Overview
A catalog section is the top level of your catalog that holds your components:
Where in the app: Sidebar → Fence → My Components
Open: My Components
Why sections, categories, and collections exist
The catalog is organized in four levels (section → category → collection → component) so you can:
- Find components quickly when you need to edit or update them
- Pick the right parts when building fence templates in My Fences
- Run bulk updates on a defined group, such as raising costs for everything in a section or category using Cost Update Wizard or Import Vendor Costs (CSV)
Categories and collections break each section down further so related parts stay together without one long flat list.
One component, one location
Each component should exist in exactly one place in the catalog. There is a single source of truth for every part.
Do not create multiple copies of the same SKU in different sections. If you update the cost of a bag of concrete in one location but a duplicate still exists under Chain Link, the other copy will stay outdated and quotes will disagree.
My Fences templates can reference components from any section, so you do not need duplicates to use a part on different fence types.
Sections for main fence types
For most shops, it is logical to keep components for each major fence type in its own section. That matches how estimators and installers think about material on a job.
Example: a Chain Link section with categories such as Pipe, Gates, Fittings, Fabric, and Tension Bars.
Other examples:
- Vinyl section → Posts, Panels, Rails, Caps, Hardware
- Wood section → Posts, Rails, Pickets, Boards, Hardware
Heights and sellable styles still live in My Fences. The section holds the parts for that material family, not the customer-facing product name.
Sections for parts that cross fence types
Some parts are shared across chain link, wood, vinyl, ornamental, and other lines. Give those their own section instead of burying them inside one fence-type section.
By vendor: If you buy all gate hardware (chain link, wood, vinyl, ornamental) from one supplier, a section named for that vendor can hold every hinge, latch, and handle in one place.
By shared material: If the same bag of concrete is used on every fence type, a Concrete section keeps it visible and easy to price. You update the cost once and every template that uses it stays in sync.
Other shared groups: Fasteners, anchors, tools, or consumables you order the same way regardless of fence type.
Example structure
Chain Link (section)
├── Pipe (category)
├── Gates (category)
├── Fittings (category)
└── Fabric (category)
Acme Gate Hardware (section)
├── Hinges (category)
├── Latches (category)
└── Handles (category)
Concrete & Anchors (section)
└── Bags & Mix (category)
Templates for chain link, wood, and vinyl can all pull the same hinge from Acme Gate Hardware and the same concrete bag from Concrete & Anchors.
When to create a new section
Create a section when:
- You add a major fence-type material line (Chain Link, Vinyl, Wood)
- A vendor or shared part group is large enough to manage on its own
- Bulk cost updates should target one clear group
Use categories and collections inside a section before splitting into many small sections.
Create a catalog section
- Open My Components.
- Click Add Catalog Section.
- Enter a name (for example Chain Link or Acme Gate Hardware). Optionally upload an image.
- Select material finish colors for components in this section.
- Save, then add categories.
Warning: Set colors before adding components. My Fences templates match components by color name on takeoff lines.
Colors on sections
Section colors are material finishes on parts (Galvanized, Black, Tan, Cedar, and similar). They must stay in sync with colors on Fence Types in My Fences.
When you build a fence template, the wizard matches catalog components by exact color name. If the fence type uses Tan but components in this section are color Tan while you added a custom Light Brown on the fence only, those parts will not auto-match.
Best practice:
- Set up catalog section colors using names already on your components (or names you will use consistently on imports).
- On fence types, pick those same names from the existing palette — do not invent a new label for the same finish.
- If you must add a custom color, rename or re-tag catalog components to match before building templates.
Warning: Choose existing color names before creating new ones. Catalog colors and fence colors are linked through template matching; mismatched labels (Tan vs Light Brown, Beige vs Tan) break automatic component selection.