gistfile1.php

<?php

/**
 *
 * Procedure for creating categories programmatically in Joomla 2.5 and Joomla 3.x
 * 
 * @version 1.0
 * 	- Removed unused database instance
 * 	- Added variables for main fields with description for usage
 *
 * Original by Michael Babker (mbabker)
 * https://gist.github.com/mbabker/3211464
 * 
 * Edit by brnl (https://gist.github.com/brnl)
 *
 */

// Set the extension. For content categories, use 'com_content'
$extension = 'com_content';

// Set the title for the category
$title     = 'My Category';

// Type the description, this is also the 'body'. HTML allowed here.
$desc      = 'A category for my extension';

// Set the parent category. 1 is the root item.
$parent_id = 1;



// JTableCategory is autoloaded in J! 3.0, so...
if (version_compare(JVERSION, '3.0', 'lt'))
{
	JTable::addIncludePath(JPATH_PLATFORM . 'joomla/database/table');
}

// Initialize a new category
$category = JTable::getInstance('Category');
$category->extension = $extension;
$category->title = $title;
$category->description = $desc;
$category->published = 1;
$category->access = 1;
$category->params = '{"target":"","image":""}';
$category->metadata = '{"page_title":"","author":"","robots":""}';
$category->language = '*';

// Set the location in the tree
$category->setLocation($parent_id, 'last-child');

// Check to make sure our data is valid
if (!$category->check())
{
	JError::raiseNotice(500, $category->getError());
	return false;
}

// Now store the category
if (!$category->store(true))
{
	JError::raiseNotice(500, $category->getError());
	return false;
}

// Build the path for our category
$category->rebuildPath($category->id);