In Award Force, categories are used to group like entries together. Configuring a category is straightforward and offers several options to suit your program’s needs. Below are the steps to create a category, followed by an overview of the available configuration options.
Create a category
- In the Manage workspace, go to Entries
- Click Edit form
- Ensure the Configuration mode toggle in the top-right corner is switched on
- Hover over the category drop-down and click the + icon
- In the configuration tray on the right, enter a Category name
- If required, add a Description to provide instructions or guidance for entrants
- Enter a Category shortcode
- Select the Category is active checkbox if the category should be available to entrants
- Choose whether to Display category on public home page (see Ultimate guide to home page configuration)
- Click Save
Additional configuration options
Images
The 'Images' section allows you to upload images related to the category, such as sponsor logos or organisational branding.
You can also:
- Add a heading (for example, "Category sponsors")
- Set a maximum image width to control display size
Images larger than the maximum width are scaled down, while smaller images retain their original size.
Advanced
The 'Advanced' section provides additional controls to fine-tune category behaviour.
Available options include:
- Maximum number of entries per entrant
- Entry name label specific to the category (for example, "Nomination name")
- Pre-fill entry name with entrant name
- Lock category on submitted entries to prevent changes after submission
Divisions
Divisions allow a category to be broken into smaller groups of entries for judging assignment via panels. Entries are automatically and randomly distributed across divisions.
For example, if a category contains 100 entries and four divisions are created, each division will contain approximately 25 entries. If the total number of entries is not evenly divisible, some divisions may contain more entries than others.
Delivery
You can enable a PDF packing slip for submitted entries. For more information, see Packing slips.
Edit a category
- In the Manage workspace, go to Entries
- Click Edit form
- Select the category from the drop-down
- Click the settings icon
- Make your changes
- Click Save
Delete a category
- In the Manage workspace, go to Entries
- Click Edit form
- Select the category from the drop-down
- Click the settings icon
- Select Delete from the bottom of the configuration tray
Good to know
- Category descriptions support text formatting, including bold, italics, and links.
- Category images are available on the Pro plan and above.
- Divisions should not be changed once judging has begun, as this may result in stray scores.
- If divisions are added after entries have opened, new entries are assigned randomly.
- Selecting Reassign entries to divisions on save redistributes entries as evenly as possible.
- Entry ID formatting can be changed via Settings > General > Account.
Video overview