Manage Products Options

Created by Boris Basara
Last updated: Aug 25, 2021

go to the Products section Catalog → Products → Edit Product

Manage the product options and option variants as well as controlling the option combinations.

In this tab, you can also add predefined Global Attributes (Options) to the product. For instructions on how to use Global attributes, please refer to the Global attributes section

Product options appear on the product details page on the storefront as selectable or input parameters to the product.

When you decide to set up some attributes for a product, you need to consider what product properties (Colors, Sizes, Materials) may be important to buyers. This will help you to decide which type of attribute you will need to configure.

If some attributes are common for other products in your store, then you can create a Global Attribute once. Next time you want to add an attribute to a product just select the Global Attribute pattern from the drop-down menu and click the "Add Option"  button. Or create a 'New Option'.  Enter the name of the new Option, Element Type, Sort order, and Required setting. 



Attributes types

AbanteCart supports next field types (Element Types) for attributes

  • input
  • textarea - this field type for a longer text length than Input field
  • multiselectbox - multiple values for one attribute.
  • selectbox - multiple values for one attribute.
  • radio - multiple values for one attribute.
  • checkbox
  • checkboxgroup - multiple values for one attribute.
  • hidden
  • file - allows file uploads by customer
  • date - create an input field that let the customer enter a date, with a special date picker interface

Editable attributes - Input, Textarea, File. Adding an editable attribute value for some product attributes creates an empty editable text area field on the product page where buyers can enter their own custom text before adding the product to their shopping cart. This feature may be used if you are going to provide personalization options for products, like monogramming, embroidery, etc.



Adding Option Values

After creating the new Option please select its name in the Options list and insert the new option 'values' by click on a button.

You can fill/edit the following fields:

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

Option value: Enter the name of the option value. Example Small, Medium or Large.

Quantity: If you are tracking stock, how many of this option do you have. Set quantity for unique options value combination that represents one unique product variation.

Stock Locations: You can set quantities in different locations (warehouses) if required. After main quantity will be readonly and show calculated total of per locations stock quantities.

Stock Location can not be added to option's multi-values types like checkboxgroup, multi-select.


Track Stock: Enabled option value for a product to track stock and subtract the quantity after an order is placed by customers. This is an important setting to read more about Stock processing configurations.

Attribute values for product options can be configured as price and/or weight modifier options that will increase or decrease the price and/or weight of the product (the product's weight affects the shipping cost).

Price Modifier: To charge extra (or less) for this product, enter the amount here. 
EXAMPLE: Men's extra-large t-shirts cost $2 more from the manufacturer. The "+$2.00" will appear in the option box of your storefront. If you wish to DISCOUNT this option, type "-2.00".

Modify Price By: select type of price calculation. If you select "$" the new price for this option will be 'manufacturer price' +/- 'option price value in your default currency. If you select "%" the new price for this option will be 'manufacturer price' +/- 'option price value percent from manufacturer price'.

Sort Order: Sort Order set's the order in which the option value will be displayed amongst others.

By clicking on expand link, the menu will appear with additional fields:

SKU: The product's option value SKU. In the "SKU" text box you can set a unique identification number for this item.

Weight: Enter the weight difference between the base product and the selected option value

Weight Type: Select the type for the weight modifier. % will modify weight based on product parent weight. The value in weight class (current product's weight class) will override parent weight. If few options values are added to the cart with weight value set in weight class - only the first option value will be calculated as shipping weight.

Actual Cost: Enter the actual cost (total) of this product option to save it in the database. For reference only

Add media: click to add media + button. Resource Library popup window will appear. If you add images to option value they appear on the storefront after the customer selects the option value with assigned images. The selected option's value image also will be shown in basket and order history. 

Additional options available:

Placeholder: usually used with input attribute type. The placeholder specifies a short hint that describes the expected value of an input field (e.g. a sample value or a short description of the expected format). The short hint is displayed in the input field before the user enters a value.

Regular Expression Pattern for Validation of Values: is a sequence of characters that forms a pattern, mainly for use in pattern matching. Programming knowledge required!

Error Message of invalid Value: the message text is shown when the attribute value does not meet the Regular Expression Pattern