You can use categories and category sets to group items for various reports and programs.

The category set Inventory is seeded when you install Oracle Inventory. The category set Purchasing is seeded when you install Oracle Purchasing.

If you plan to use Order Management's group pricing functionality with item categories, you must add the categories to the Order Entry category set.

   To define a category set:

1. Navigate to the Category Set window.

2. Enter a unique category set name.

3. Enter a description.

4. Enter a flexfield structure.

   Note: The categories you assign to a category set must have the same flexfield structure as the set itself. This is true even if you choose not to validate the category list.

5. Select a control level.

   Master Level: Item assigned to this category set has the same category value in all organizations where it is assigned.

   Org Level: Item assigned to this category set may have a different category value in each organization where it is assigned.

6. Select a default category.

   This is the default category used when assigning an item to the category set. For example, a category set may have a default category called New. After an item is assigned to New, you can override the default category and choose another relevant category for each item.

7. Indicate whether to enable an item to be assigned to multiple categories within this category set.

   If you enable this feature, you can assign an item to multiple categories within a category set. For example, you may define a Hazard category set. In this case, an item may be assigned to both the Poison and Corrosive categories.

   Note: Enable this feature to create cartonization groups. See: Cartonization

   Note: For cost management purposes, Oracle recommends having a separate category set, with this feature disabled, for costing fixed assets. Costing functionality does not permit an item to be associated with multiple categories within a category set.

8. Indicate whether to enforce the list of valid categories.

   If you do not enable this feature, you can assign an item to any category defined that uses the same flexfield structure as this category set.

   If you enable this feature, you can assign an item only to those categories defined as valid categories for this category set.

   If the enforce list of categories assignment checkbox is not checked, then all of the categories associated to the category set for purchasing are displayed in the LOV on the Enter PO window.

   if the enforce list of categories assignment is checked, only the categories defined in the table are available in the category LOV on the enter PO window.

9. Select a list of valid categories.

   The list of values here includes only categories that use the same flexfield structure as the category set you are defining.

10. Save your work.

   To assign people to categories:

The category people window is available to you if you have the edit category people privilege. Category people allows you to secure access to items that are assigned to a particular category. For example you can restrict who can view the sales reports for a particular set of items.

1. Select Category People from the Category Sets window.

2. Select the desired Item Category from the list of values.

3. Select the desired Person/Group from the list of values.

4. Enter the desired From date, or accept the default system date.

5. Enter a To date if applicable.

6. Repeat steps 2-5 to assign more categories as needed.

7. Save your work.

8. Select Done.

   To assign items to categories:

1. Choose the Assign button. See: Assigning Items to Categories.