Catalog & Inventory · Module 3.12 Module 3.12

Catalog Access

Create product catalogs visible only to specific users, roles, or companies. Products in private catalogs are completely invisible to non-authorised users — no search results, no category listings, no direct URL access.

In plain terms: You have a line of products only licensed medical suppliers can order. With Catalog Access rules, those products don't exist for anyone else — they don't appear in search, categories, or if someone types the direct URL. Only approved buyers see them.

Complete Invisibility

Hidden products are removed from search results, category archives, shop pages, related products, and direct URL access for non-authorised users.

Role, List, or User Targeting

Show products to specific roles, User Lists, or individual user IDs. Multiple catalogs can target different audiences simultaneously.

Products or Categories

Include specific products, entire categories, or Product Lists in a catalog. Mix and match to build precisely scoped visibility rules.

Multiple Catalogs

Run many private catalogs at once. "Distributor Exclusives" for Gold tier; "Medical Equipment" for licensed buyers; "Clearance" for all — each with its own rules.

Default Behaviour Control

Set whether unlisted products are public (shown to all) or private (hidden by default). Control whether products are hidden or redirected to a custom page.

Override per Product

On any product edit screen, override the catalog rule — force-show or force-hide regardless of catalog settings.

Setup

Good Combinations

Catalog Access + B2B Registration + Hide Price

Restricted products are invisible to unapproved users. Approved buyers see them and see prices. The full gated B2B catalogue with both access control and price gating.

Catalog AccessB2B RegistrationHide Price
Guest experience: Restricted products simply don't exist for them. Approved buyer: Full catalogue visible with prices. A clean, professional separation between retail and trade.

Catalog Access + Customer Pricing

A distributor's exclusive product line is in a private catalog. Those same products have a negotiated contract price set via Customer-Specific Pricing.

Catalog AccessCustomer Pricing
Result: Only the authorised distributor can see these products, and they see their contracted price automatically — combining access control with pricing precision.

Key Settings

SettingDescriptionDefault
Default VisibilityProducts not in any catalog: show to everyone (public default) or hide from non-authenticated users (private default).Public
Hidden Product BehaviourFor direct URL access: show 404 / redirect to shop / redirect to a custom URL.404
Remove from SearchAlso hide from WooCommerce product search for non-authorised users.On
Remove from RelatedAlso hide from "Related Products" and "You may also like" widgets.On

Yes. A product can appear in multiple catalogs with different audiences. If the buyer matches any catalog that includes the product, they can see it. You could have "Medical Equipment" (for licensed buyers) and "Large Accounts" (for VIP) both containing the same product — anyone in either audience sees it.

Yes for standard visibility checks. Bundles and composites use the parent product's visibility. If the parent product is in a private catalog, the entire bundle is restricted. Individual bundle components that are also products follow their own visibility rules — if a component is restricted, it won't appear when browsing independently.