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Version: 1.x

Variable Products

Variable products in WooCommerce are products that have multiple options, such as different sizes, colors, or materials. WCPOS provides several ways to work with variable products efficiently.

Identifying Variable Products​

In the Product Panel, variable products are distinguished by:

  • Arrow button () instead of the plus button () used for simple products
  • Attribute options displayed below the product name (e.g., "Colour: Blue, Green, Red")
  • "Expand" link to view all variations inline

Adding Variable Products to Cart​

Method 1: Quick Popover​

Click the green arrow button on a variable product to open a popover with dropdown menus for each attribute:

  1. Click the button
  2. Select options from each dropdown (e.g., Size: Large, Colour: Blue)
  3. The matching variation is added to the cart

This is the fastest method when you know exactly which variation you need.

Method 2: Expand Inline​

Click the "Expand" link on a variable product to show all its variations directly in the product list:

  1. Click Expand below the product name
  2. All variations appear as separate rows beneath the parent product
  3. Click the button on any variation to add it to the cart
  4. Click Collapse to hide the variations again

This method is useful when you want to see all available options, their individual stock levels, and prices.

Method 3: Barcode Scanning​

Each product variation can have its own unique barcode. When you scan a variation's barcode:

  • If exactly one variation matches, it's added directly to the cart
  • If multiple variations share the barcode, the search bar shows matching results

See Barcode Scanning for more details.

Variation Information​

Each variation can display:

  • Variation attributes - The specific options for this variation (e.g., "Size: Large, Colour: Blue")
  • SKU - Unique identifier for the variation (may differ from parent product)
  • Stock quantity - Individual stock level for the variation
  • Price - Variations can have different prices than the parent or each other

Variations in the Cart​

When a variation is added to the cart, it displays:

  • Product name from the parent product
  • Variation attributes below the name
  • Price for that specific variation

You can edit the line item just like any other product in the cart.

Tips for Efficient Variation Selection​

Use Barcode Scanning​

If your variations have individual barcodes (recommended), scanning is the fastest way to add them to the cart.

Configure Display Options​

In the Product Panel Display Settings, enable the Attributes option to show variation attributes directly in the product list without expanding.

Keyboard Navigation​

When the variation popover is open, you can use keyboard arrow keys to navigate options and Enter to select.

F.A.Q.​

Why can't I see a specific variation?

Check that the variation:

  • Is published and not in draft status
  • Is set to "In Stock" or has stock quantity > 0 (if stock management is enabled)
  • Has all required attributes defined

Also ensure you haven't filtered out the product with the "In Stock" filter if the variation is out of stock.

Can I add a variation without selecting all attributes?

No, you must select an option for each attribute to identify a specific variation. If a product has Size and Colour attributes, you need to choose both before adding to cart.

How do I add barcodes to individual variations?

In WooCommerce, edit the variable product and expand each variation. You can add a unique barcode to each variation's barcode field (typically _sku or _global_unique_id depending on your configuration).