Setting up the menu structure for a B2B webshop in Business Central is a matter of creating the right information codes and then defining how they relate to each other. You build the menu items first, then connect them in a parent-child hierarchy that mirrors the structure you want customers to see on the website.
You create each menu item as an information code with an information code and an information value. For long menu names, keep the information value short and put the full name in the description field.
You build the hierarchy in the master data relations page by setting a parent entry number for each item. Top menu items point to the root B2B shop, main menu items point to their top menu, and submenu items point to their main menu.
You can check the result at any time by going to the master data hierarchy page and using the refresh logical hierarchy function. The indentation in the description field shows you how the menu items relate to each other.
Preparing your menu structure before you start
Before you touch Business Central, it helps to have your menu structure written down. You can keep it in an Excel sheet or a Word document, and both have their advantages.
In an Excel sheet you typically lay it out in columns: column A holds your top menu items, column B holds your main menu items, and column C holds your submenu items. This format makes it easy to copy and paste directly into Business Central.
A Word document is often better for visualisation, since you can see the top menu, main menu, and submenu laid out the way they will appear on the website. In practice, many people keep both: the Word document to see the overall structure, and the Excel sheet to copy from.
Creating the information codes for menu items
The first step in Business Central is to create all the information codes and information values for your menu structure. You do this from the information code list.
Start with the top menu items. Locate the right area in the list and create all the top menu items you plan to use. The fastest way is to copy them straight from your Excel sheet and paste them in.
If a menu name is very long, give it a shorter information value and use the description field for the full name. This keeps your codes manageable while preserving the readable name.
Once the top menu items are in place, repeat the process for the main menu items, and then again for the submenu items. By the end, you should have created every menu item that appears in your Excel sheet or Word document.
Building the hierarchy with master data relations
With all the menu items created, you go to the master data hierarchy and then to the master data relations. This is where you build the relations between the different levels.
Each top menu item needs to be related to the root B2B shop. In the example, the first top menu is Bikes, and it relates to the root B2B shop. You set this by entering the parent entry number for the root.
Main menu items relate to their top menu item. The main menu City Bikes sits below the top menu Bikes, so its parent entry number points to the Bikes entry. Another main menu item, Quality Bikes, relates to the same top menu, so it gets the same parent entry number.
As you enter each relation, you get a visual cue on the right that tells you whether what you are doing is correct. This makes it easy to catch mistakes as you go, rather than discovering them later in the overview.
Checking the hierarchy with refresh logical hierarchy
You do not have to wait until you are finished to see the structure take shape. Go back to the master data hierarchy page and click refresh only logical hierarchy. The indentation in the description field shows you how the menu items relate to each other, so you can confirm the structure looks right before continuing.
There is also an option to refresh with items, but that only makes sense once you have added items to the structure. Until then, refresh the logical group hierarchy on its own.
When you finish building, the pattern is consistent: each top menu item relates to the root shop, and each item below relates to its parent level. After a final refresh of the logical hierarchy, the complete B2B bike shop menu structure appears in the overview, ready for the next step.
Q&A
How do you create menu items for a B2B webshop in Business Central?
You create each menu item as an information code in the information code list, giving it an information code and an information value. Create your top menu items first, then your main menu items, then your submenu items. You can copy and paste them directly from an Excel sheet to save time.
What do you do when a menu name is too long?
Give the menu item a shorter information value and put the full name in the description field. This keeps your codes manageable while preserving the readable name.
How do you connect menu items into a hierarchy?
You use the master data relations page and set a parent entry number for each item. Top menu items point to the root B2B shop, main menu items point to their top menu, and submenu items point to their main menu.
How do you check that the menu structure is correct?
Go to the master data hierarchy page and click refresh only logical hierarchy. The indentation in the description field shows how the menu items relate to each other. You also get a visual cue while entering relations that confirms whether each entry is correct.
Should you prepare the menu in Excel or Word first?
Both are useful. A Word document is easier for visualising how the menu will appear on the website, while an Excel sheet with separate columns for top, main, and submenu items lets you copy and paste directly into Business Central.