Binding Products to Category by Rule

Create a rule in the Relation rules tab of the category detail that automatically binds products based on attributes (e.g., material, color); continuous operation of the rule and its relation with manually added products, step-by-step instructions and video.

Instead of adding products to a category one by one, you can create a relation rule that automatically binds products based on their attributes; for example, products with plastic material. The rule is added from the Relation rules tab in the category detail. This page explains the process step by step; the same explanation is available in the video below.

<video controls preload="metadata" playsinline width="1920" height="1080" poster="https://files.docs.hebiar.com/videos/console/pim/categories/detail/kategori-kural-baglama.en.jpg" src="https://files.docs.hebiar.com/videos/console/pim/categories/detail/kategori-kural-baglama.en.mp4"><a href="https://files.docs.hebiar.com/videos/console/pim/categories/detail/kategori-kural-baglama.en.mp4">Open the video</a></video>

For other tabs of the category screen, see Category detail. Manual, SKU list, or Excel binding is explained on the Binding products to category page; sorting is on the Sorting products in category page.

Before you start

  • The rule is not one-time; it runs continuously. New or attribute-changed products that meet the rule are automatically bound to the category every day; products no longer matching are removed from the category. For example, a product whose material changes to metal will be removed from the "plastic" rule category.
  • The rule does not affect manually added products. It also does not alter the product's default category (site navigation path).
  • When you save the rule, products are not bound immediately; bindings appear in the Products tab when the binding job runs.
  • There can be multiple rule groups in a category. Each group works separately: when a product matches any group, it is bound to the category. All conditions within a group are searched together.
  • Rule types:
    • All products: all products in the installation are bound to the category; no conditions are entered.
    • Rule based: products matching conditions (equal / not equal) are bound to the category.
    • Exceptions: products matching the condition are excluded from the category.

Adding a rule

  1. Search and open the category on the PIM & Catalog › Categories screen.
  2. The Binding column in the Products tab shows how the product is bound: Auto by rule, Manual by manual binding.
  3. Go to the Relation rules tab. Existing rule groups and conditions are listed.
  4. Click Edit at the top right, then click Add rule.
  5. Select Rule based as the rule type.
  6. Click Add condition. From the Attribute list, select the attribute (e.g., material), choose equal or not equal as the Operator, and select the value from the Value list. The number of products with that value is shown next to it.
  7. To combine multiple attributes, click Add condition again; for example, products with material plastic and color white.
  8. Click Save. A "Saved" notification appears and the rule is added as a new group in the list.
  9. When finished editing, click Cancel to return to view mode.

Editing or deleting a rule

In Edit mode, you can change conditions with the pencil icon on the rule row or delete the rule with the trash icon.

Checking the result

After the binding job runs, products matching the rule appear as Auto in the Products tab. The record is first written to PIM; it appears on the site when the scheduled transfer task runs. If you want to send immediately, you can trigger the transfer task from the Tasks screen.

Common situations

  • Symptom: I saved the rule but products did not appear. The binding job has not run yet; check again the next day.
  • Symptom: I cannot remove a product added by rule using the list. Products bound by rule cannot be removed by SKU list; change the rule or add an Exceptions rule.
  • Symptom: A manually added product remains in the category even though it does not match the rule. This is expected behavior; the rule does not affect manually added products.
  • Symptom: The Add rule button is not visible. Click Edit first; the button appears in edit mode.