Note: This article covers the latest Catalog Machine version 2. For help with the previous version, see this article. To learn about the key changes in V2, see what changed between versions.
Catalog Machine 101
Catalog Machine helps you create, maintain, and share professional product catalogs with ease. Here's what you can do:
Product Database: Centrally manage product information and images for use across catalogs and your Showroom.
Catalog Designer: Drag-and-drop products, text, images, and layouts to build custom catalog pages.
PDF and Sharing: Share as a high-quality PDF or an online catalog site. Control access with privacy settings.
Advanced Features:
Ordering: Configure your catalog to accept order requests, quotes, or payments, with inventory support.
Showroom: Automatically generate a searchable and printable product catalog, with minimal setup and optional ordering capabilities.
Watch this short 3-minute video for an overview of the building steps.
Building Your First Catalog
Step 1: Adding Products:
Import products from your existing store (Shopify, etc.), upload a CSV file, or add them manually.
Organize products using collections, categories, fields, and variants for easy selection later.
Step 2: New Catalog:
Choose a starting point: Select a pre-designed template, a grid or price list layout, or a blank page.
Step 3: Design Pages:
Drag-and-drop elements: Add text, images, and product elements (which automatically update when product info changes).
Use layouts: Apply pre-made layouts or save custom designs for future use.
Build with grids: Generate multiple product pages quickly with the Auto Grid feature and product cards.
Create price lists: Display product information in a tabular format with the Product List feature, selecting fields like images, descriptions, and prices (with custom grouping, sorting, and styling).
Add other page types: Insert cover pages, tables of contents, sub-catalogs, and more.
Manage pages: Easily reorder, delete, copy, and paste pages and elements.
Step 4: Customize Your Look:
Adjust fonts, colors, page sizes, headers/footers to match your brand's style.
Step 5: Publish & Share:
Preview your catalog online.
Download as a high-quality PDF for printing or sharing.
Publish online as a browsable catalog website (with optional privacy settings).
Best Practices
Speed & Consistency: Create and reuse your own product cards and page layouts.
Automate Updates: Link text elements to product data (e.g., {{Price}}) for automatic updates. Grids and product lists will also update when product information changes.