Product Types and Attributes

Product Type

Add a Product Type

To create a Product Type, do the following:

1. Go to Settings > Product types and attributes in the Merchant Center main menu.
2. Click Add product type.
3. Enter a name and description. You can also add a key as an identifier optionally.
   The key must be unique. If the key matches with an existing key, an error message is shown.
4. Click Save.

Add Attributes to a Product Type

After adding a new Product Type, you can add Attributes to it. To add an Attribute, do the following:

1. Click Add an attribute.

2. Enter the values for the following fields in the dialog:

   • Attribute identifier (name) (required): It is a unique identifier of an Attribute for a given Product Type. Two Attributes can share the same identifier across different Product Types only if they are of the same Attribute type and have the same constraints.

   • Attribute label (required): It is displayed in the Product details screen and helps you find an Attribute when creating or editing Products. The value can be localized for Projects with multiple languages set.

   • Attribute description: It allows you to add a short text describing the Attribute, which is displayed below the Attribute label in the Product details screen. The value can be localized for Projects with multiple languages set.

   • Attribute constraints (required): It restricts how values can be set for different variants of a given Product. You can choose from the following constraints:

     • None: the value can be entered individually for each variant as the Attribute has no constraints.
     • Unique: the value must be different for each variant of a given Product.
     • Same for all: the value is defined at a Product level and is identical for all variants of that Product.
     • Combination unique: the combination of values of all Attributes of a given Product must be different for each variant.

   • Attribute type (required): It determines the kind of value an Attribute can be filled out with. You can choose from the following types:

     • Yes/No (boolean): allows to select Yes, No, or empty (as it's optional). A boolean Attribute could be, for example, if a product is child-friendly or not.

     • Text: allows to enter a string or text. The value can be localized for Projects with multiple languages set. For long values, select the Allow multiple line field checkbox to use a multiple line field for that Attribute. A text Attribute could be, for example, the name of an author (if the product is a book).

     • Number: allows to add a numeric value. A number Attribute could be, for example, the weight of a product.

     • Money: allows to set a currency and its numeric value in cents. A money Attribute could be, for example, the value of a stamp (as a product).

     • Date/time: allows to set a date and/or time in ISO 8601 format. A date/time Attribute could be, for example, to display set time for products related to events.

     • Reference: allows to reference another resource by ID. The available resources are: category, channel, key-value-document, product-type, product, review, shipping-method, state, and zone.

     • List (enum): allows to select from predefined values. The values can be set by providing a unique enumeration key and a label for the list item that will be a visible and selectable option in a drop-down. Both Enumeration key and Line item label are optional, but you can save the changes only if at least one is defined. A list Attribute could be, for example, the different colors of a product.

       

   • Attribute settings: It allows you to set the following settings on any Attribute:

     • Create a set with this type: the Attribute can contain multiple values

       If selected, the Attribute cannot be made mandatory. You can either select Create a set with this type or Required, but not both.

     • Searchable: the Attribute is included in the shop frontend search (Product Projection Search) and affects the search results

     • Required: the Attribute is mandatory and must be filled for all Products or variants assigned to a given Product Type

     • Allow multiple line field (an expandable field recommended for longer texts): the Text Attribute can use a multiple line field

3. Click Add attribute.

The added Attribute is then listed in the New or modified attributes table denoted by a New label. To fully save the changes to the Product Type, click Save.

Edit an Attribute

New Attributes can be fully edited before saving. Saved Attributes are limited to the following:

• Only Attribute label, Attribute description, and Searchable fields settings are editable.
• Values of List (enum) Attribute types can be added, edited, and deleted in the table containing all the values. The table can be sorted only in non-edit mode.

After updating the Attributes, click Update attribute. The modified Attributes are then listed in the New or modified attributes table with a Modified label (only for previously saved Attributes). To fully save the changes to the Product Type, click Save.

Delete an Attribute

New Attributes that are not saved can be deleted instantly without saving the Product Type or confirming the deletion. To delete new Attributes, click discard attribute in the New or modified attributes table.

To delete an Attribute that was previously saved, click the Delete icon in the Attributes table of a given Product Type or the upper-right corner of the Attribute details screen.

The Attribute is then listed in the New or modified attributes table with a Deleted label. To fully save the changes to the Product Type, click Save. The data of the deleted attributes cannot be recovered after saving.

Save a Product Type

If a new Attribute is added or an existing Attribute is modified, two tables are shown in the Product Type overview page. The first table shows new or modified Attributes, and the other table shows saved Attributes. To fully save changes to a Product Type, click Save. After saving the changes, all Attributes from the first table move to the second table.

You’ll get a notification if the Product Type is saved successfully. If it fails due to a validation error in an Attribute, you’ll be redirected to the respective Attribute definition detail view to correct the error.

Attribute Groups

Attribute Groups help in organizing related Attributes together to ease data enhancement workflows. For example, if a set of Attributes should only be editable by the Marketing team, you can create an Attribute Group Marketing and grant the team access to this Attribute Group. You could also group Attributes to organize and display them together on the Product detail pages. For example, Attributes such as width, height, and depth can belong to an Attribute Group dimensions to display them together on the Product detail pages.

Attributes can be shared among several Attribute Groups. Attributes of different Product Types can be added to the same Attribute Group.

Create an Attribute Group

To create an Attribute Group, do the following:

1. Go to Settings > Product types and attributes in the Merchant Center main menu, and then click the Attribute groups tab.

2. Click Add attribute group.

3. Enter a name for the Attribute Group, and optionally, a description and key.

4. Search and/or select existing Attributes from the Add attributes drop-down to assign them to the Attribute Group. You can also assign Attributes after creating an Attribute Group.

   The Add attributes drop-down is only available for indexed Projects.

5. Click Create attribute group.

Attribute Groups are also displayed on the Product details page as individual collapsable panels in the order of their creation helping you to easily review and edit assigned Attributes. Unassigned Attributes are displayed under the Ungrouped panel.

Add an Attribute to an Attribute Group

To add an Attribute to an Attribute Group, do the following:

1. Go to Settings > Product types and attributes in the Merchant Center main menu.
2. Select the respective Attribute Group and search and/or select existing Attributes from the Add attributes drop-down.
3. Click Save.

Edit an Attribute in an Attribute Group

You must have editing permissions for the Attribute Group to be able to edit an Attribute assigned to it.

Remove an Attribute from an Attribute Group

To remove an Attribute from an Attribute Group, do the following:

1. Go to Settings > Product types and attributes in the Merchant Center main menu.
2. Select the respective Attribute Group and click the Remove attribute from this group icon in the Attribute row.

Delete an Attribute Group

To delete an Attribute Group, do the following:

1. Go to Settings > Product types and attributes in the Merchant Center main menu.
2. Select the respective Attribute Group and click the Delete attribute group icon in the upper-right corner of the Attribute Group details page.
   Attributes that were assigned to the deleted Attribute Group are automatically moved under the Ungrouped panel.
3. Click Save.