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How to create variants

Create product or material variants to track different attributes like size or color for effective inventory management.

Dayvid Lorbiecke avatar
Written by Dayvid Lorbiecke
Updated over a week ago

In Katana, variants represent different versions of a product or material, distinguished by attributes like size, color, or type. Utilizing variants allows for efficient inventory management by grouping similar items under a single product or material card.


Steps to create variants

Note: If the option to create/edit an item is not available, take a look at this article regarding user permissions.

1. Enable variants for an item

  1. Navigate to the Items screen.

  2. Select the desired product or material to open its item card.

  3. Check the box labeled "Yes, this product/material has multiple variants."

  4. A Variant configuration window will appear.

    Enabling variant configuration on a product card

2. Define variant options and values

  • Variant options: Attributes that differentiate variants (e.g., Color, Size, Type). You can define up to 10 variant options.

  • Option values: Specific values for each attribute (e.g., Red, Blue for Color). Each option can have up to 40 values.

Example: If you define "Color" with values "Black" and "White," and "Size" with values "50 ml" and "100 ml," Katana will generate four variants:

  • Black / 50 ml

  • Black / 100 ml

  • White / 50 ml

  • White / 100 ml

3. Generate variants

Generating product variants
  • Click "Generate product (or material) variants" to create all possible combinations based on the defined options and values.

Note: Variants can only be auto-generated once during the initial setup. Subsequent edits to options or values won't automatically update existing variants.

4. (Optional) Copy variant structure from another item

  • In the Variant configuration window, click "Copy variant setup from..."

  • Search for and select an existing product or material to use its variant structure as a template.


Managing variant items

  • After generation, variants appear in a table at the bottom of the item card.

  • Each row represents a variant, with columns for each variant option.

  • You can:

    • Edit variant codes, sales prices, and purchase prices directly in the table.

    • Delete unwanted variants by clicking the trash can icon at the end of the row.

    • Add new variants manually by clicking "+ Add new row" below the table.

      Add new row on a product card table

Note: Safety stock for variants can be set from the Stock screen.


Editing variant configurations

  • To modify variant options or values:

    Open configuration option on a product card

    • Click "Open configuration..." on the item card.

    • Make necessary changes in the Variant configuration window.

Caution:

  • Deleting a variant value will leave a blank field for variants that previously used that value.

  • Deleting a variant option removes the corresponding column from the variants table.


Copying product recipes with variant structures

Copy variant config from option
  • When copying a product recipe from another item:

    • If the variant structures differ, Katana will prompt you to copy the variant structure along with the recipe.

    • This ensures consistency between the product's variants and its recipe.


Importing variants


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