name: Dynamic or Static.

Previewing a Dynamic Category

If you want to preview the category without giving customers access:

1. Click Edit (the pencil icon) on the category.
2. Enable Hide this category from the webshop menu.
3. Use the category's direct URL for previewing. Remember to disable this setting when the category is ready to be published.

Reverting a Dynamic Category to Static

1. Remove all rules from the category.
2. Once rules are removed:
3. • The category becomes Static.
   • It retains the products that were in the category at the time the rules were removed.
3. You can then add or remove products manually as usual.

Important to know

• When you turn an existing static category (which already contains products) into a dynamic one, all existing products will be replaced by products that match the new rule set.
• Dynamic categories cannot be combined with manual product placement.

Video: What is a Dynamic Category?