Categories & Pages are the real core of any website running on Pearl. Along with the template manager, you'll find yourself spending a fair bit of time with them whilst in the build stage. Separated by a unique ID, a 'category' can be a simple page (such as 'about us'); a category with other pages nested inside; and/or can contain products.

There are a number of controls for each category that affects its visibility and presentation. Let's go through them by screen.

Overview Screen (Website > Categories & Pages)

ID - a unique number automatically assigned to each category created. This is used as a reference for menus and navigation.
Category - the category/page name, as defined in the 'Menu text' field (we'll come to that). Although categories and pages are created and handled in exactly the same way, the difference is defined by whether or not it has nested categories/pages (children) or products attached. A yellow folder indicates that this category is a parent and contains child categories/pages - click the icon to expand. A grey folder is a category that doesn't have any children but does contain products. A single page (no children or products) is defined by a page icon.
Sort - defines the sort order or the category/page. By default Pearl assigns categories a sort order of 10 and sorts alphanumerically, but you can override this by specifying custom values. This will affect the sort order both here in the admin and of any menus on your website. The category assigned a value of -1 will be used as the landing page when the domain root is accessed.
Type - the Subcategory Display Type. Allows you to define how subcategories/products are displayed when a category is directly accessed.
Products - displays how many products are attached to a category. Clicking the number will redirect you to the Products section of Pearl and display a pre-filtered list of products in that particular category.
Template - Shows which template is attached to this category. Useful for defining alternative layouts for certain pages of your website, or for a company with multiple storefronts.
Updated - the date the category was last edited.
Live - allows you to specify whether or not a category appears in any menus on the public website. It's worth noting that even if a category isn't live, it's accessible by using the hardlink method (see Menus & Navigation).
Actions - provide a number of category controls. The edit (a pencil) icon takes you to the edit screen. The move (green arrow) icon lets you move a category and any subcategories. The trash icon deletes. The new subcategory (starred folder) icon creates a new subcategory/page within a category. The category icon (landscape) icon allows you to upload a category icon - more on this later. The preview (computer screen) icon previews the category, as seen by the public, in a new window - useful for development before a category is set to live.

Edit Screen

Category Tree - allows quick selection of a category while editing. Clicking the category name expands a parent. Also provided (on mouse-over) are 'edit' and 'new subcategory' controls (icons as per above)
Upload files/images (buttons) - provides a space to host any media that you might need for use in the category description, such as images or PDFs. File/folder structure of both is completely customisable.
More options (link) - shows/hides some advanced settings for the category:
Go to URL - redirects to the given URL on category load.
Sort order - defines the category sort order, as described above.
Subcategory display - defines the display type, as described above.
Disable designer mode (if available) - turns the WYSIWYG editor off completely for this category (and remembers the state), enabling straight markup entry.
Template - defines which template is attached to the category, as described above.
HTML/Designer mode (link) - switches the WYSIWYG on/off to allow easy HTML entry.
Active (yes/no) - sets the category to live/hidden (as per 'live' switch on the overview screen - see above).
Save changes - saves and stays on the category edit screen
Preview - pops a new window with a preview of the category, as it would appear to the public (see above).

Menu text - defines what the category will be named on the overview screen and in website menus.
Full title - the category/page heading (.pageHeading) - as displayed at the top of the page on the website. Left blank, this will assume the menu text value.
Hide title (checkbox) - hides the page heading on the website. Useful in a situation where, for example, an image (placed right at the top of the description) would be used in place of a text heading on a brand-specific product listing.

WYSIWYG editor - this is your main category description, with some Word-like formatting controls at the top. You can enter HTML directly here either by clicking on the 'HTML' icon on the lower toolbar or by turning off the WYSIWYG controls with the 'Html/Designer mode' switch at the top.

Meta Page Title - for SEO
Meta Description - for SEO
Meta Keywords - for SEO

Category icon - allows you to specify an image to be used in category listings. If you don't upload your own, and the category contains products, the system will choose a random image from a product within for the icon.