How to activate categories

This article explains how to enable categories in Xada using the Categories page, and what to consider if your account is connected to multiple channels.

Before you begin

If you’re new to Xada, it’s recommended to first review your overall category strategy and refer to the Quick Start Guide. This will help you understand how to select and organise categories from your supplier feed.

Once you’ve identified the categories you want to use, you can activate them either from the Categories page or the Category Structure view.

Activating a category from the Categories page

Use this method when you already know which category you want to enable.

From the left-hand menu, click Categories.
Locate the category in the table.
In the Active column, toggle the switch on.

Changes are applied immediately - there is no Save button on this page.

You can repeat this process for any other categories you want to enable or disable.

Using the Category Structure view

The Category Structure view shows how categories from your supplier feed and custom categories fit together in a tree, as described in the Categories Overview article (link below in the related articles). It can be easier to decide what to activate when you see the hierarchy.

From the left‑hand menu, click Categories, then click the Structure button.
Use the filters at the top (for example supplier and source) to focus on the part of the tree you care about.
Browse the tree and select the card for the category you want to use.
From there, you can click on the Category title to open that category’s details. You can then activate the category from here
Save your changes, then repeat for related parent or child categories as needed.

This approach is useful when you are turning on a group of categories together, such as a new parent with several subcategories.

Additional notes for multi‑channel

If your Xada instance is connected to multiple channels or storefronts:

Always confirm which channel you are working on using the filters at the top of the screen.
When editing a category, review any channel-specific settings to ensure it is active where required.
It is normal for a category to be active on one channel and inactive on another, depending on your setup.

Final Notes

In addition to active suppliers and products, having the correct categories enabled is essential for products to appear on your website, as outlined in the Essential Guidelines article.