> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.mathership.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Product Lists > Create, organize, and use custom product lists for faster recurring orders # Product Lists Product lists help you organize products you order regularly. Use them to group important products, speed up repeat ordering, and keep frequently used items easier to find during the My Inventory order flow. Keep regular products together so your team does not need to search for them every time. Add, remove, and reorder products inside custom lists. Store nominal balances for products in a list where available. ## What product lists are used for Use product lists to: * Group regular items together * Create recurring order templates * Organize products by category, station, storage area, or use case * Reduce time spent searching for products * Keep frequently ordered products visible * Store nominal balances for regular products * Make ordering easier for team members Examples: * **Weekly Produce Order** * **Weekend Bakery Items** * **Monthly Dry Goods** * **Bar Stock** * **Breakfast Products** * **Event Supplies** * **Cold Room Basics** ## Where product lists appear Product lists are part of the ordering page. They are shown in the product list sidebar while using **My Inventory**. The page has three main areas: | Area | What it does | | -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | | Product list sidebar | Select, edit, and organize product lists | | Product table | Shows all products or products from the selected list | | Cart panel | Shows selected products and quantities for the current order | ## Default view and list view You can switch between the full product catalog and a selected list. | View | What it shows | | ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | | Default view | All available products for the current ordering mode | | Product list view | Only products saved in the selected product list | Use the default view when searching the full catalog. Use a product list when placing a regular or recurring order. ## Select a product list Go to the ordering area and open **My Inventory**. Use the sidebar on the left side of the order page. Click a saved product list. The product table updates and shows products from the selected list. ## Search inside product lists The search field works differently depending on the selected view. | Selected view | Search behavior | | ----------------- | ----------------------------------------- | | Default view | Searches the full product catalog | | Product list view | Filters products inside the selected list | Inside a product list, search checks product names and article numbers. ## Order from a product list Choose the list you want to order from. Check the products shown in the table. Use the quantity controls to add needed products to the cart. Check selected products, quantities, and total in the cart panel. Use the review action when the cart is ready. Product lists are especially useful for repeat orders because you do not need to search for the same products every time. ## Add products to a list You can add products from the default product view to a product list. Depending on your workflow, you can: * Drag a product onto a list in the sidebar * Use an **Add to list** or similar action * Use **Add to another list** to choose a target list When a product is added, it becomes part of that selected list. It can still remain available in the full product catalog. ## Add a product to another list If a product should also appear in another list, use the **Add to another list** action. Locate the product in the product table. Use the product action to add it to another list. Select the target list. The product is added to that list. This is useful when one product belongs to multiple workflows, such as **Breakfast**, **Weekly Order**, and **Bar Stock**. ## Remove products from a list To remove a product from a selected list: Open the product list that contains the product. Search or scroll to the product row. Use the remove action on the product row. Removing a product from a list does not delete the product itself. The product remains available in the default product catalog. ## Reorder products inside a list You can reorder products inside a custom list. Drag a product row to a new position. Mathership saves the new order for that list. Use this to keep the most important products at the top. Examples: * Put daily essentials first * Group fresh products together * Keep high-volume products near the top * Sort the list in the same order your team checks storage ## Edit mode The product list sidebar can be switched into edit mode. Use edit mode when you want to manage lists or list contents more actively. Depending on available actions, edit mode can help with: * Organizing lists * Selecting lists for management * Removing products * Reordering products * Keeping list structure clean ## Nominal balance A nominal balance is an optional target quantity saved for a product inside a product list. It helps show how much of a product should normally be available or ordered. Example: | Product | Nominal balance | | -------- | --------------: | | Tomatoes | 10 | | Milk | 12 | | Flour | 25 | Nominal balances are shown with list products where available. They belong to the product inside that list. They do not change the product itself in the full catalog. ## How to use nominal balances Use nominal balances to: * Prepare regular orders faster * Standardize recurring product lists * Help team members understand usual quantities * Compare the normal target against the current order need * Make weekly or monthly ordering more consistent Nominal balance is a numeric value. The unit is understood from the product's existing packaging or unit information. Examples: | Product setup | Nominal balance meaning | | -------------------------- | ----------------------- | | Product ordered in bottles | `12` means 12 bottles | | Product ordered in cases | `3` means 3 cases | | Product ordered in kg | `10` means 10 kg | ## Show only selected products The product table can show only products that currently have a selected quantity. Use this when you want to quickly check what has already been added to the cart. This is useful when working through a long product list. ## Create and manage products from My Inventory In the My Inventory flow, you can also add products. The **Add new product** menu can include: | Option | Meaning | | ---------- | ------------------------------ | | Add single | Create one product manually | | CSV upload | Add or update products in bulk | When a new product is saved while a product list is selected, it can be added to that selected list. ## Product lists and the cart Product lists do not submit orders by themselves. They help you choose products. The cart is where selected quantities are collected. Flow: 1. Select a product list 2. Add quantities from the product table 3. Review the cart 4. Continue to order review 5. Complete the order flow from the order detail or review page ## Product lists and Multi-order The uploaded frontend includes a Multi-order mode and list type support, but the dedicated multi-order pages are currently placeholders. For now, use product lists mainly with the active **My Inventory** ordering flow. Multi-order product list behavior should be documented more fully once the dedicated multi-order interface is active. ## Common list types Daily order, weekly produce, monthly dry goods. Dairy, meat, bakery, dry goods, beverages, cleaning. Kitchen, bar, breakfast, pastry, event service. Catering, events, seasonal menu, holiday supplies. ## Benefits Product lists help you: * Save time when placing regular orders * Avoid forgetting frequently ordered products * Keep standard orders consistent * Make onboarding easier for new team members * Prepare recurring or seasonal orders faster * Keep important products visible * Maintain target quantities for important items ## Common workflows ### Weekly ordering 1. Select your weekly product list 2. Review the products 3. Add needed quantities to the cart 4. Use **Show only selected** if you want to review chosen items 5. Continue to order review ### Monthly stock-up 1. Select your monthly staples list 2. Review the products against current needs 3. Add missing items to the cart 4. Continue to order review ### Nominal balance ordering 1. Open a product list with nominal balances 2. Review target quantities 3. Compare the target with what you need now 4. Add required quantities to the cart 5. Continue to order review ### Organize a custom list 1. Open the product list 2. Turn on edit mode where available 3. Drag products into the desired order 4. Remove products no longer needed 5. Use the updated list for future orders ### Event preparation 1. Create or select an event list 2. Add required products 3. Reorder products in a useful sequence 4. Use the list when the event is confirmed 5. Update the list for similar future events ## Best practices Begin with one or two practical lists, such as Weekly Produce and Bar Stock. Choose list names that your whole team understands. Reorder list products so the most important items are easy to find. Remove products that are no longer ordered and add new recurring items. Add target quantities for products with regular order patterns. Before continuing, show only selected products to check the cart quickly. ## Common problems Check that: * You selected the correct list * Products were added to the list * You are using the correct company * Search is not hiding the products If you are inside a product list, search only filters that list. Switch to the default view to search the full product catalog. Check that you are using the correct company and that the product is available in the current ordering mode. Refresh the page if the list sidebar or product table looks out of sync. Make sure you are viewing a custom product list, not the default product catalog. Products can be removed from lists, but not from the catalog through the list remove action. Nominal balance is a number. Use the product's packaging or unit information to understand what the number refers to. Reorder products again and wait for the list to save. If it still looks wrong, refresh the page and check the list again. ## Related pages Learn how to add products, review the cart, and create an order. Review selected products and quantities before creating an order. View previous orders, filter the list, and open order details. Save orders as drafts or schedule them where available. Understand PDF and CSV order attachments. Understand how selected list products become cart items.