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Setting up Product Variants

The KommerceServer StoreFront supports the concept of relating products together that are virtually the same product with only slight variations between each. Typically, there is a base model item that is not sold on-line because the buyer must choose which variation of the model item that works best for their application. For example, sandpaper that is sold in a variety of 24 to 400 grit paper but each variety is an independent SKU. If all varieties are grouped as variants of a base model item, they can all share a common profile with each variant displayed on the profile as an available option. This topic describes how this feature can be implemented for the Storefront.

Create a Base Model Item

Create a Manufacturing Item to represent the “base” model (Parent) for all relevant variations (Children). If there is already a base model part that was exported from the ERP system then that item may be used and this step can be skipped.

If you are setting up the base model, the assumption is that this item will never be sold or even exist in the ERP system. For this reason you may want to choose a naming convention that will not collide with a current or future manufacturing SKU.

  1. Navigate to the Item Master Explorer page by selecting Store Management>Mfg Items>Create new Mfg Item. The Item Master Explorer page opens.

  1. Enter an ID for the item in the Item ID field.
  2. Enter a name for the item in the Name field.
  3. Enter your desired price Unit of Measurement in the Price UOM field.
  4. Enter the quantity of items in the package in the Package Quantity field.
  5. Enter descriptive text for the packaging in the Packaging Text field.
  6. Enter the Delivery Lead Time for the items (in days) in the Delivery Lead Time (days) field.
  7. Enter the UPC for the item in the UPC field.

Define the Base Model Profile

Typically the model part is not sellable but this is not mandated. If it is not sellable, then it is recommended to use a generic description and Display ID. Refer to the Listing Item Profiles topic for more information.

Define Variant Item Profiles (limited)

Each variant will still need to have a profile defined but minimal information can be entered if it is intended to only show the base profile in the storefront. Refer to the Listing Item Profiles topic for more information.

Define Variant Relationship Links to the Base Model

Once the variant profiles are defined, the variant relationship will need to be defined on the Linked Items tab for the Base model profile. Click here for information on creating a linked item.

Alternate descriptions can be defined for the Variant when displayed on the Base Model profile detail page by using the “Display on Parent As” field. If left blank, the Variant will display the Variant’s profile name on the parent profile page.

If the “Linkable” checkbox is checked, this indicates that the Variant Profile is independently linkable from the Base Model profile page (i.e. Parent). This is consistent with the other types of linked item relationships but for Variants only, the “Linkable” checkbox has an additional meaning. If checked, the Variant Profile page will be treated just as any other independent profile when searching or browsing the storefront. If this box is not checked, you are indicating that the variant’s base model profile page should always be shown and the variant profile can never be accessed. Regardless of the “linkable” checkbox, variant product information will always be searched (extended properties, Item ID, etc.), as this is merely a presentation behavior.

Behavior of Variants on ITEMCLASS_CATALOG Page

Variant profiles and their corresponding Mfg Items will be searched and tallied just as any other profile. This includes any extended properties that may exist for a variant’s mfg item or the display ID and description on the variant’s profile. However, depending on how the Variant relationship was defined, the storefront may only allow the variant’s base model profile to be displayed and accessed. This behavior is controlled by the “Linkable” checkbox field when defining linked relationships, which was discussed earlier in this topic. If the base model is being displayed but it has more than one variant, it will only show one time in the right pane of the ITEMCLASS_CATALOG page. If it is sellable and has a price, it will show the price as normal. In the case above, this model is not sellable and there is no price defined (not a real SKU with pricing).

Behavior of Variants on ITEMPROFILE_DETAIL Page

The base item profile is shown above with a new BusinessControl for displaying all variant items and their pricing which may be different. This BusinessControl will hide if no variants exist. If the Base Model item is sellable then it will be included as one of the other variants with no distinction other than it is the same listed item as in the heading on the page (104NNN).

If the Variant Profile is defined as “Linkable” it will be linked on the Base profile and can be independently accessed.

If Alternate Price UOM options Exist for Variants

If “Volume Breaks” are applicable on different Variants or Alternate Pricing options, the Header row will be repeated (not shown above).

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