Category Tree — Getting Around

A quick orientation for using and understanding the Category Tree. This page links the “what/how” User Guide and the deeper “how it works” Technical Guide.

• User Guide (why/what/how, business-focused): User Guide — Category Tree
• Technical Guide (mechanics, roles, handlers, shortcuts): Technical Guide — Category Tree

Overview

The Category Tree is where you configure your business structure: Totals (roll-ups), Categories (folders), Cash Codes (leaves), and Expressions (derived metrics).

• Desktop: split layout with Tree on the left and Details/Forms on the right.

• Mobile: single pane with a context-aware action bar.

Jump to:

• Common tasks
• Page anatomy
• Navigation basics
• Where to learn more

Common tasks

• Map Disconnected categories:
  • Find orphans under “Disconnected” and attach them under the right Totals.
  • See: User Guide — How: Configure step by step
• Create core Totals:
  • Sales, Direct Costs, Indirect Costs under Root. Set Profit/VAT Roots when ready.
  • See: User Guide — How: Configure step by step
• Add Cash Codes:
  • Under Cash Code Categories: “New Cash Code” or “New Cash Code like this…” to copy sensible defaults.
  • See: User Guide — How: Configure step by step
• Define Expressions:
  • In Expressions root: formulas like IF([Sales]=0,0,([Gross Profit]/[Sales])) with formats (e.g., 0%).
  • See: User Guide — What: Categories, Cash Codes, Totals, Expressions

Page anatomy

• Tree (left):
  • Nodes:
    • Root (__ROOT__): your main hierarchy
    • Disconnected (__DISCONNECTED__): unmapped categories
    • Types (synthetic type:<code>): per Cash Type browsing
    • Expressions (__EXPRESSIONS__): derived metrics
  • Screenshot:

• • Details pane (right, desktop):
  • Shows context actions and edit/view forms.
  • Embedded mode (embed=1) avoids full-page reloads and preserves selection.
  • Screenshot:

• • Mobile action bar:
  • Context-aware buttons (View always; Edit/Delete/Toggle/Move if admin and applicable).

Navigation basics

• Select and view:
  • Click/tap a node to load details. Desktop loads in the right pane; mobile navigates to a full page.
• Expand/collapse:
  • Click folders or use keyboard (desktop): Left to collapse, Right to expand.
• Context menu:
  • Desktop: right-click a node. Mobile: long press (500 ms).
• Quick deep links:
  • URLs support ?select=<key>&expand=<parentKey> for post-create navigation and bookmarks.
  • Example: ...?select=code:ABC123&expand=Sales

For keyboard and drag/drop rules (admin): see Technical Guide — Reorder mechanics.

Tips

• Start at Disconnected to tidy unmapped categories.
• Keep names short and consistent (Sales/Direct/Indirect).
• Prefer Disable over Delete while iterating.
• Use “New Cash Code like this…” to speed consistent setup.
• Add 2–3 Expressions (e.g., Gross Profit %) to make reports immediately useful.

Where to learn more

• Business-first overview and step-by-step configuration:
  • Category Tree — User Guide
• Detailed mechanics (roles, handlers, antiforgery, shortcuts, JSON responses):
  • Category Tree — Technical Guide