4. Product Data

Product data includes not just products, but categories, versions, options and attributes too. The relationship between these will be covered in this section, as well as the process for setting them up.

4.1. Relationships

Before you start entering product data, it is important to understand the way this data is structured in Kartris.
There are three basic required elements of product data structure:

categories
products
versions

A product must have at least one version, and feature in at least one category – so in this respect, all three elements of data structure are required for every product item you have.

4.1.1. Unlimited category levels

Categories can be nested within other categories. Kartris is designed to allow unlimited category levels, though in order to manage even the biggest sites, five levels is probably more than enough.

4.1.2. Multiple parent categories

Each category can have any number of parent categories, and you do not have to have the same number of category levels throughout the store. For example, below we see a product whose category can be reached via three navigation routes. One of them has two levels, one three and the other four. A product can also have multiple parent categories.

4.1.3. Mix products and subcategories

A category can at the same time be a parent both to other categories, and products. This provides more flexibility as you can nest general interest products in a category, while still subdividing other items into further subcategories.

4.1.4. Product types

There are several different types of products that can be created within Kartris.

4.1.4.1. Single product

This is the simplest form of product; it has a single version and for display purposes the two are merged into a single unit.

4.1.4.2. Multiple version product

This is suitable for items that tend to have only one degree of variation. For example, ketchup that might come in several different bottle sizes (each with its own SKU / item code), or a book that comes in hardback, paperback and audiobook. Each version can have its own image, as well as the product having images too.

4.1.4.3. Options product

This has a single base version and unlimited options can be applied to it. This is suitable for products with multiple types of variation such as size, style and colour. You can have as many options as required, and these can display as dropdown menus, radio buttons or a checkbox. It is therefore ideal for items such as computers that might be highly configurable, with a choice of hard-disks, processors, operating systems, RAM, and so on.

You can control whether a selection is required for a particular option. So for example, when configuring a computer, the RAM and processor selections would be required (because a computer must have both) but the secondary hard-disk size selection might be optional (if the component was not necessary required).

4.1.4.4. Combinations product

This is similar to an options product, and is created in the same way. But once you have configured the options, you can choose to create 'combinations'. The system will then create a unique version record for each permutation of the options. This allows you to record stock level for each permutation separately, have a different SKU / item code for each permutation and set a unique price for each too.

The number of permutations will be limited to a few hundred for performance reasons. Remember that you only need to create a combinations product if you are stock tracking or need a unique SKU or price for each permutation - otherwise use an options product.