---
title: "Create an HCMS Categories List"
slug: "create-an-hcms-categories-list"
description: "Learn how to create and manage lists based on HCMS categories, ensuring forms update automatically with any changes for seamless user experience."
updated: 2026-08-28T13:38:58Z
published: 2026-08-28T13:38:58Z
canonical: "www.civicplus.help/create-an-hcms-categories-list"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.civicplus.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create an HCMS Categories List

This article walks through how to create a list based on the categories configured in your [HCMS integration](/process-automation/docs/hcms-integration). The benefit of adding a list is that it can be added to any form. If the list needs to be changed, that change only needs to be made once, and the forms will automatically update to use the new list.

## Instructions

[Embedded content](https://www.iorad.com/player/2512650/Automation--Create-an-HCMS-Categories-List-Tutorial)

1. You will first need an [active HCMS Integration](/process-automation/docs/hcms-integration)
2. [Sign in to your site](/process-automation/docs/sign-in-to-your-site)
3. Navigate to **Advanced Tools**, then select **Lists** ![The Advanced Tools menu expanded with Lists selected in the sub-menu.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Lists%20Menu%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
4. Click **Add List** (plus-sign icon) in the bottom-right corner of the screen ![The 'Add List' button.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Add%20List%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
5. Select the **HCMS Categories** tab and add a **Label** ![The HCMS Categories list tab with the Label field highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Categories%20List%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
6. Select the [environment](/process-automation/docs/environments-overview) you wish to add the list to ![HCMS categories section with highlighted environment options.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Categories%20Environment%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
7. Click **Add All Categories** to add all categories from your HCMS instance or select individual categories using the **Available Categories** dropdown ![The available categories drop-down list and a button to add all categories.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Available%20Categories%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
8. Click a **Category name** to update its label, if desired ![Highlighted category selection on a list.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Category%20Name%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
9. In the **Color column**, click the **color picker** to select a color for an option ![The categories list with the Color column highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Category%20Color%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
10. Click and hold the **order handle** (horizontal-lines icon) to the left of an option to drag and drop it into the desired order ![Selection of categories with the reorder icon highlighted.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Reorder%20Categories%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
11. Click the **Delete icon** (black trash-can icon) to the right of a category to remove it from the list ![List of available categories with a highlighted delete icon for removal.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Delete%20Category%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
12. If needed, toggle on **Show Always Display Options** and check the options that should always display in the list ![The 'Show Always Display Options' toggle enabled on the list.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Always%20Display%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)

> [!WARNING]
> **Note**:
> 
> Checking "Always Display" for an associated option will ensure that the option is always visible to the user and cannot be filtered out by user input.
13. Click **Save** ![The Save button on the new list screen.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/Save%20List%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
14. You can now add the list to a user-select element (checkbox, radio button, select, or autocomplete) on a form ![HCMS Categories selected on the List tab of a form element.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Categories%20List%20on%20Form%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)
15. If you have an [HCMS workflow event configured](/process-automation/docs/hcms-integration#HCMS_Submission_Event) then this will automatically pull in any selected categories and add them to the category of the content being created ![Submission Events section highlights categories added from HCMS form elements.](https://cdn.us.document360.io/17dc564a-8310-4f61-b929-1bd73b36e158/Images/Documentation/HCMS%20Categories%20on%20Workflow%20Event%20-%20PADS.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-12T17%3A20%3A26Z&se=2026-11-12T18%3A20%3A26Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=HpEU7TO9%2BzYKi2F1aBN%2BZVkdMNlKF1neroDPgk6O%2FEQ%3D)

## Related

- [HCMS + Process Automation Integration](/hcms-integration.md)
- [Send an HCMS Notification](/send-an-hcms-notification.md)
- [Add and Manage HCMS Content in an App](/add-and-manage-hcms-content-in-an-app.md)