GL Categories group your Chart of Accounts into logical buckets for summarised financial reporting. Instead of seeing every individual account on a report, GL Categories let you roll up accounts into meaningful headings like Current Assets, Operating Expenses, or Cost of Goods Sold.
Where to Find GL Categories
Navigate to Settings → Financial Setup → GL Categories in the left-hand sidebar.
Navigation path: Dashboard → Settings → GL Categories
The GL Categories List
What you see on this screen
| # | Element | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Navigation Sidebar | The left sidebar with all Settings sections. GL Categories is highlighted under Financial Setup. |
| 2 | Page Header | Confirms you are on GL Categories. |
| 3 | Create GL Category | Opens the creation dialog. |
| 4 | Search Bar | Filter the list by name or code as you type. |
| 5 | Column Headers | Sort and filter by name, code, type, or status. |
Creating a New GL Category
Click + Create GL Category to open the dialog.
Form Fields
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Yes | The display name of the category (e.g., Current Assets, Operating Expenses). Max 100 characters. |
| Code | Yes | A short uppercase identifier (e.g., ASSET-CUR, EXP-OPS). Max 50 characters. Auto-uppercased. |
| Category Type | Yes | The financial classification this category belongs to. |
| Display Order | Yes | Controls the sort order in reports and dropdowns. |
| Description | No | A brief explanation of what accounts belong here. |
| Parent Category | No | Nest this category under a parent for hierarchical reporting. Select None (Top Level) to make it a root category. |
| Status | No | Toggle Active (default) or Inactive. |
Example: Creating a "Current Assets" Category
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Current Assets |
| Code | ASSET-CUR |
| Category Type | Asset |
| Display Order | 1 |
| Parent Category | None (Top Level) |
Editing a GL Category
Click the pencil icon in the Actions column. Make your changes and click Update GL Category.
Tips & Best Practices
- Mirror standard accounting category structures (Current Assets, Fixed Assets, Current Liabilities, etc.) for compatibility with your accountant's reporting.
- Use Display Order to control how categories sequence in financial reports — lower numbers appear first.
- Use Parent Category to build a hierarchy: a parent of Expenses with children Labor, Materials, and Overhead gives you both detailed and rolled-up views.
Related Topics
- Chart of Accounts — Assign accounts to GL Categories
- Fiscal Periods — Define the time periods your GL reports cover