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Multi-Value Attributes (Product Options)
Multi-Value Attributes (Product Options)

Learn how to use multi-value attributes to configure product options.

Olga Tereshina avatar
Written by Olga Tereshina
Updated over 3 years ago

The "Plain text" and "Yes/No" attribute value field types allow using the multi-value feature, i.e., to specify multiple options for one attribute. In your online store, you can use this feature to determine product options.

Configuring Multi-Value Attributes

Let's say that you want to give a buyer the possibility of choosing a garment's size.

You can use "Plain field" attribute options to provide information about available garment sizes. Specific sizes like S, M, L, etc. can be arranged as product options if you add them as option values for the attribute "Size" like so:

multivalue-1.png

On the storefront, it will display as follows:

multivalue-2.png

The attribute options S, M, L, and others have become product options that buyers can choose from before adding a product to the cart. Product options arranged this way display as a select drop-down.

To configure multiple values for an attribute:

  1. Select a product from the product listing and proceed to product details.
    ​

  2. In the "Attributes" tab, locate a plain text attribute and hover a mouse over it. It reveals a check box that says multi-value:

    multivalue-3.png

  3. Select this check box to enable multiple values of the attribute you are editing.

    multivalue-4.png

  4. Use the "Attribute option" field on the new line to specify the option name. As soon as you start typing, another empty line will add to the list.

  5. Add as many attribute options as you require.

  6. If you are editing a product class or global attribute, choose whether you want to apply the changes locally or globally.

  7. Click "Save changes."

The "Yes/No" field type is quite similar; the only difference is that there are just two options, "Yes" and "No," and you do not have to specify them manually but can select them from a list.

multivalue-6.png

The Yes/No type of attribute requires the "Buyers can select an option" toggle set to YES for the multi-value feature to become available for the global and product class attributes. You can switch on the toggle when configuring attribute properties.

yes-no-select-option.png

On the storefront, customers can choose the option they require by adjusting the respective check box:

multivallue-7.png

Arranging product options with the method described above does not allow tracking how many product items of a specific option were sold and how many are remaining. Also, if a product has more than one multi-value attribute, there is no way to specify the option combinations (product variants) available at a time.

If you need these features, consider installing X-Cart's Product Variants module. This module allows creating product variants from options and makes them have their own prices, SKUs, and stock levels.

Setting the Default Attribute Value

When configuring multi-value attributes, you can control which attribute values should be shown to customers by default.

To set the default attribute value:

  1. Hover a mouse over the field displaying the attribute option value you want to make the default one. A link titled "Modifiers" is revealed.

  2. Click on the "Modifiers" link and enable the Default option check-box on a popup panel.

  3. For product-class and global attributes, select whether you want to apply the changes locally or globally.

  4. Click "Save changes." The settings will be saved.

    default-2.png

Configuring Multi-Value Attributes Display Mode

Starting with X-Cart v5.4.1.x, a store administrator can choose how multi-value attributes will display in the storefront - as select-box or as blocks. This option is available for all scopes and applies only to the plain field type of attributes.

  • Display as a select box

    541-selectbox-representation-cus.png

  • Display as blocks

    541-block-representation-cus.png

  • Mixed display

    541-mixed-representation-cus.png

The display mode can be set up on a per-product basis or storewide.

To configure a plain field attribute display mode for a product:

  1. Open the product details page of a product you chose to edit and proceed to the "Attributes" tab.

    541-attributes-tab.png

  2. Locate a multi-value attribute you need to edit either in the product-specific or global section.

    541-product-details-multivalue-attr.png

  3. Hover the cursor on the attribute name and click the link that opens beneath it.

    541-display-mode-link.png


    You'll see an option to set a preferred display mode for this attribute.

  4. Set the display mode value either to select-box or blocks.

    541-display-mode-link-values.png

  5. Click the "Save changes" button at the bottom of the page.
    ​

If you edit a global attribute and want the changes to apply storewide, set the "Apply attribute value changes for all the products" toggle on before saving changes.

To configure plain field attribute display mode storewide:

  1. Locate the attribute you need to edit in your store Admin area in the "Classes and attributes" section.

    541-classes-and-attributes.png

  2. Check the value of the column "Display as" and click to change it.

    541-display-as-column.png


    Your options are "Select box" and "Blocks."

  3. Click "Save changes."

Sorting Multi-Value Attributes

If a product has a multi-value attribute, you may need to change the order of appearance of the options on the storefront's product details page.

You can do it like so:

  1. In your store's Admin area, find the product you need to edit, open the product details page, and proceed to the "Attributes" tab.

  2. Make sure you are viewing the "Sort Settings" section.

  3. Drag-n-drop the attributes and their options to arrange them in the correct order to display in the storefront.

    sorting.png

  4. Click "Save changes."

Related pages:


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