Managing Categories
Overview
Q: What are Categories in Dinex POS?
A: Categories are the groups that organize your menu items into logical sections — like "Perfumes," "Restaurants," "Roses," or "Bukhour." Instead of scrolling through hundreds of items, categories let you and your customers find what you're looking for quickly. They also appear as sections on the digital menu your customers browse.
Q: Where do I find and manage categories?
A: Categories are in the left sidebar on the Items List page (Orders → Menu Setup → Items List). You don't need to go to a separate page — everything is right there alongside your items list.
Adding a New Category
Q: How do I add a new category?
A: At the bottom of the left sidebar, click the green "+ Add Category To Items List" button. Enter the category name and any other details, then save. The new category will appear in the list immediately and be ready to assign items to.
Q: Can I add a category without leaving the Add Item form?
A: Yes. When you're on the Add New Item or Update Item page, you'll see a (+) button right next to the Items Category dropdown. Click it to create a new category on the spot without navigating away from the form.
Editing Categories
Q: How do I rename or edit an existing category?
A: Next to each category in the left sidebar, you'll see a teal pencil icon. Click it to open the category details and make your changes, then save. The updated name will reflect across all items assigned to that category.
Q: Can I change the color dot of a category?
A: Yes. Each category has a colored dot that helps you visually distinguish it from others at a glance. You can update the color when editing the category, which is especially helpful when you have many categories and want to organize them visually.
Deleting Categories
Q: How do I delete a category?
A: Click the red trash icon next to the category in the left sidebar. The system will ask you to confirm before permanently deleting it.
Q: What happens to items inside a category if I delete it?
A: This is important to know — items assigned to a deleted category may lose their category assignment. Before deleting a category, it's a good idea to reassign its items to another category first, or make sure the category is empty and no longer needed.
Filtering Items by Category
Q: How do I view only the items in a specific category?
A: Click on any category name in the left sidebar. The items list on the right will instantly filter to show only the products in that category. Click All at the top of the sidebar to go back to viewing all items.
Q: Can I search for a specific item within a category?
A: Yes. Click the category first to filter the list, then type in the Search bar. The search will run only within that selected category, giving you much more focused results.
Categories and Branches
Q: Can different branches have different categories?
A: Yes. At the top of the left sidebar there's a branch dropdown where you can switch between branches. When you select a branch, the category list updates to show only the categories for that branch.
Q: How do I add a category for a specific branch only?
A: First, select the branch you want from the dropdown at the top of the left sidebar. Then click "+ Add Category To Items List." The new category will be created and linked to that specific branch only — it won't appear when you switch to a different branch.
Categories on the Digital Menu
Q: Do categories appear on the customer-facing digital menu?
A: Yes. Categories show up as the main navigation sections on the digital menu. Customers tap a category to browse the items inside it. Well-organized categories with clear names make it much easier for customers to find what they want and improve their overall experience.
Q: Does the order of categories on the sidebar match what customers see?
A: Generally yes — the categories appear in the order they were created. If you want a specific order, plan your category structure accordingly or recreate them in the preferred sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is there a limit to how many categories I can create?
A: There's no set limit. You can create as many categories as your business needs. That said, it's best to keep things organized and avoid creating too many categories that overlap — too many options can confuse both staff and customers.
Q: Can an item belong to more than one category?
A: No, each item can only belong to one category. If you need to reorganize, you can reassign an item to a different category by editing the item and updating its Items Category field.
Q: I deleted a category by mistake — can I recover it?
A: Unfortunately, category deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. You'll need to create a new category with the same name and reassign the affected items to it.
Q: Why can't I see some categories when I switch branches?
A: Categories are branch-specific. If a category was created for one branch, it won't appear when you're viewing a different branch. Make sure you're on the correct branch in the dropdown at the top of the sidebar.