ORGANIZATION
Locations
Track where items are physically stored using a hierarchical structure that mirrors your actual storage setup.
Overview
Invenicum uses a tree structure for locations, allowing you to nest areas within areas (e.g., Warehouse → Floor → Room → Shelf). This hierarchy makes inventory checks and item retrieval significantly faster.
// Hierarchy Example
Warehouse A├── Floor 1
│ ├── Room 101
│ └── Room 102
└── Floor 2
├── Room 201
└── Room 202
Viewing & Graph Controls
The Location Scheme screen displays your hierarchy as an interactive graph where nodes represent locations and lines show relationships.
Zoom & Pan
Use mouse wheel to zoom; click and drag to move.
Center & Fit
Toolbar icons to center view or fit all nodes to screen.
Managing Locations
Creating Locations
Open Locations
Navigate to Locations in the sidebar and click the 📍 icon.
Details & Hierarchy
Enter Name (required) and Description. Leave Parent Location empty for Root (top-level) or select one to nest it.
Nesting Tip: You can nest as deeply as needed, but 3-4 levels (Building → Floor → Room → Shelf) is usually sufficient for clarity.
Editing & Moving
Select a node in the graph to open the Action Panel at the bottom. Click Edit to modify details.
Moving: Changing the Parent Location will automatically move that location and all its children to the new parent.
Deletion Rules
You cannot delete locations that currently contain items or have active child locations.
- Move items to another location.
- Delete or move child locations.
- Proceed to delete the parent node.
Assigning Items to Locations
Workflow
- New Items: Select location in the Main Data section during creation.
- Existing Items: Edit the item and update the Location dropdown.
- Path View: Dropdowns show the full path (e.g., Warehouse → Shelf A) for clarity.
Relocating Items
For individual items, use the Edit button. For bulk relocation, use the CSV export/import workflow or the API.
// Bulk relocation via UI is currently unavailable. Use CSV for mass updates.
Best Practices
Match Physical Reality: Structure your hierarchy exactly as your space is organized to make finding items intuitive.
Descriptive Naming: “Room 101” is better than “R1”. Clear names reduce confusion for new staff.
Start Broad: Create main warehouses first, then add detail (shelves, bins) as needed.
Descriptions: Use descriptions for extra context like “Temperature controlled storage” or “Next to loading dock”.
Common Location Patterns
Office Setup
Office ├── 1st Floor │ ├── Reception │ ├── Conf. Room A │ └── IT Room └── 2nd Floor ├── Storage └── Server Room
Warehouse Setup
Warehouse ├── Receiving ├── Zone A │ ├── Aisle 1 │ └── Aisle 2 ├── Zone B └── Shipping
Retail Setup
Store ├── Sales Floor │ ├── Electronics │ └── Clothing └── Back of House ├── Stockroom └── Office
Common Questions
Can items be in multiple locations?
No, each item has one location. For items spread across areas, create separate entries for each physical piece.
What if I don’t know where an item is?
Create a special "Unknown" or "Missing" location to track items that exist but need to be located.
How do I handle items in transit?
Use temporary locations like "In Transit", "Loaned Out", or "Maintenance" for items outside their normal storage.
Can I rename locations?
Yes. Renaming a location automatically updates all assigned items to reflect the new name.
How do I see items in a location?
Apply the location filter in the asset list or generate a location-based inventory report.
Can I delete a location with items?
No. You must first reassign all items to a different location before deleting the empty node.