Creating new items

Ready to start entering item data into PlentyONE? This page teaches you how to manually create items and variations.

Manual creation vs. Import

This page teaches you how to manually create the data records. But PlentyONE also includes an import tool, which you can use to import items and variations. Further information can be found in the FAQ area.

Prerequisites

This page assumes that you already have basic knowledge of the item structure in PlentyONE: You should know the difference between item and variation and how variations inherit data.

Furthermore, make sure you’ve saved the following data in your system before you start manually creating items and variations:

1. Creating a new item

Create the item data record by entering some basic information about the product. After creating the item, you will add further product information and then activate the item when it is ready to be sold.

Creating a new item:

  1. Go to Item » Items.

  2. Click on and select Standard item.

  3. A pop-up window opens. This window is divided into several steps. Carry out the settings in each step.

Step: Name

Item name
(Mandatory field)

Enter a name for the item.

Note: Once you’ve created the item, you can translate the name into other languages or save additional names, e.g. if you want the item to have a different name on marketplaces.
Step: Categories

Choose categories
(Mandatory field)

Which category should the item be sorted into?

  1. Click on Choose categories.
    → A pop-up window opens.

  2. Expand the entries () and select all of the categories () that the item should appear in. This list only includes the categories that you’ve already created in PlentyONE.

  3. Click Apply.
    → The selected categories will be displayed as a table. Click on delete to remove a category from this list or click on Choose categories to add further categories.
Step: Main variation (Optional)

An item’s first variation is called its main variation. If an item has multiple variations, then the main variation can either be a saleable product or it can be a virtual data record. A virtual main variation is used to manage the other variations of the item with inheritance.

Variation number

Enter a number for the main variation.

Content
Unit

Enter a numerical value for the main variation and choose a unit from the drop-down list, e.g. 500ml or 150g.

Choose attributes

The main variation can either be a saleable product or it can be a virtual data record. A virtual main variation is used to manage the other variations of the item with inheritance. That means, the main variation can have attributes, but it is not required to.

  1. Click on Choose attributes.
    → A pop-up window opens.

  2. Expand the attributes () and select the attribute values () that you want to use for the main variation, e.g. the size "small" and the colour "red". This list contains only attributes and values that you already created in PlentyONE.

  3. Click Apply.
    → The selected attribute values will be displayed as a table. Click on delete to remove an attribute value from this list or click on Choose attributes to add further attribute values.

Recommendation: It’s technically possible to select attributes here. However, we don’t recommend this. Rather, we recommend that you first create the new item without any attributes. Afterwards, we recommend that you select attributes while you create the necessary variations.
Why? If you link attributes with the main variation right now, then all of the following variations will have to be created from the same attributes too. This is not the case if you wait to link attributes while creating variations. In other words, it makes you more flexible in the future.
Step: Done

Summary

Here you can see a summary of the settings that you selected. Click on Create item if you are satisfied with the settings.

Afterwards, you will have the following options:

To the item

The pop-up window will close and the newly created item data record will open for further editing.

Create another item

The pop-up window will re-start for the next item.

Close

The pop-up window will close.

2. Creating the necessary variations

Some items like shoes and t-shirts are sold in various sizes and colours. In other words: customers don’t simply buy a t-shirt, but rather a specific variation of a t-shirt, e.g. in the colour red and the size S. First, create all of the necessary variations.

Creating the necessary variations:

  1. Go to Item » Items » [Open item] » Variation overview.

  2. Click on Create variations ().

  3. A pop-up window opens. This window is divided into several steps. Carry out the settings in each step.

Step: Settings

You can either form variations by creating different combinations of unit and quantity or by using attributes.

Content
Unit

Use this area if the variations should differ in terms of quantity and/or unit.

Example: A bottle of soap that’s available in 100ml, 250ml and 500ml.

Instructions:

  1. Enter the quantity and unit for the first variation, e.g. 100ml.

  2. Click on Create variations.

  3. Repeat the procedure for 250ml and for 500ml.

Select attributes

Use this area if the variations should differ in terms of their attribute values.

Example: A t-shirt that’s available in the colours green or blue and in the sizes S, M or L.

Instructions:

  1. Click on Select attributes.
    → A pop-up window opens.

  2. Expand the attributes () and select all of the attribute values () that you want to use, e.g. the sizes "S", "M", "L" and the colours "green" and "blue". This list contains only attributes and values that you already created in PlentyONE.

  3. Click Apply.
    → The selected attribute values will be displayed as a table. Click on Select attributes if you want to change your selection.

  4. Click on Preview and make sure that the combinations are correct.

  5. Click on Create variations.
Step: Preview

Preview

Use this area if you want to make sure that the combinations are correct.

Example: If you combine the sizes "S", "M", "L" with the colours “green” and “blue”, then you will have 6 variations.

Note: Above the table, you can see how many combinations will be created. There is no limit to how many combinations are possible.
Step: Summary

Summary

Here you’ll see a confirmation that the variations were created.

Note: It can take a few minutes for the new variations to appear in the overview.

3. Adding further product data

While creating the item, you entered some basic information about the product. Now you can add further information. For example, you can:

4. Looking at the item in the front end

Are you curious what the new product will look like in your plentyShop or on Amazon? See a preview of the item and find out where you need to add further product data or adjust the settings.

Viewing a preview of the item:

  1. Click on Product link (open_in_new) in the toolbar.
    → A pop-up window opens.

  2. Carry out the settings.

  3. Click on open_in_new Open.
    → A preview of the item is shown.

Product links for items or variations

You can access the product link for an item or for a variation. The product link button is found in both the item toolbar and the variation toolbar.
Setting Explanation

URL

The product’s URL is displayed in an info-box up top. Click on the URL to open the page in a new tab. Click on to copy the URL to the clipboard.

Sales channel

Do you want to see what the product will look like in your plentyShop or on Amazon?

plentyShop LTS Preview

You’ll see a preview in the plentyShop. Possible use-cases:

  • You want to check what a product will look like in the plentyShop before making it visible to end customers.

  • You’re currently redesigning your plentyShop and you want to check what a product would look like with a different plugin set.

Additional settings: Also select the client and the plugin set.

plentyShop LTS live

You’ll see what the product currently looks like in the plentyShop. Possible use-case:

  • You want to check which prices and information are displayed when an end customer accesses your plentyShop from a specific price search engine.

Additional settings: Also select the client and the referrer.

Amazon

You’ll see a preview on Amazon. Make sure you’ve already saved an ASIN for the variation. The preview can only be generated if the variation has an ASIN.

Additional setting: Also select the ASIN.

Client (store)

In which client, i.e. in which online shop, do you want to see the preview? Select the client from the drop-down list.

Background info: With PlentyONE, you can manage several online stores, i.e. several clients, with only one software. Consequently, it is possible to manage several different areas of business with one PlentyONE system.

Note: This option is only displayed if you selected the sales channel plentyShop LTS Preview or plentyShop LTS live.

Plugin set

In which plugin set do you want to see the preview? Select the plugin set from the drop-down list.

Background info: In PlentyONE, plugins don’t stand alone. Rather, they are grouped together into so-called plugin sets. This lets you, e.g. design seasonal layouts for your plentyShop or test new plugin versions before activating them.

Note: This option is only displayed if you selected the sales channel plentyShop LTS Preview.

Referrer

Do you want to check which prices and information are displayed when an end customer accesses your plentyShop from a specific price search engine? Select the referrer from the drop-down list.

Note: This option is only displayed if you selected the sales channel plentyShop LTS live.

ASIN

Which ASIN do you want to use for the preview? Select the ASIN from the drop-down list.

Note: This drop-down list only includes the ASINs that were already saved for the variation. You haven’t saved an ASIN for the variation yet? Or you haven’t selected an ASIN from the drop-down list? Then you’ll see an error message in the info-box up top.

Note: This option is only displayed if you selected the sales channel Amazon.

5. Putting products up for sale

Variations are not visible to customers in the plentyShop until they have been activated. In other words, you can work on inactive variations without your customers noticing. You activate the variation when you’re ready for it to be visible in your plentyShop.

Activating a variation:

  1. Go to Item » Items » [Open variation] » Tab: General » Section: Availability and visibility.

  2. Select the option Active ().

  3. Save () the settings.

Complete checklist for item visibility

Not only do items need to be activated, but they also need to have a price, a category and positive net stock. Otherwise customers wouldn’t be able to buy the item. Work through this checklist and make sure your item meets all of the requirements for being visible in the plentyShop. This checklist helps you find any possible errors that are preventing your items from being displayed.

6. FAQ

Standard item vs. Multipack item vs. Set item

Note: This setting can not be changed once you’ve created the item.

Manual creation vs. Import

This page teaches you how to manually create the data records. But PlentyONE also includes an import tool, which you can use to import items and variations. The idea is simple. Rather than manually saving item data in PlentyONE, you’ll enter the same information into a CSV file and then import this file into your system.