How Do I Create Fixtures?

This article will explain how to create fixtures in DotActiv software. We will also explain what the fixtures are used for and how to add or copy each to a planogram.

Applicable Products: DotActiv Free, DotActiv Lite, DotActiv Pro,
DotActiv Enterprise

Getting Started With Fixtures

In DotActiv software, fixture selections can be found when you open a planogram. Please follow the following steps to find the fixture selections in your top drill:

1. After opening DotActiv, look for the Tools tab in the top of the window and click on it

2. After clicking on it, you will find the following terms on the left-hand side, which indicate all the fixtures you can choose from to add to your planogram:

• Shelf,
• Pegboard,
• Hanging Bar,
• Banner,
• Obstructions, and
• Clip Strip

Adding Shelves

Shelves are used to display products that can stand upright, lay down or be backed laying on its side. Shelves can either be fixed or adjustable depending on the gondola fixture in the store. Shelves can also be made out of different materials such as wood, sleet, glass and plastic. 

Before adding any fixtures, you must have an existing planogram open or select a new gondola.

To do so, select the Space Planning tab and then New Gondola as seen in the GIF below.

To add a shelf to the gondola, click on the Shelf icon and click again anywhere on your gondola. A grey shelf appears where you have clicked as seen in the GIF below.

You can adjust the Height, Width and Depth of your shelf to accommodate the gondola’s dimensions by double-clicking on the shelf and changing its dimensions in the size field. 

You can also change the colour of the shelf by clicking on the arrow in the colour box and selecting the colour you wish to use.

Extra Fixtures With A Shelf

There are a few fixtures that can be added to a shelf.

Dividers

You can use dividers on a shelf to separate products or illustrate a product tray.

To add a divider, double-click on the shelf. On the left-hand side of the Shelf Properties window, select “Shelf Attributes”.

In this window, you will see a block called Dividers. Here, you can change the Height, Width, Colour, and Spacing between each divider.

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

Shelf Grills

Shelf Grills are a metal mesh clipped on to the front part of a shelf to prevent small or flimsy products from falling off the shelf. The picture below illustrate how a Shelf Grill will look on the planogram.

To add a shelf grill, double-click on the shelf. On the left-hand side of the Shelf Properties window, select “Shelf Attributes”.

In this window, you will see a block called Shelf Dividers. Here, you can change the Height, Width, Colour, and Spacing between each divider.

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

Deleting Shelves

In order to delete a shelf or any other fixture on your gondola, you first need to click on the shelf or fixture that you would like to delete. By doing so, the shelf or fixture will be highlighted with red stripes.

Once you have selected the shelf or fixture that you want to delete, press and hold both ‘SHIFT’ and ‘Delete’ on your keyboard at the same time and the shelf will be deleted.

Alternatively, if you are using an Apple device, you can delete a shelf or fixture by clicking and holding “fn” and “Delete” at the same time. 

Adding Pegboards

Pegboards are fixtures placed at the backing of the gondola and used to add pegs (a metal rod) to.

A pegboard is used to add products that can only be hung and cannot stand upright on a shelf.

To add a pegboard, click on the Pegboard icon as shown above. Then click on the planogram. If you want to change the dimensions of the pegboard, double-click on it to open the Pegboard Properties window.

To change this, double click on the pegboard, if you wish to change the size of the pegboard the dimensions can be changed in the Size Block.

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

If you wish to change the colour of the pegboard you can change it in the section that states Colour. Click on the down arrow and select the colour you wish to use. 

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

If you want to change the placement of the Pegs on the Pegboard, you can do so by selecting the Segment Tab in the Pegboard Properties window as seen below.

Here you can change the Spacing and the Segments. If you wish to change the dimensions and lengths of your Pegs, you can do so by selecting  ‘Pegboard Attributes’ on the left.

Please ensure that your gondola is facing the right direction when adding products to pegboards.

Adding Hanging Bars

A Hanging Bar has the same function as a Pegboard. It is used to hang products that cannot stand upright on a shelf. The one exception is that a hanging bar is used to hang products in a straight line rather than to be placed on pegs in a random sequence.

To add a Hanging Bar, first, click on the icon in the Tools tab, and then click on the gondola. 

If you would like to change the dimensions of the Hanging Bar, double-click on it. Doing so opens the Hanging Bar Properties window.

You can also change the dimensions of the Hanging Bar in the Size block within the Hanging Bar Properties window, as seen above.

If you wish to change the Colour of the hanging bar, you can do that too by clicking on the arrow in the colour box. 

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

Adding Banners

Banners can be used for all kinds of reasons. It is a handy tool to use when you want to include an object to the planogram, block some space out or add pictures that serve as lightboxes, display units and so on.

To add a banner, click on the Banner icon in the Tools tab. If you would like to drag your own banner (already creating the size of the banner you would like) you can click on the arrow next to the Banner icon and select ‘Drag for Size’.

If you would just like to create a Banner with automated size setting, select the Banner icon and click anywhere on the gondola to create it.

If you created an automated banner and want to change the dimensions, double-click on it and change the dimensions in the Size block on the Banner Properties window. If changes have been made, press Apply and OK to save.

You can also add an image to your banner by double-clicking on the banner.

In the Banner Properties window, select Banner Attributes. You can then browse for an image by clicking on the folder on the right side of each side you would like to add an image to.

Adding Obstructions

The Obstruction fixture can be used for unfamiliar objects that are found in the run where the planogram has to be implemented. This can be for Fire Extinguishers, Pillars or any solid permanent fixture.

To add an Obstruction fixture, either click on the arrow pointing downwards and selecting ‘Drag for Size’ or create an automated Obstruction by clicking on the icon.

To change the dimensions of the Obstruction, double-click on it and the Obstruction Properties window will appear.

In this window, there is a block called Size where you can change the Dimensions of the Obstruction. You can also change its colour.

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

You can also add an image to the obstruction. To do so, select the Obstruction Attributes tab on the right hand of the Obstruction Properties window. To browse for an image, you would like to add to the obstruction you can click on the window folder and add the product.     

If changes have been made, click Apply and OK to save.

Adding Clip Strips

Clip Strips are additional secondary fixtures you can add to the gondola to either cross-merchandise products to add value to the products on the planogram, or products that hang and cannot be merchandised on the shelf.

To add a clip strip to the gondola, click on Clip Strip in the new section in the Tools Bar. Once clicked, click again on a shelf.

Please note that you can only add a clip strip to a shelf.

After adding a clip strip to the shelf, you can change the dimensions by double-clicking on the product to open the Clip Strip Properties window.

If you want to change the Hooks Spacing, Depth or Height, select Clip Strip Attributes on the left-hand side of the Clip Strip Properties window.

Adding fixtures in DotActiv is easy and is a helpful tool to help you complete your planogram.

How To Copy A Fixture

Once you’ve added your new fixture, you are able to copy and paste these fixtures or objects via the right-click menu or shortcut keys.

You can do so by pressing the shortcut keys ‘Ctrl’ and ‘C’ at the same time to copy a selected fixture. Similarly, you can use the shortcut keys ‘Ctrl’ and ‘V’ to paste the fixture.

This can be accessed once a Fixture has been added to a new or existing gondola. Once the desired fixture has been added, you can proceed to ‘Copy’ and ‘Paste’ different fixtures on your gondola with ease.