Product groups (*Warengruppen*, formerly "product families") group articles by subject matter, for example "Beverages" or "Spare parts". Each article can belong to exactly one product group. You can use product groups as a filter and as a change in [Bulk processing](/products/bulk-processing.md), and they are also used in the warehouse.

!!!
In the English interface, the menu entry is called **Product Categories** (*Warengruppen*). Do not mix it up with **Categories** (*Kategorien*), the category tree of your catalogue – see [Categories](/products/categories.md).
!!!

![Screenshot: Product groups overview with the columns Name, Slug, Order and Status](/products/images/product-groups-overview.png)

## Before you start

- Your user needs the permission for product groups. Ask your administrator if the menu entry is missing.

## Step by step

### Create a product group

1. Go to **Catalogue › Product Categories** (*Katalog › Warengruppen*). The list shows name, slug, order and status.
2. Click **New product category** (*Neue Warengruppe*). The form **Creating a Commodity Group** (*Warengruppe anlegen*) opens.
3. Enter the **Name**, the **Order** (*Sortierung*) and the **Status** (active / inactive).
4. Click **Save** (*Speichern*). You see *"The product group has been saved"*.

![Screenshot: Form "Creating a Commodity Group" with Name, Order and Status](/products/images/product-groups-new.png)

### Edit a product group

Click the group in the list. The form **Edit Product Category** (*Warengruppe bearbeiten*) opens. Change the values and click **Save**.

### Assign a product group to an article

1. Open the article (green pencil in the [article overview](/products/article-overview.md)).
2. Choose the tab **Category** (*Warengruppe*).
3. Pick the group under **Assign Goods Group** (*Warengruppe zuweisen*) and click **Save**.

You can also create a new group directly in this tab with **Create a new product group** (*Neue Warengruppe anlegen*). See [Edit an article](/products/edit-article.md).

![Screenshot: Product group tab of an article with the "Assign Goods Group" drop-down](/products/images/product-groups-article-tab.png)

To assign a product group to many articles at once, use [Bulk processing](/products/bulk-processing.md).

## Fields and options

| Field | Meaning | Required |
|---|---|---|
| **Name** | Name of the product group. Unique per company; the slug is built from it | Yes |
| **Order** (*Sortierung*) | Order in lists | No |
| **Status** | **active** / **inactive** | Yes |

## Good to know

- If you create a group whose slug already exists, X-Sitter updates the existing group instead of creating a second one.
- An article has at most one product group. Assigning a new one replaces the old one.