Hi,

For 1st point, you can remove category value in the catalog item . So that the item will not be searchable and only accessible via order guide.

2nd point, you can use Cascade Variable option .It will copy the value(s) of order guide variable to catalog item variable.

By default, order guide variables and their values are gone once you get past the first pane unless you cascade their values to catalog item variables.

Cascading allows values entered for variables in the initial order form of the order guide to be passed to the  equivalent variables in the ordered catalog items. For example, a variable on the initial order form prompts the user to enter a delivery location. If you enable cascading, the value for this variable then populates delivery location fields on each of the ordered items.

Hope this helps!

If I have answered your question, please mark my response as correct and/or helpful.

Thanks,

Suseela P.