Defining item category

Understanding Categories

An item category is generally set up when importing items for the first time, allowing users to have access to specific project variables to define pricing calculations. These project variables are related to the building information model (designer), and they can be geometric variables such as length, height or width or data variables such as colour, material and make.

For example: If you assign a C:200-15 item to the Category Structural frames, Shedmate will understand that that product has structural variables, such as Length, Mass, Material, Profile Name, Profile Width, Profile Height and Mass per metre. This will help you to set your pricing calculations based on the BOM in future steps. If it is not clear yet, do not worry. Everything will make sense once we learn how pricing calculation works.

As a tip, some item variables can be referenced directly from the Bill of Materials as per below.

The table below summarizes different categories, variables from the Shedmate model and suggested items that could be assigned to those specific categories.

Category	Suggestion of Items	Variables from Shedmate Model
Structural Frames	C-Frames, SHS, RHS, UB, Z, TH, PFCs, Bracing Straps, Folded Channels, etc.	Sub Category, Length, Mass, Material, Profile Name, Profile Width, Profile height, Mass per metre
Connections	Brackets, Column Stiffeners,	Sub category, name, Material, Primarily connected to, Secondarily connected to
Fixings	Screws, Bolts, Through Bolts, Dynabolts, Turn Buckles, etc	No properties
Claddings	Trimdek, Corrugated, Low-Profile, K-Panel, etc.	Sub category, Length, Width, Thickness, Mass, Colour, Name
Flashings	Racker, Wall corner, Rollerdoor header, Glass door headers, PA door headers, Internal wall flashings, Sliding Panel Wrapping Flashing, Ridge Caps, Barge trims, etc	Sub category, Length, Mass, Material, Profile Name, Profile width, Mass per metre
Gutters	Square Fascia Gutter, Half Round Gutter, Internal Gutters, Quad Gutter, etc.	Sub category, Length, Mass, Material, Profile name, Mass per metre
Pipes	Down Pipes in PVC or Steel	Sub category, Length, Mass, Material, Profile name, Profile width, Mass per metre
Pipe Accessories	Down pipe Brackets, Stop Ends, Pipes, Pops, etc.	Sub category, Name, Material
Floors	Concrete Slabs and Aprons, Mezzanine Flooring, reinforcing mesh, etc.	Sub category, Area, Volume, Mass, Material, Resistance, Reinforcing Mesh, Thickness
Footings	Structural Footings	Sub category, Volume, Mass, Material, Resistance
Walls	Any additional costs associated with Walls (not cladding).	Sub category, Name, Area, Material
Roofs	Skylight Protection Meshes	Sub category, Name, Area, Material
Windows	Any project Windows	Sub category, Name, Width, Height, Make, Model, Colour, Sill Height
Doors	Roller Doors, Panellift (Sectional Doors), P.A. Doors, etc	Sub category, Name, Material, Make, Model, Width, Height, Swing Direction, Series Name, Has Motor, Motor Side, Has Chain, Chain Side, Rebate Setdown, Rebate Depth, Cladding, Colour, Sliding Description, Outer profile, Inner profile, Area
Bay Openings	Any costs associated with Bay Openings	Sub category, Name, Width, Height
Equipments	Spin-Aways	Sub category, Material
Door Acessories	Roller Door Motors and Chains, Sliding Panel Brackets, Tracks, Rollers, Rubbers, Top Wall Sealing Flashings, Stops, Pad Lock Bolts, Angle Bracings, etc.	No variables
Vermin proofings	Vermaseal for Trimdek and Corrugated	No variables
Insulation	Builders Blanket Mesh and Rolls, E-therm, etc	No variables
Logistics	Supplier Freight, Delivery	No variables
Office	Plans, Planning Lodgment, Development, Certificate of Titles, Engineering costs, etc.	No variables
Fabrication	Welding costs, Truss Fabrication costs, etc.	No variables
Installation	Installation/Labour costs	No variables
Site	Any Equipment Hire, protective equipment or project specific machinery.	No variables