Understanding Categories in FieldCamp
Categories in FieldCamp provide hierarchical organization for your products and services, transforming a flat list into a navigable structure that makes sense for your industry.
Whether you're managing HVAC, plumbing, electrical, or landscaping services, categories enable you to organize hundreds of items into logical groups with support for multiple subcategory levels, making it easy for both staff and customers to find exactly what they need.
The system supports industry-specific categorization with parent categories, subcategories, and even sub-subcategories, allowing complex price books to remain manageable and searchable.
Categories → organize → service catalogs
Hierarchy → enables → intuitive navigation
Industry structure → supports → specialized organization
Creating Categories
Step 1: Access Category Management
Navigate to Products & Services section
Click "Categories" tab
Click "Add New Category" button
Category creation form opens
Step 2: Define Category Details
Required Information
Category Name: Clear identifier (e.g., "Residential HVAC")
Industry: Select from dropdown (HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, etc.)
Item Type: Choose what category contains:
Products only
Services only
Both products and services
Optional Settings
Description: Detailed explanation for team reference
Color Coding: Visual differentiation (helps in navigation)
Icon: Quick visual reference
Sort Order: Display priority in lists
Step 3: Establish Hierarchy
Creating Parent Categories Top-level categories like:
HVAC
Plumbing
Electrical
Landscaping
Adding Subcategories Under parent categories:
HVAC (Parent)
├── Installation
├── Maintenance
├── Repairs
└── Emergency Services
Multiple Levels Create deeper organization:
HVAC
└── Installation
├── Residential
├── Split Systems
└── Package Units
└── Commercial
├── Rooftop Units
└── Chillers
Step 4: Save Category
Click "Add Category" to create and activate
How Categories Streamline Job Creation and Invoicing
The Price Book Integration
When creating jobs, estimates, or invoices, categories transform the line item selection process from tedious individual searches into efficient bulk operations. Instead of adding items one by one, the Price Book button opens a categorized view where you can quickly navigate to the right section and select multiple items simultaneously.
Access During Job Creation
In the Line Items & Notes tab of job creation
Click "Price book" button next to "Add item"
Categorized catalog opens in modal window
Navigate through categories to find items
Select multiple items at once
Add all selected items to job instantly
Benefits of Category-Based Selection
Speed: Add 10-20 items in seconds vs. minutes
Accuracy: Visual organization reduces errors
Completeness: See all options in category, don't miss items
Efficiency: Common bundles selected together
Consistency: Same items used across similar jobs