Global attributes are the only product attributes that support the values of a hidden field type. Global attributes with a hidden field type value are called hidden attributes. Such attributes do not display in the storefront and can serve internal product management purposes, like creating product feeds for the Google Product Feed add-on.
Creating Hidden Attributes
Unlike any other global attributes, a store admin can create hidden global attributes in the "Classes and Attributes" section of a store Admin area only (Catalog -> Classes and Attributes).
To create a hidden attribute:
In your store's Admin area, go to the Classes & Attributes section (Catalog > Classes & attributes).
Click on the "Edit attributes (N)" link opposite the "Global attributes" title:
The global attributes listing page opens:
On this page, click the "New attribute" button:
A popup titled New attribute appears:
Use the fields of the "New attribute" popup to provide information about a new hidden attribute.
Specify the following information:
Attribute: Attribute name.
Attribute group: Select a group name from the drop-down if this is applicable.
Use the Attribute Groups guide to learn how to join attributes into groups.Type: For a hidden attribute, the attribute field type must be "Hidden field."
Click Next to save the attribute.
Now the popup expands so you can edit the attribute options:
Click the "New value" button to configure the hidden attribute options. Then, add as many attribute options as you need.
If you want a specific option of this hidden global attribute to be assigned automatically to all NEW products in your store's catalog, click the check-mark icon opposite the name of the related attribute option (the check-mark icon should turn green):
Enabling the check-mark for a hidden attribute option will not affect any products that are already present in the store by far. All existing products will preserve their current global attributes' configuration.
Once you're done editing the attribute options, save the changes using the "Save changes" button.
The attribute option(s) should be saved and added to the global attributes list:
Like any global attribute, hidden attributes are automatically assigned to products after you create them. However, for the hidden attributes to become available for internal products management, a store admin must assign and configure hidden attribute options for existing products in the store.
Assigning Hidden Attributes to Products
Once hidden attributes have been created via the "Classes & Attributes" section of the store Admin area, a store admin should assign the hidden attribute options to existing products in the store.
Unlike other product attributes, hidden attribute options can be assigned either on a per-product basis using a product details page or for a group of products or all products in the store using the Bulk Editing tool.
Assigning Hidden Attribute Options via Bulk Editing
To assign hidden attribute options to products via the Bulk Editing feature:
On the product listing page of your store Admin area (Catalog -> Products), select products you want to edit using checkboxes.
Click Bulk edit selected -> Hidden attributes.
In a new window, configure the hidden attribute(s) value for the products:
Click "Save changes."
Assigning Hidden Attribute Options via Product Details
If required, a store admin can assign a hidden attribute on a per-product basis via a related product details page:
In your store's Admin area, locate the product you need to assign a hidden attribute to, open the product details page, and hover the cursor on the "Attributes" tab:
Choose "Hidden attributes" in the drop-down to access the subsection where you can assign hidden global attributes to this product:
You can see the complete list of your store's hidden global attributes on the page that opens. The attributes for which the "Attribute option" field is empty are assigned but not configured for the product.
For the attribute that needs the configuration:
Click inside the "Attribute option" field and type in the value you require.
orClick on the down arrow button at the "Attribute option" field's right and select one of the previously configured attribute options from the drop-down list.
Click "Save changes."
Managing Hidden Attributes
Like any other global attribute, a store admin can manage hidden attributes on the global attributes listing page in the "Classes & Attributes" section of the Admin area (Catalog -> Classes & Attributes). Here a store admin can create new hidden attributes, add them to attribute groups, edit existing hidden attribute names and options, and delete them if required. All changes applied to hidden attributes via the "Classes & Attributes" section are applied store-wide and affect all products with the corresponding hidden attributes assigned and configured.
To open the global attributes listing, open the "Classes & Attributes" section of the Admin area (Catalog -> Classes & Attributes) and click on the link "Edit attributes (N)" opposite the "Global attributes" line (where N stands for the number of global attributes configured in the store):
Hidden attributes will have the Hidden field type in the global attributes list.
Please refer to the Managing Global Attributes guide of our Help Center to learn how to manage hidden attributes.
Related pages: