Variants Based on Selection Specs


Variants Based on Selection Specs

The Variants Based on Selection Specs feature allows you to enter a unique variant (product) id, description, image and Interop id and allows you to track inventory for each. This is accomplished while displaying the variable specs as drop-down lists on the Buyer interface.
 
Creating a unique variant for each combination of selection specs for a product supports tracking inventory at a more granular level which many back office systems require. This functionality also supports the ability to display different images based on the combination of specs selected (a common request in a promotional products scenario).

Setup Instructions
  1. Create a static product with one or more selection type variable specs.
  2. Selection specs must be set up:
    1. Marked as required.
    2. Without the "Include an open-ended 'other'" option selected.
  3. Navigate to the Variants page and click "Generate Variants Based on Selection Specs..."
    1. If the product is already setup with variations, the link will not appear. If you would like to use this functionality you must first delete all current variants.
  4. Select the specs that you would like to include and move them to the "Assigned" box.
  5. Click "Generate Variants."
    1. It is very important that you have ALL selection specs created prior to generating the variants (the options assigned to each spec are not as important). If you need to add an additional spec in the future, you will be required to generate new variants and that requires deleting existing variants.
  6. The table of variants will now appear on the page.
    1. Default Variant ID is Product ID-Spec1-Spec2-Spec3-etc
    2. Default Variant Image is the Product Image.
  7. Edit the variant id on the Variants page or click the "Edit" icon to modify the ID, Description, Interop ID or Image.
  8. For a product with inventory tracking, click on the "Inventory" page and select "Track Inventory" at the variant to set different inventory for each variant.
Notes
  1. If you add or remove option values from selection specs that have been used to generate variants, those options will automatically be updated on the Variants page. For example, if you add yellow as a t-shirt color, when you return to the variants page the new variants will be created or if you remove yellow as a t-shirt color then those respective variants will no longer exist.
  2. You may mark one or more variants as inactive. When doing so, we recommend creating an image similar to active variants but indicating "Product Not Available" or something similar. This will allow the page to look the same rather than showing no image for the inactive combinations. If a user tries to add an inactive combination to his cart, he will be given the following message: "Sorry, this product is not available with the options you selected." That message can be edited per buyer company on the Site Customization page.
  3. It is very important that you have ALL selection specs created prior to generating the variants (the options assigned to each spec are not as important). If you need to add a spec in the future, you will be required to generate new variants which includes deleting existing variants and starting over.
Reference Material: None

Related Articles: None

Labels: Variants, VBOSS, Product Variation