Dynamic Categories

Dynamic Categories

Unlike static categories, where you manually add each product, dynamic categories use rules to automatically include matching products. You can set rules based on criteria such as stock status, product tags, prices, and more.

How to Create a Dynamic Category

Dynamic categories always start as regular, static categories. First, create your category as you normally would.

To make an existing category dynamic:

1. Hover your mouse over the category in the sidebar menu.
2. Click the button with a lightning bolt icon.
3. You will now be taken to a new page where you can define your rules.
    

Defining Rules for Dynamic Categories

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.

You can return to the rules page at any time to modify or remove them.

Available Rules

Here are the types of rules you can use:

• Product Tags: Categorize products using custom tags you've applied (e.g., "Gift Card").
• Product Properties: Filter by product attributes you've added, such as "material" or "clothing type."
• Manufacturers: Display products from selected manufacturers.
• Offer Settings: Show products that are on sale, full price, or both. This is great for combining with other filters.
• Sale Price: Include products with a sale price above or below a specific amount.
• Gross Margin: Display products with a certain profit margin. Useful when combined with offer prices.
• Days Since Product Creation: Ideal for showcasing new arrivals. Combine it with rules for manufacturers or gross margin for more specific new product displays.
• Available Stock: Show products with a specific quantity in stock.
• Discount Percentage Between: Select products within a certain discount percentage range. Handy for clearing out outgoing inventory.
• In Active Campaign: Automatically include products that are part of an active campaign. This is perfect for a "Monthly Deals" category, as products are added and removed automatically when campaigns start and end.

How to Identify a Dynamic Category

You can easily spot a dynamic category in a couple of ways:

• Sidebar Menu: In the overview of all your categories, dynamic categories are marked with a folder icon with a lightning bolt.
  
• Category Page: When you're viewing a category, a label under its name will clearly state "Dynamic" or "Static."
  

Previewing a Category

If you want to preview a category in your webshop without making it visible to customers:

1. Go to the category settings (click the "edit/pen icon" on the category).
2. Enable the option "Hide this category in webshop menu."
3. You can find the category's direct URL at the top of the same window. Use this link to view the hidden category.
   

Remember to deactivate this setting when you're ready to display the category in your store.

Deactivating a Dynamic Category

To convert a dynamic category back to a static one, you need to remove all its rules.

Once the rules are removed, the category will become static. It will then contain all the products that were in the category before it was converted to static. At this point, you can manually add or remove products as you normally would.