When creating your product records, it is important to make a distinction as to whether the product that is being created can be uniquely identified by its nature or name (e.g. Compact Disks, Video Cassettes, Books, etc.), or is one of many similar items that are uniquely identified by their attributes (e.g. Apparel, Furniture, Automobiles, etc.). The reason this distinction needs to be made, is because the methods for creating, editing and deleting differ for each. Items require the creation of Item Attributes, but products do not.
To create a new product, click on "Products" ⇒ "Add Product" to display the product form. Complete the product entry form and click the Save button in the top right corner to save the new product.
When Updating a product, just click on the Product Name in the Product List to display to Product Form of that product.
Product Form
- Publish?
Used to specify whether the product will be published on the site.
- SKU
Means Article Number. Stock keeping unit ( SKU) is an identification, usually alphanumeric, of a particular product that allows it to be tracked for inventory purposes.
- Name
The name that will be used to identify the product.
- URL
A URL that can be displayed with a product. Usually used as a link to the product vendor or manufacturer.
- Category
The product categories with which this product will be associated.
- Vendor
The vendor with which the product will be associated.
- Manufacturer
The manufacturer with which the product will be associated.
- Net Price
The price for the default Shopper Group. Just fill in a decimal number. Select the Product Currency from the drop-down list at the right.
- Gross Price
The Price including taxes (according to the selected VAT ID) for the default Shopper Group.
- VAT ID
The ID of the tax rate that will be applied to this product. Here you can select a specific tax rate for this product. If you don't want that this product is taxed, fill in a zero weight at "product weight" and Disable "Virtual Tax".
- Discount Type
Select the Discount to apply to this Product. If no Discount Types are available, add one using the Discount Form.
- Discounted Price
This overrides the Discount Type and automatically creates a Discount Record using the Difference between the Gross Price and the discounted Price.
- Short Description
The short description that will be displayed on the browse (overview) page for a category or search result.
- Product Description
This is the details description that will be displayed on the Flypage (=details page) of this specific product.
You can use Mambots/Content Plugin Tags here if you have enabled "Use Mambots to parse Descriptions" in the Store Configuration.
Display Options
Product Status
- Quantity in Stock
The current quantity in stock for the item. Used for shipping and inventory purposes.
- Minimum Purchase Quantity
This number specifies the minimum Quantity, which Customers can purchase of this Product
- Maxmimum Purchase Quantity
This number specifies the maximum Quantity which Customers can purchase of this Product
- Availability Date
When the current quantity in stock is available for distribution. Used for shipping and inventory purposes.
- Availability Text / Image
This is used to display it on the product details page. E.g.: "48 hrs." or "On Order". Alternatively you can select an availability image from the drop-down list below.
Tip
You can use your own images here! Just copy them to the direcory /shop_image/availability and then you can select them here.
- On Special? (Featured?)
Used to indicate whether there are any specials running for the product. When checked, this product will be displayed on the "Featured Products Module".
- Discount Type
The type of special being run on the product. Select a discount from the discount list. When there are no discounts, create one using the Product Discont Form.
- Advanced Attribute List
Syntax: Size,XL[+1.99],M,S[-2.99];Colour,Red,Green,Yellow,ExpensiveColor[=24.00];AndSoOn,..,..
Adds easy attributes to the product. These are attributes which can be selected by a customer. This does not create items for each attribute value! If you want to check the stock on each item (e.g. green, red and black T-Shirts...use the Attribute Form to add Attributes and after that Items for each Attribute Value using the Item Form.
- Custom Attribute List
Syntax: Attribute1;Attribute2;Attribute3
Adds custom attributes to the product. These are attributes which can be selected by a customer. This does not create items for each attribute value! If you want to check the stock on each item (e.g. green, red and black T-Shirts...use the Attribute Form to add Attributes and after that Items for each Attribute Value using the Item Form.
- Length
The length of the product. Used for shipping purposes.
- Width
The width of the product. Used for shipping purposes.
- Height
The height of the product. Used for shipping purposes
- Unit of Measure - Dimensions
The unit of measure used in determining the LWH of a product. Used for shipping purposes.
- Weight
The weight of the product. For shipping purposes.
- Unit of Measure -Weight
The unit of measure used in determining the weight of a product. Used for shipping purposes.
Important
Allowed UOM are
po / pound(s) kg /kilogram(m)(s) ou / ounces lb / LB - Units in Packaging
Specifies how many pieces of this Products are in one Package.
- Units in Box
Specifies how many packages of this Product are in one Box.
- Thumbnail
A thumbnail image that can be displayed along with the product.
- Full Image
A larger image that can be displayed along with the product.
Note
If you have enabled Dynamic Thumbnail Resizing, the Thumbnail here won't be automatically created from the Full Image!
Related Products
Related Products are assigned to a product to indicate a general relationship of some kind. Related Products can be accessoires or other types or a similar product.
Now you're done. Just click on "Save" to make sure the changes are stored.
VirtueMart itself doesn't provide a Product CSV Import and Export.
You need to install a separate Component called "CSVImproved" to manage Export and Import of your Data.
To delete an existing product, click on "Products" ⇒ "List Producs" at the top of the VirtueMart Administration pages to display a list of product categories. Now click on the Trash Icon in the row of the product you want to delete and confirm that you "want to delete this record".