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Menu Builder Tabs Documentation

Menu Location: Products > Menu Builder > Menu Tabs

Access Level: Administrator and above

Last Updated: 2026-03-01

Overview

The Menu Builder Tabs page allows you to create, organize, and manage the tab navigation structure for your customer-facing product menu. These tabs help customers browse products by category, making it easy to find items like "Produce," "Meat," "Dairy," or seasonal collections.

Primary Functions:

  • Create and edit menu tab categories
  • Define tab display order and hierarchy
  • Assign products to specific tabs
  • Control tab visibility and availability dates
  • Customize tab names and descriptions
  • Manage seasonal or promotional tabs

Page Layout

Header Section

  • Add New Tab Button: Create new menu category tab
  • Save Order Button: Save changes to tab arrangement
  • Preview Menu Button: View customer-facing menu as it will appear

Main Content Area

Drag-and-drop tab list showing all menu tabs in current display order, with options to edit, delete, hide, or rearrange each tab.

Tab Editor Panel

Form for editing individual tab properties including name, description, icon, visibility settings, and product assignments.

Tab Configuration

Basic Tab Settings

Tab Properties:

  • Tab Name: Display name customers see (e.g., "Fresh Produce", "Grass-Fed Meat")
  • Internal Name: Admin reference name (optional, defaults to Tab Name)
  • Description: Brief description shown to customers
  • Icon: Optional icon or image for visual identification
  • Display Order: Numeric position in tab sequence (lower numbers appear first)

Visibility Controls:

  • Active/Inactive: Enable or disable tab without deleting
  • Start Date: When tab becomes visible (for seasonal/promotional tabs)
  • End Date: When tab automatically hides (optional)
  • Customer Segments: Show to all customers or specific groups only

Actions & Operations

Create New Menu Tab

Purpose: Add new category tab to customer product menu

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Tab" button
  2. Enter tab name (e.g., "Summer Favorites")
  3. Add optional description ("Fresh seasonal picks for summer")
  4. Choose icon or leave blank
  5. Set display order number (10, 20, 30, etc. - allows insertion later)
  6. Set visibility dates if seasonal
  7. Click "Save Tab"
  8. Assign products to new tab

Requirements:

  • Unique tab name
  • Display order number

Tips:

  • Use increment of 10 for display order (10, 20, 30) to allow easy insertion
  • Test on preview menu before making live

Edit Existing Tab

Purpose: Modify tab properties or product assignments

Steps:

  1. Click "Edit" button next to tab name
  2. Modify tab properties as needed
  3. Update product assignments if needed
  4. Click "Save Changes"
  5. Preview changes before publishing

Reorder Tabs

Purpose: Change sequence tabs appear to customers

Steps:

  1. Drag tab to new position in list, OR
  2. Edit tab and change display order number
  3. Click "Save Order" button
  4. Preview menu to verify new arrangement
  5. Adjust as needed

Best Practice: Use drag-and-drop for visual ordering, or use display order numbers (10, 20, 30, etc.) for precise control

Assign Products to Tabs

Purpose: Control which products appear in each tab

Steps:

  1. Click "Manage Products" for specific tab
  2. Search for products to add
  3. Select products from available list
  4. Set product display order within tab
  5. Save product assignments
  6. Preview tab to verify product organization

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Seasonal Tab Creation

Goal: Create "Summer Produce" tab for seasonal availability

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New Tab"
  2. Name: "Summer Produce"
  3. Description: "Fresh, local summer vegetables and fruits"
  4. Set start date: June 1
  5. Set end date: August 31
  6. Display order: 15 (appears after "All Products" tab)
  7. Save tab
  8. Assign summer seasonal products (strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.)
  9. Preview menu in late May to test
  10. Tab automatically appears June 1, disappears September 1

Example: Create tabs for each season with auto-show/hide dates:

  • "Spring Harvest" (March 1 - May 31)
  • "Summer Favorites" (June 1 - August 31)
  • "Fall Bounty" (September 1 - November 30)
  • "Winter Warmers" (December 1 - February 28)

Use Case 2: Promotional Tab

Goal: Feature sale or promotional products in dedicated tab

Steps:

  1. Create new tab: "Weekly Specials"
  2. Display order: 5 (appears first, highly visible)
  3. Add eye-catching icon (star, sale tag, etc.)
  4. Assign discounted or featured products
  5. Update products weekly as promotions change
  6. Remove tab when promotion ends or set end date

Tips:

  • Place promotional tabs first (low display order number)
  • Use attention-getting names: "Sale!", "Limited Time", "Staff Picks"
  • Update frequently to maintain customer interest

Use Case 3: Customer Segment Tabs

Goal: Show VIP-only or wholesale customer tabs

Steps:

  1. Create new tab: "VIP Exclusive Products"
  2. Set customer segment: "VIP" or "Premium" members only
  3. Assign premium or exclusive products
  4. Tab only visible to logged-in VIP customers
  5. Regular customers don't see this tab

Example:

  • "Wholesale Pricing" tab for wholesale customers
  • "VIP Reserve" tab for premium members
  • "First Access" tab for beta products (early adopters only)

Use Case 4: Menu Reorganization

Goal: Improve customer browsing based on feedback or analytics

Steps:

  1. Review customer usage analytics or feedback
  2. Identify confusing or underused tabs
  3. Consolidate similar tabs if too many
  4. Rename vague tabs to be more specific
  5. Reorder tabs based on popularity (most used first)
  6. Test new organization with staff
  7. Implement changes and monitor customer response

Example Before:

  1. Products
  2. Vegetables
  3. Fruits
  4. Meats
  5. Other

Example After:

  1. Weekly Specials
  2. Fresh Produce (Vegetables & Fruits combined)
  3. Premium Meats
  4. Dairy & Eggs
  5. Pantry Staples

Use Case 5: Product Category Clarity

Goal: Help customers find products easily with clear categorization

Steps:

  1. Review all products in catalog
  2. Group by natural categories customers think in
  3. Create tabs matching customer mental model:
    • How they shop (by meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner)
    • By diet (vegetarian, keto, paleo)
    • By use (snacks, cooking, baking)
  4. Ensure each product appears in at least one tab
  5. Products can appear in multiple tabs if makes sense
  6. Test with customers and refine

Troubleshooting

Tab Not Appearing for Customers

Check:

  1. Tab is marked "Active" not "Inactive"
  2. Start date has passed (if set)
  3. End date hasn't passed (if set)
  4. Tab has products assigned
  5. Tab has appropriate customer segment visibility
  6. Cache cleared (customer may see old menu)

Tab Order Not Saving

Solutions:

  1. Click "Save Order" button after dragging
  2. Check for duplicate display order numbers
  3. Refresh page and try again
  4. Try using display order numbers instead of drag-and-drop

Products Not Showing in Tab

Check:

  1. Products are assigned to tab
  2. Products are marked "Active" and "Available"
  3. Products are in stock (if inventory tracking enabled)
  4. Products match customer segment visibility
  5. Product display order within tab is set

Too Many Tabs - Menu Cluttered

Solutions:

  1. Consolidate related tabs (combine "Vegetables" and "Fruits" into "Produce")
  2. Use seasonal tabs that auto-hide when not relevant
  3. Limit to 6-8 main tabs for clarity
  4. Use sub-categories within tabs instead of new tabs
  • Menu Builder - Products - Assign products to menu
  • Product Catalog - Manage all products
  • Product Categories - Define product classifications
  • Customer Segments - Manage customer groups for visibility rules

Typical Workflow:

  1. Plan menu tab structure based on product catalog
  2. Create tabs in Menu Builder Tabs
  3. Assign products to tabs in Menu Builder Products
  4. Preview customer menu
  5. Adjust and refine based on testing

Permissions & Access

Required Access Level: Administrator or higher

Access Level Capabilities:

  • Administrator: Create, edit, delete tabs, assign products, control visibility
  • Kiva Admin: All features + advanced settings, custom CSS for tabs

Best Practices

  1. Limit to 6-8 main tabs (too many overwhelms customers)
  2. Order tabs by popularity (most browsed first)
  3. Use clear, customer-friendly language
  4. Include promotional/seasonal tabs at beginning
  5. Group related products logically

Naming Conventions

  1. Use customer language, not internal jargon
  2. Be specific: "Grass-Fed Beef" not just "Meat"
  3. Keep names short (2-3 words maximum)
  4. Consider SEO and searchability
  5. Test names with real customers before finalizing

Seasonal Management

  1. Plan seasonal tabs at beginning of year
  2. Set auto-show/hide dates
  3. Prepare tab content 2-3 weeks before season
  4. Review and update products weekly during season
  5. Archive seasonal tab content for next year

Things to Avoid

  • Too many tabs (creates decision paralysis)
  • Vague tab names ("Products", "Items", "Other")
  • Overlapping categories (confusing which tab to check)
  • Forgetting to hide expired seasonal tabs
  • Making tabs that never get used (remove or consolidate)

Quick Reference Card

Task Action/Location
Create new tab Click "Add New Tab", enter details, save
Reorder tabs Drag to new position or edit display order number
Hide seasonal tab Edit tab, set end date or mark inactive
Create promotional tab New tab, display order 5, assign featured products
Assign products Click "Manage Products" on tab
Preview menu Click "Preview Menu" button
Edit tab name Click "Edit" next to tab, update name, save
Delete unused tab Edit tab, click "Delete Tab", confirm

FAQs

How many tabs should I have?

6-8 main tabs is optimal. More than 10 becomes overwhelming. Focus on quality organization over quantity of tabs.

Can a product appear in multiple tabs?

Yes, products can be assigned to multiple tabs. For example, "Organic Kale" could appear in both "Fresh Produce" and "Organic Only" tabs.

What happens if I delete a tab?

Products assigned to that tab are not deleted, only the tab structure is removed. Products remain in catalog and can be reassigned to other tabs.

Can I have sub-tabs or nested categories?

This depends on system configuration. Most implementations support one level of tabs. For more hierarchy, use product categories within tabs.

Do tabs affect inventory or pricing?

No, tabs are purely organizational for customer browsing. They don't affect product pricing, inventory, or availability.

How do I test tabs without affecting customers?

Use "Preview Menu" function or test with a test customer account. Some systems support draft mode before publishing changes.

Can I customize tab appearance (colors, fonts)?

Basic tab settings may include icons and descriptions. Advanced customization may require administrator or Kiva Admin access to CSS settings.

Change Log

2026-03-01

  • Initial documentation created
  • All sections completed following template structure

End of Documentation

For additional help, contact your system administrator or Kiva Logic support.