📍 Where can I find this module?
Main menu > Catalog > Product categories
Item families allow you to group your products and services by category. They are used to organize the catalog, define common accounting rules, and configure inventory valuation for a set of items.
1. Create a product family #
- Go to Main Menu > Catalog > Product Categories
- Click "Add a product family"
- Please enter the basic information:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Family name (required) |
| Description | Additional details about the family |
| Sequence | Sort order in lists |
| Parent | Parent family, to create a hierarchy |
- Register the family
Tip: Use the "Parent" field to organize your categories into a hierarchical structure (for example: "Electronics" > "Cables" > "HDMI Cables"). This makes navigation easier and allows you to apply accounting rules at different levels.
2. Assign an article to a family #
To associate a product or service with a product family:
- Open the record (Catalog > Products) or the service record (Catalog > Services)
- Enter the desired product family in the "Product Family" field
- Register
From the record item family, the "Products" tab and the "Services" tab display all items associated with that family. You can also add new items directly from these tabs.
3. Tax Information #
The "Tax Information" section contains two options that affect the tax treatment of items in the family:
| Option | Effect |
|---|---|
| Treat all products in this category as services | Products in this category are treated as services for tax purposes |
| Treat all services in this family as products | For tax purposes, the services provided by this family are treated as goods |
Important: These options affect tax calculations and accounting. Enable them only if your tax situation warrants it (for example, certain services treated as supplies of goods for VAT purposes).
4. Inventory Valuation #
The "Inventory Valuation" section allows you to define how items in the product family are valued in inventory:
| Field | Possible values | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Inventory Valuation | Manual, Automatic | Determines whether the valuation is calculated automatically or entered manually |
| Cost calculation method | Standard Cost, Average Cost, First-In, First-Out | Method used to calculate the unit cost of inventory |
Details of the calculation methods:
- Standard cost: fixed unit cost, updated manually
- Average cost: weighted average of all units in stock
- First In, First Out (FIFO): The oldest units are valued first
Note: For more information on inventory valuation and its impact on inventory management, see the article "Inventory Valuation. "
5. Accounting Strategies #
The "Accounting" tab for an item family displays the account assignment strategies associated with it. An accounting strategy allows you to automatically assign an accounting account to the items in the family when journal entries are generated.
Each strategy is defined by certain conditions and an assigned account:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Item or Family | The family (or individual item) in question |
| Background | The accounting context in which the strategy applies (sales, purchases, etc.) |
| VAT | The VAT rate to which the strategy applies (or "Any rate") |
| Website | The location in question (optional for companies with multiple locations) |
| Article summary | The accounting account number to be used |
Example: For a "Consulting Services" family, you can create a strategy that assigns the account
706000in a sales context, regardless of the VAT rate. If a specific rate requires a different account, add a second strategy with the relevant rate.
Note: An accounting strategy can also be defined directly for an individual item (product or service). In this case, it applies only to that item. We recommend using strategies at the family level to simplify management. For more information, see the article "Accounting Strategies. "
6. Frequently Asked Questions #
What is the difference between an item family and a subfamily? #
There is no separate module for subfamilies in the catalog. Use the Parent field to create a hierarchy: a family with a value entered in the Parent field is, by definition, a subfamily.
Can an article be assigned to multiple categories? #
No, a product or service can belong to only one product family.
What happens if I change a family's accounting policy? #
The change applies to future journal entries generated for items in this family. Journal entries that have already been generated are not affected.
Is it mandatory to assign an article to a family? #
No, the "Product Family" field is optional. However, we recommend assigning each product to a family to take advantage of accounting strategies and make it easier to organize the catalog.