A category is a label applied to a Metrics Management object. Users filter and search for objects by using categories. For example, a user filters by category to create a book section that shows all red measures owned by the current user. The system specialist creates an initial set of categories. The system specialist uses those categories when creating objects in the system. The system specialist creates a category for a specific object type, such as a measure, and applies the category to multiple objects of the same type. For example, a category called Finance applies to all financial measures.

An object can have multiple categories. A category does not exist independently of an object type. A category deletes from the system when removed from the last object to which it applies.

Users are also able to create categories if they have edit privilege on that object type. A category is visible to all users, not only to the user who creates the category.

Metrics Management supports users searching for objects by category. Searching by category makes working with large numbers of objects more manageable. For example, users can search on category to refine the list of measures that displays in the main window in Setup➛Measures.