--- title: "Action: Product categories" description: "Imports product categories into Sapera. Rows are matched on the category Identifier; matched categories are updated and new ones are created. Run Compare first to preview which categories will be created or changed." url: https://support.sapera.io/en/articles/586-action-product-categories collection: "SyncTool" updated: 2026-09-25 language: en alternates: [da] --- # Action: Product categories Imports product categories into Sapera. Rows are matched on the category Identifier; matched categories are updated and new ones are created. Run Compare first to preview which categories will be created or changed. Imports product categories into Sapera. Rows are matched on the category Identifier; matched categories are updated and new ones are created. Run Compare first to preview which categories will be created or changed. ## How to use the action 1\. Select the action in the **Action** field. 2. Point to your data source – a **file** (CSV or Excel) or a **SQL query**. 3. Map the source columns to Sapera's fields in the column mapping (see _Source fields_ below). 4. Run **Compare** to see what will be created, changed or stay unchanged – without writing to Sapera. 5. Run **Update Sapera** to perform the import. Use the **Allow create** and **Allow update** parameters to control whether new rows are created and whether existing ones are updated. ## How matching and updating works Each row is matched on the category's **identifier** (Identifier). Matching categories are updated and new ones created. - A **hierarchy** is built by setting ParentCategoryIdentifier (the identifier of the parent category). - Only the categories in your source are processed. Direction: from file/SQL into Sapera. ## Key parameters

Parameter	Explanation
AllowCreate	When enabled, categories that do not yet exist are created.
AllowUpdate	When enabled, existing categories are updated with the imported values.
ForceOneToOneImportOfStockAccounts	Imports the stock accounts exactly as supplied without remapping them one-to-one.
ProductTemplate	System name of the product template assigned to categories that do not specify one.

## Source fields

Field	Explanation
AdditionStockAccountNumber	Account number used when stock is added.
AllowCustomNameForProduct	Whether a custom name may be entered for a product at sale time.
AllowProductsInThisCategory	Whether products may be assigned directly to this category.
AutoBookStock	Whether stock movements are booked automatically for the category.
AutoUpdateCostPrice	Whether the cost price of products is updated automatically on purchase.
CostOfSalesAccountNumber	Account number used for cost of goods sold.
DiscountAccountNumber	Account number used for discounts given on the category.
DisplayName	Name of the category shown in Sapera.
Identifier	Unique identifier of the category; used to match rows against existing categories.
InstanceTemplate	System name of the template used for serial-number items in the category.
IsCustomerRequired	Whether a customer must be specified when selling products in the category.
IsFinancialAccountChangeAllowed	Whether the financial accounts may be changed for products in the category.
IsPriceChangeAllowed	Whether the price may be changed at sale time.
ParentCategoryIdentifier	Identifier of the parent category, placing this category in the hierarchy.
SalesAccountNumber	Account number used when products in the category are sold.
SalesAccountWithoutVatNumber	Sales account number used when the sale is without VAT.
ShouldBePurchasedWithoutVat	Whether products in the category are purchased without VAT.
ShouldBeSoldWithoutVat	Whether products in the category are sold without VAT.
SubstractionStockAccountNumber	Account number used when stock is subtracted.
SupportComposedProducts	Whether the category supports composed (bundled) products.
SupportProductInstances	Whether the category supports individually tracked serial-number items.
SupportVariants	Whether products in the category may have variants.
Template	System name of the product template used for products in the category.
UsedAdditionStockAccountNumber	Stock addition account number used for used (second-hand) goods.
UsedCostOfSalesAccountNumber	Cost-of-sales account number used for used (second-hand) goods.
UsedSalesAccountNumber	Sales account number used for used (second-hand) goods.
UsedSubstractionStockAccountNumber	Stock subtraction account number used for used (second-hand) goods.
VariantTemplate	System name of the template used for product variants in the category.

* * * See also the overview [SyncTool – actions](https://support.sapera.io/en/articles/547-synctool-handlinger.md). * * * **Want to know more?** Read more in these related articles: [ Standard parameters for all actions The general parameters available on most SyncTool actions: step control, error handling, timeout, etc. ](https://support.sapera.io/en/articles/648.md)