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Setting Up and Managing Tool Categories

info

Tool categories help organize equipment in your space into logical groups, making it easier for users to find and select machines.

Overview​

Tool categories are:

  • Space-specific: Categories you create are unique to your space
  • Visual organizers: Help users find equipment when signing in
  • Flexible: Can be customized to match your space's needs
  • Independent: Not related to machine permissions or Canvas Badges

This guide will cover setting up and editing tool categories in your space. Please check out our guide on editing machines for how to modify the tool categories on a given machine.

note

Looking to assign tool categories to machines? Check our guide on editing machines.

caution

Don't confuse Tool Categories with Machine Types! While they may sound similar, they serve different purposes. Learn more about Machine Types.

Example Organization​

Here's how the Terrapin Works Instructional Fabrication space organizes their equipment:

Tool Category Sample

In this example, equipment is divided into two categories:

  • CNC Machines: For computer-controlled equipment
  • Manual Machining: For manually operated tools

Best Practices​

  • Create broad, intuitive categories
  • Avoid categories with very few tools
  • Use names that make sense to your users
  • Group similar equipment together
  • Consider how users search for equipment

Adding or Editing Tool Categories​

  1. Sign into Pinpoint, select the space you want to manage, and select "Add/Remove Tool Categories". Admin Page Tool Cat

  2. To add a new tool category, click the plus icon on the top right. To edit an existing tool category, click the pencil icon next to an existing tool category. Enter/update the name of the tool category, and click submit. Add/Edit Tool Cat

note

The ability to remove tool categories will be added in a future update. For now, you can only add and edit categories.