Properties and characteristics

Some items stand out from the crowd. Be it a watch that is water resistant or a loudspeaker that has Bluetooth technology. In PlentyONE, such distinguishing features are called properties and characteristics.

You can think of them as additional data fields that are not included in PlentyONE by default. By creating properties or characteristics, you can add information to your products beyond just the standard data fields. For example, the information that a t-shirt has a fair trade symbol.

Properties

  • Properties describe specific variations. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the property can apply to one, two or all three of the variations.

  • Properties are newer and more flexible than characteristics.

Characteristics
(will not be developed further)

  • Characteristics describe entire items. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the characteristic will apply to all three variations.

  • Characteristics aren’t very flexible, they’re outdated and they’re gradually being replaced by properties.

1. Properties

You can think of properties as additional data fields that are not included in PlentyONE by default. By creating properties, you can add information to your products beyond just the standard data fields. For example, the information that a t-shirt has a fair trade symbol.

Procedure

The configuration is divided into four steps:

Step 1

Create the groups

Step 2

Create the properties

Step 3

Link the properties to the appropriate variations

Step 4

Display the properties in your plentyShop

1.1. Property groups

There are two typical applications for property groups:

Scenario Explanation

Keeping track

If you have lots of properties, then you can group them together so that it’s easier to keep track of them in your PlentyONE back end.

  • Example: Grouping sales channels. Imagine you use some properties for the market Amazon and others for your plentyShop. In this case, you could create one group called Amazon and another group called plentyShop.

Order properties

If you sell personalised items in your plentyShop, then you can use property groups to combine the offered options or services under one heading.

  • Example: Grouping various trimmings. Imagine you sell wedding rings. Your customers can choose an optional gold or diamond trim for an additional fee. You can create a property group called “Trim” to clearly display these options. Within this group, customers can choose the options “Gold trim” or “Diamond trim”.

1.1.1. Creating a new group

Creating a new group:

  1. Go to Setup » Settings » Properties » Groups.

  2. Click on Create group.

  3. Customise the settings to meet your needs.

  4. Save () the settings.

Details
Setting Explanation

ID

As soon as you save the group, it automatically receives a consecutive and unique ID. This ID cannot be changed.

Position

Which property group should be displayed first, second, third, etc? Enter a position number into this field. If a variation has properties from multiple groups, then the groups will be displayed in the plentyShop in ascending order according to their position number.

Tip: Count by tens when creating position numbers. This allows you to easily add new property groups in between.

Group type

This option only applies to order properties of the type None. How many additional options or services should your customers be able to choose from the group?

None

Your customers will see the order properties in the plentyShop. However, they will not be able to choose anything.

Select

Your customers will see a drop-down list in the plentyShop. They will be able to select one option only from the list.

Multiselect

Your customers will see check boxes in the plentyShop. They will be able to select multiple options.

Surcharge type

Do you plan on offering extra services or options for an additional fee? If so, then decide whether the surcharge should be treated as a percentage or as a fixed price, e.g. 5% or 5 EUR.
Names
Setting Explanation

Name

Enter a name for the property group in the specified language. This name can be made visible to customers in the plentyShop. It depends on how you design the layout with ShopBuilder.

Note: Click on to translate the name into other languages.

Description

Enter a description of the property group in the specified language. This description can be made visible to customers in the plentyShop. It depends on how you design the layout with ShopBuilder.

One possible application is to display an explanatory text for an order property group.

Note: Click on to translate the description into other languages.

Should the group name be available in multiple languages?

  1. Click on and select a language version from the drop-down list.

  2. Enter translations for the name and description.

1.1.2. Searching for existing groups

Previously created property groups are displayed in an overview.

Searching for existing groups:

  1. Go to Setup » Settings » Properties » Groups.

    1. Option 1: Click on to see a list of all the groups.

    2. Option 2: Click on to narrow down the search results with filters.

  2. Click on a group in the search results to open a detailed view. There you can modify the group’s settings.

Setting Explanation

ID

Enter an ID to search for the group with this exact ID.

Background info: Each group automatically receives a consecutive and unique ID when it is created.

Name

Enter a name to search for groups with this name. It’s also possible to search for parts of the name.

RESET

Resets the selected filter criteria.

SEARCH

Starts the search. The groups found are listed in the overview.

Tip: Don’t choose any filters if you want to see all of the groups in the overview.

1.1.3. Deleting groups again

Previously created groups are displayed in the menu Setup » Settings » Properties » Groups. Groups can also be deleted here.

Deleting groups:

  1. Select the groups () that you want to delete.

  2. Click on in the upper left corner.

  3. Confirm your decision.

Note: Properties that are assigned to groups remain unaffected.

1.2. Creating new properties

Create the properties that you’ll use to characterise your products, e.g. Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.

Creating a new property:

  1. Go to Setup » Settings » Properties » Configuration.

  2. Click on Create property.

  3. Customise the settings to meet your needs.

  4. Save () the settings.

How many properties can I create at most?

You can create up to 500 variation properties and link them to variations.

1.2.1. Details

Setting Explanation

ID

As soon as you save the property, it automatically receives a consecutive and unique ID. This ID cannot be changed.

Section
(Mandatory field)

What do you want to use the property for? Choose the appropriate section from the drop-down list. Depending on which section you choose here, the rest of the settings in the menu will change.

Note: This setting can no longer be changed after saving.

Note: This page explains properties of the section Item. Such properties are used to characterise products. But properties can also be used to characterise contacts or storage locations. Click on the links to learn more about these other use cases.

Type
(Mandatory field)

What sort of property do you want to create? Select this property type from the drop-down list.

Note: This setting can no longer be changed after saving.

Note: Not every property type is compatible with every marketplace. You can find out which property types are accepted on the respective marketplace page, e.g. on the Amazon page.

Type What is the type useful for?

None

The property’s name can be displayed in the plentyShop. This is useful, e.g. to highlight keywords for a variation ("Bluetooth" or "has Wi-Fi capability").

Date

A date can be displayed in the plentyShop.

File

A file can be made available for the variation, e.g. assembly instructions.

Whole number

A whole number can be displayed in the plentyShop. Appropriate e.g. for specifying a weight or a length. For example, a HDMI cable that is 10m long.

Decimal number

A number with decimal places can be displayed in the plentyShop. Appropriate e.g. for displaying a version number. For example, headphones with Bluetooth version 5.0.

Character string

An alphanumeric character string can be displayed in the plentyShop. Unlike the types HTML and Text, the character string is not language-specific. In other words, the character string is not saved separately for each language.

HTML

A text with formatting can be displayed in the plentyShop. Appropriate e.g. for creating variation-specific product descriptions.

Note: This type of property is language-specific. In other words, the text is saved separately for each language.

Text

A text without formatting can be displayed in the plentyShop. Appropriate e.g. for creating variation-specific product descriptions.

Note: This type of property is language-specific. In other words, the text is saved separately for each language.

Selection

Appropriate e.g. for implementing yes/no questions. In other words, this type is suitable for situations where there are multiple choices - like yes and no - but only one applies to the variation.

Example of use:
Imagine you sell headphones. Some of the headphones have a built-in microphone. You want these headphones to have the information “Microphone: Yes” and the others to have the information “Microphone: No”.

  1. First: Create the various options - like yes and no.

  2. Second: While you link the property to your variations, you’ll specify which headphones should have the value “Yes” and which should have the value “No”.

Multi selection

Appropriate for situations where there are multiple choices and several of them apply to the variation.
Important: Properties of the type Multi selection are not supported by plentyShop LTS.

Example of use:
Imagine you sell Bluetooth headphones. There are many different Bluetooth profiles. Some of your headphones support all of the profiles, and others support just one or two profiles. You want to specify which profiles each pair of headphones support, e.g. "Bluetooth profiles: A2DP, AVRCP, HFP, HSP".

  1. First: Create the various options, i.e. all of the Bluetooth profiles.

  2. Second: While you link the property to your variations, you’ll specify which headphones support which profiles.

Position
(Mandatory field)

Which property should be displayed first, second, third, etc? Enter a position number into this field. If a variation has multiple properties, then the properties will be displayed in the plentyShop in ascending order according to their position number.

Tip: Count by tens when creating position numbers. This allows you to easily add new properties in between.

1.2.2. Names

Setting Explanation

Name
(Mandatory field)

Enter a name for the property in the specified language.

This name can be made visible to customers in the plentyShop. It depends on how you design the layout with ShopBuilder.

Note: The name is limited to 255 characters.

Note: Click on to translate the name into other languages.

Description

Enter a description of the property in the specified language.

Example of use: Are you working with an order property that has an entry field? In order words, an entry field in the plentyShop, in which customers can enter a text? Customers will be able to see this description if the point their cursor over the entry field. One possible application is to display an explanatory text for an order property.

Note: Click on to translate the description into other languages.

Should the property name be available in multiple languages?

  1. Click on and select a language version from the drop-down list.

  2. Enter translations for the name and description.

1.2.3. Selection values

Not visible for every type of property

You will only see this area if you are working with a property of the type Selection or Multi selection. This area is invisible for all of the other property types.

Here you’ll define the individual values that can be selected.

  1. Click on Create selection value ().
    → The Create selection value window opens.

  2. Enter a name for the value in the specified language.
    Note: The name is limited to 255 characters. There is no visual indication if you exceed this limit. When saving the selection value, the name will be cut off after 255 characters.

  3. Select a position number if needed.

  4. Click on Save.
    → The value is created and displayed in the overview. The value automatically receives a consecutive and unique ID that cannot be changed.

  5. Should the selection value’s name be available in multiple languages? Then click on the value to open a detailed view. There you can enter translations and descriptions for the value.

1.2.4. Amazon

Here you can link the property with Amazon fields if needed. To do so, it is necessary to activate an Amazon referrer in the Visibility area.

  1. Click on Add link ().

  2. Use the three drop-down lists to select the appropriate Amazon platform, category and field.

  3. Repeat the procedure if you want to link additional Amazon fields.

  4. Save () the settings.
    → The property is linked with the Amazon field and exported during the next item export.

1.2.5. Groups

Setting Explanation

Groups
(Mandatory field)

Every property must belong to at least one group. Select the appropriate groups from the drop-down list. The selected groups are displayed here as so-called “chips”. Click on to remove a group again.

Note: This drop-down list only includes property groups that were already created.
Assigning multiple properties to a group

PlentyONE includes a function, which you can use to simultaneously assign multiple properties to a group.

  1. Go to Setup » Settings » Properties » Configuration.

  2. Select the properties () that you want to assign to the group.

  3. Click on Link groups (link).
    → The Link groups window opens.

  4. Select one or more property groups ().

  5. Click on Link.
    → The selected properties will be assigned to the groups.

1.2.6. Visibilities

Setting Explanation

Referrer

Which sales platforms should the property be visible on? Select () one or more referrers. Enter a word into the search bar to narrow down the results in real time.

Note: The drop-down list only includes active referrers. So if you can’t find a specific market in the list, then open the menu Setup » Orders » Order referrer and make sure the market was activated ().

Client

Should the property only apply to specific clients (stores)? If so, then select all of the clients () that this property should apply to. Enter a word into the search bar to narrow down the results in real time.

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 system. That’s a great advantage. But it also means that you’ll always need to tell PlentyONE which online store the property applies to.

Display everywhere

Where should the property be displayed? Choose the areas () where your customers should see the property.

1.2.7. Options

Setting Explanation

Units
(No effect on plentyShop)

Is the property something like a weight or a length, e.g. a HDMI cable that is 10m long? Select the appropriate unit from the drop-down list.

Note: Selecting a unit has no effect on the plentyShop. Instead, give the property a meaningful name, e.g. "Cable length (in metres)".

Tax rate

No taxation

Select this option () if VAT should not be calculated for the surcharge that was entered.

One possible application is e.g. displaying bottle deposits, which are added to the item price without VAT.

Tax rate from variation

Select this option () if the same VAT should be calculated for the surcharge as for the variation.

You can see which VAT rate is saved for the variation by opening the menu Item » Edit item » [Open variation] » Tab: Settings » Area: Costs » Drop-down list: VAT.

Tax rate A, B, C, D

Select this option () if a specific VAT rate should be applied to the surcharge that was entered.

You can find the individual VAT rates in the menu Setup » Client » [Select client] » Locations » [Select location] » Accounting » Tab: VAT rates » [Open configuration].

Order options

Display as multi-line input
(Not currently functional)

This option is intended for order properties. Currently, this option is not functional. In the future, this option will control what type of input field your customers will see in the plentyShop, e.g. when they enter the text that should be engraved on an item.

Order property

Select this option () if the property should be treated as an order property. What are order properties?

Note: Not all property types are compatible with order properties. If customers should be able to enter a text (e.g. for engraved items), then you will need to select the type "Character string". The types "HTML" and "Text" are not compatible with order properties.

Required

This option is relevant for order properties.

= Customers must select the order property before they can place the item in the shopping cart.

= Customers can place the item in the shopping cart without having selected the order property.

Example of use: This option helps sellers comply with the new German sales laws that went into effect on January 1st, 2022. The most important change resulting from this law for online shop processes is the shortening of the period of warranty for used goods and the explicit and separate agreement of "defects" in the purchase contract. This option allows sellers to make an "explicit and separate agreement" with customers directly on an item’s product page. The order property’s text can state that the customer accepts possible defects as well as a shortened period of warranty. The customer has to agree for every item separately. This allows sellers to simultaneously sell both new and used products.

Pre-selected

This option is relevant for order properties.

= The order property is pre-selected in the plentyShop.

= The order property is not pre-selected in the plentyShop.

Display as additional costs

This option is relevant for order properties.

= The surcharge is added to the total. The exact value of the surcharge is displayed separately.

= The surcharge is added to the total. The exact value of the surcharge is not mentioned separately.

Surcharge

Do you want to offer this property for an additional fee? For example, surcharges can be used for:

  • Additional options and services that customers can choose while placing orders.

  • Deposits on glass bottles

Enter a value here if a surcharge is to be added for the property. Surcharges will automatically be added to the item price in the detailed view of an item and in the order process.

1.3. Linking properties with variations

Here you can see the variation’s properties. If needed, you can manually link further properties with the variation.

Requirement

This assumes that you’ve already configured the necessary properties in PlentyONE.
Character counter

There is a character counter in the lower right corner of the data fields. Here you can see the maximum number of characters permitted. Example: properties of the type text and HTML are limited to 65535 characters.
Linking a single property to the variation

  1. Go to Item » Items » [Open variation] » Left navigation: Properties.

  2. Click on and then on Link property.
    → A pop-up window will open.

  3. Select the properties that you want to link ().

  4. Click on Apply.
    → The data will be displayed as a table.

  5. Depending on the type of property, you might need to enter additional information. For example, if the property is something like a weight or a length, then it will be necessary to enter a numeric value. You can find further information in the following table.

  6. Save () the settings.

Linking multiple properties via the group function

  1. Go to Item » Items.

  2. Set search filters as needed and start the search.

  3. Select () the variations to be edited.

  4. In the toolbar, click on layers » layers Variation group function.
    → The Variation group function window opens.

  5. Select the action Add properties from the drop-down list ().
    → The action will be added to the lower part of the window.

  6. Select the properties that should be linked to the variations.

  7. Execute the group function.
    → Depending on the type of property, you might need to enter additional information in the menu Item » Items » [Open variation] » Left navigation: Properties. For example, if the property is something like a weight or a length, then it will be necessary to enter a numeric value. You can find further information in the following table.

  8. Save () the settings.

Further information about using the group function.

Linking a property group

  1. Go to Item » Items » [Open variation] » Left navigation: Properties.

  2. Click on and then on Link property groups.
    → A pop-up window will open.

  3. Select the groups that you want to link ().

  4. Click on Apply.
    → The data will be displayed as a table.

  5. Depending on the type of property, you might need to enter additional information. For example, if the property is something like a weight or a length, then it will be necessary to enter a numeric value. You can find further information in the following table.

  6. Save () the settings.

Type Explanation

Storage location properties

Select a value and a group from the drop down menu.

Click on Delete property (delete), to delete the property.

None

No further action is necessary.

Whole number

Enter the numerical value as a whole number, e.g. 350 centimetres.

Decimal number

Enter the numerical value as a decimal number, e.g. 3.5 metres.

Selection

Select the appropriate option from the drop-down list.

Multi selection

Check all of the appropriate options ().

Date

Enter the date or click on today and select the date from the calendar.

File

  1. Click on and then on Upload file.

  2. Select the file from where it is saved on your computer.

  3. The file will not become available until you have saved the changes.

Note: Click on and then on Delete file if you want to remove the file again, e.g. and replace it with a new file.

Character string

Enter an alphanumeric character string.

HTML

Enter text with HTML formatting.

Note: In the portlet’s settings, you can specify which language should be displayed on the left and right side. You can also select a different language from the drop-down list.

Text

Enter plain text.

Note: In the portlet’s settings, you can specify which language should be displayed on the left and right side. You can also select a different language from the drop-down list.
Saving additional information

In some cases, it might be necessary to save additional information. For example:

  • If the property is something like a weight or a length, then it will be necessary to enter a numeric value.

  • If the property is a product description for a specific variation, then the text will need to be entered.

Setting Explanation

Tab: Properties

Name

Here you’ll see the property name. This is purely informative and cannot be changed here.

Type

Here you’ll see the property type. This is purely informative and cannot be changed here.

Appearance Meaning

empty

None

int

Whole number

float

Decimal number

selection

Selection

multiSelection

Multi selection

date

Date

file

File

string

Character string

Note: How you will interact with the Value column depends on the property type.

Value

How you interact with this column depends on the property type.

Type Interaction

empty

No further action is necessary.

int

Enter the numerical value as a whole number, e.g. 350 centimetres.

Whole numbers between -2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647 are permitted.

float

Enter the numerical value as a decimal number, e.g. 3.5 metres.

8 places before and 4 places after the decimal point are permitted.

selection

Select the appropriate option from the drop-down list.

multiSelection

Check all of the appropriate options.

date

Click on the entry field and select the date from the calendar. Or manually enter the date in the following format: DD.MM.YY

file

Click on Upload files and upload the appropriate file.

string

Enter an alphanumeric character string.

Actions

Click on Delete () to delete the property link. The property itself will not be deleted. It will simply be removed from the variation.

Inheritance logic: The following logic applies when you delete a property link:

  • Are you removing the property from a main variation? Then the property will also be removed from all of the sub-variations that had previously inherited this property.

  • Are you removing the property from a sub-variation, which has the inheritance function activated? Then the inheritance function will be deactivated. The remaining properties will no longer be inherited. Rather, they will be saved directly for the sub-variation.

Tab: Texts

Text

Enter up to 65,535 characters of plain text.

Note: Your system’s default language is pre-selected. If you want to save the text in a different language, then choose this language from the drop-down list up top.

HTML

Enter up to 65,535 characters of text. Format the text as needed. Choose your preferred editor from the drop-down list in the top right corner.

Note: Your system’s default language is pre-selected. If you want to save the text in a different language, then choose this language from the drop-down list up top.

Actions

Click on Delete () to delete the property link. The property itself will not be deleted. It will simply be removed from the variation.

Inheritance logic: The following logic applies when you delete a property link:

  • Are you removing the property from a main variation? Then the property will also be removed from all of the sub-variations that had previously inherited this property.

  • Are you removing the property from a sub-variation, which has the inheritance function activated? Then the inheritance function will be deactivated. The remaining properties will no longer be inherited. Rather, they will be saved directly for the sub-variation.

1.4. Displaying properties in the plentyShop

How your properties are displayed in the plentyShop depends on how you configured the settings with ShopBuilder. This video provides a short demonstration (German only).

Displaying properties in the plentyShop

1.5. Working with existing properties

1.5.1. Searching for properties

Previously created properties are displayed in an overview.

Searching for properties:

  1. Go to Setup » Settings » Properties » Configuration.

    1. Option 1: Click on to see a list of all the properties.

    2. Option 2: Click on to narrow down the search results with filters.

  2. Click on a property in the search results to open a detailed view. There you can modify the property’s settings.

Setting Explanation

ID

Enter an ID to search for the property with this exact ID.

Background info: Each property automatically receives a consecutive and unique ID when it is created.

Name

Enter a name to search for properties with this name. It’s also possible to search for parts of the name.

Example: By entering “start”, you would find properties called “starting date” and “starter pack”.

Groups

Select one or more groups () to search for the properties within this group.

Note: This list only includes groups that have already been created. If you haven’t created any property groups yet, then you won’t see any group names here either.

Section

Select one or more sections () to search for the properties that are used for this section.

Type

Select one or more property types () to search for the properties with this type.

RESET

Resets the selected filter criteria.

SEARCH

Starts the search. The properties found are listed in the overview.

Tip: Don’t choose any filters if you want to see all of the properties in the overview.

1.5.2. Exporting properties

Do you want to export property information out of your system? This is done in two steps:

  • First you’ll use the FormatDesigner to create a so-called data format.

    • Use the format type Properties if you want to export the actual properties and property groups.

    • Use the format type item along with the data fields VariationEigenschaften if you want to export the links between properties and variations.

  • In a second step, you’ll use the Elastic Export tool to export the data format that you just created.

1.5.3. Deleting properties again

Previous created properties are displayed in the menu Setup » Settings » Properties » Configuration. Properties can also be deleted here.

Deleting a property:

  1. Select the properties () that you want to delete.

  2. Click on Delete properties () in the upper left corner.

  3. Confirm your decision.

Even properties that are currently linked to variations can be deleted

It’s possible to delete properties, regardless whether they are currently linked to a variation or not. So think carefully before you delete properties. Make sure that you no longer need the property for any variations.

1.6. FAQ

How many properties can I create at most?

You can create up to 500 variation properties and link them to variations.

I don’t see my property in the item data record. Where is it?

Properties are linked in a different tab depending on their type. Open the item data record and click on the tab Properties or Texts in the lower row. Which tab depends on the property type.

Property type Where is the property linked?

Text
HTML

Tab: Texts

None
Whole number
Decimal number
Selection
Multi-selection
Date
File
Character string

Tab: Properties
Which user rights are necessary for working with properties?

People without admin rights can only see properties if an administrator has granted them access. Access rights are defined separately for each role. For example, you can only grant the content department access to the properties.

Step 1: Which rights should the role have?

  1. An administrator opens the menu Setup » Account management » Roles.

  2. Then he opens the role, e.g. content employee, or he creates a new role.

  3. Not advanced mode: The administrator activates () the right Setup » Settings » Properties and saves the role ().

  4. Advanced mode: The administrator activates () the right Setup » Property and saves the role ().

Step 2: Which employees belong to the role?

  1. An administrator opens the menu Setup » Account management » Accounts.

  2. Then he opens the user account.

  3. The administrator selects the appropriate role from the drop-down list Assigned roles and saves the settings ().

Characteristics, properties and attributes: what’s the difference?

  • Attributes, for example, are the various colours and sizes that your products are available in. Attributes help you simultaneously characterise your products and create saleable variations, e.g. a t-shirt in the colour red and the size S.

  • Characteristics and properties define products without simultaneously creating saleable variations:

    • Characteristics define entire items. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the characteristic will apply to all three variations. Characteristics aren’t very flexible, they’re outdated and they’re gradually being replaced by properties.

    • Properties define specific variations. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the property can apply to one, two or all three of the variations. Therefore, properties are much more flexible.

Can I also use properties to characterise storage locations and contacts?

Yes. Properties can also be used to characterise contacts or storage locations. Click on the links to learn more about these other use cases.

What are order properties?

Order properties are a special type of properties. Customers can choose them in the plentyShop and order them along with the product.

With the help of order properties, you can:

  • sell personalised items in your plentyShop. Example: Your customers should be able to upload a photo that is printed on a t-shirt.

  • charge an extra fee for certain options. Example: For an extra fee, your customers could add gold or diamond trim to a wedding ring.

Order properties are not available for set items.

Further information about order properties.

Can I create webshop filters based on properties?

Yes. Imagine you’ve already:

  • created properties like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

  • linked the properties to the appropriate variations. For example, the Bluetooth property was linked to your Bluetooth compliant products.

Now you can create filters. For example, so that your customers can filter for Bluetooth compliant products in plentyShop. Further information about the procedure.

2. Characteristics (will not be developed further)

Some items stand out from the crowd. Be it a watch that is water resistant or a loudspeaker that has Bluetooth technology. In PlentyONE, such distinguishing features are called characteristics.

With the help of characteristics, for example, you can:

  • highlight the technical features of a product (e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi).

  • set up filters in your online store. Your customers can then use these filters to refine the search results in the plentyShop (e.g. only see speakers that have Bluetooth technology).

  • sell personalised items.

Characteristics, properties and attributes: what’s the difference?

  • Characteristics describe entire items. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the characteristic will apply to all three variations. Characteristics aren’t very flexible, they’re outdated and they’re gradually being replaced by properties.

  • Properties describe specific variations. For example, if an item is available in red, blue or green, then the property can apply to one, two or all three of the variations. Therefore, properties are much more flexible.

  • Attributes, for example, are the various colours and sizes that your products are available in. Attributes help you simultaneously characterise your products and create saleable variations, e.g. a t-shirt in the colour red and the size S.

2.1. Creating characteristic groups

There are two typical applications for characteristic groups. On the one hand, if you have lots of characteristics, then you can group them together so that it’s easier to keep track of them in your PlentyONE back end.

On the other hand, characteristic groups help you sell personalised items in your plentyShop. You can use characteristic groups to sort the additional options and services that you offer under one heading.

Example: Group various trimmings

Imagine you sell wedding rings. Your customers can choose an optional gold or diamond trim for an additional fee. You can create a characteristic group called “Trim” to clearly display these options. Within this group, customers can choose the options “Gold trim” or “Diamond trim”.

Creating a new characteristic group:

  1. Go to Setup » Item » Characteristics.

  2. Click on the New characteristic group tab.

  3. Carry out the settings. Note Table 1.

  4. Save () the settings.

Table 1. Creating a new characteristic group
Setting Explanation

Name (internal)

Enter an internal name for the characteristic group. This name is only visible in the PlentyONE back end:

Language

Is your plentyShop available in multiple languages? Then choose a language version from the drop-down list.

Name

Enter a name for the characteristic group in the selected language. The name will be visible to customers in the plentyShop.

Description

Enter a description for the characteristic group in the selected language.

Surcharges

Do you plan on offering extra services or options for an additional fee? If so, then decide whether the surcharge should be treated as a percentage or as a fixed price, e.g. 5% or 5 EUR.

Grouping of order characteristics (type: "none")

How many additional options or services should customers be able to choose from the group?

  • Single selection = Customers will see a drop-down list. They will be able to select one option only.

  • Multiple selection = Customers will see check boxes. They will be able to select multiple options.

Note: This option only applies to order characteristics of the type No.

OTTO characteristic group

If needed, link a characteristic group to OTTO. All of the characteristics in this group will be transferred to OTTO. All of the characteristics will be grouped into a SellingPoint.

  • None = No link to OTTO.

  • SellingPoint with group names = Link to OTTO. The name of the group will be transferred.

  • SellingPoint without group names = Link to OTTO. The name of the group will not be transferred.

2.2. Creating characteristics

Characteristics allow you to highlight a product’s features. For example, you might want to specify technical details like Bluetooth or WLAN. Or you might want to offer extra services and options for an additional fee.

Creating a new characteristic:

  1. Go to Setup » Item » Characteristics.

  2. Click on the New characteristic tab.

  3. Carry out the settings. Note Table 2.

  4. Save () the settings.

Table 2. Creating a new characteristic
Setting Explanation

Name (internal)

Enter an internal name for the characteristic. This name is only visible in the PlentyONE back end:

Webshop

Language

Is your plentyShop available in multiple languages? Then choose a language version from the drop-down list.

Name

Enter a name for the characteristic in the selected language. The name will be visible to customers in the plentyShop.

Description

Enter a description for the characteristic in the selected language. The description will be displayed if you place the cursor on the characteristic.

Unit

Is the characteristic something like a weight or a length, e.g. HDMI cables that are longer than 10m? If so, then choose the appropriate unit.

Characteristic group

Should this characteristic be sorted into a specific group? If so, then select the group here.

Note: This drop-down list only includes characteristic groups that were already created.

Characteristic type

What sort of characteristic do you want to create? Choose this characteristic type from the drop-down list.

Note: Once you’ve linked the characteristic to an item, you’ll no longer be able to change the type.

No

Customers will only see the name of the characteristic in your plentyShop.

Whole number

Makes it possible to enter a whole number between -2,147,483,648 and 2,147,483,647.

  • Appropriate e.g. for specifying a weight or a length. For example, HDMI cables that are longer than 10m.

Decimal number

Makes it possible to enter a number with decimal places.

  • Appropriate e.g. for displaying measurements in the plentyShop.

Text

As an order characteristic: allows customers, e.g. to enter a personal text that should be printed on a t-shirt.

Selection

As an order characteristic: allows customers, e.g. to choose whether their personal text should be printed in red, blue or black font.

Further options appear when you choose this type.

  1. Enter a name and description for the first possible choice, e.g. red font.

  2. Save () the characteristic.

  3. Scroll down in the window and enter a name and description for the second possible choice, e.g. blue font.

  4. Repeat the procedure until you’ve finished creating all of the different options.

File

As an order characteristic: allows customers, e.g. to upload an image that should be printed on a t-shirt.

Surcharge

Do you want to offer this characteristic for an additional fee? For example, surcharges can be used for:

  • Additional options and services that customers can choose while placing orders.

  • Deposits on glass bottles

Enter a value here if a surcharge is to be added for the characteristic. Surcharges will automatically be added to the item price in the detailed view of an item and in the order process. The value 0.00 is set by default, i.e. no surcharge will be calculated.

Display as additional costs

Select this option () if VAT should not be calculated for the surcharge that was entered.

One possible application is e.g. displaying bottle deposits, which are added to the item price without VAT. Characteristics that have this option selected will be displayed as separate items on invoices etc. These items will be displayed with the ID -2.

Position

Which characteristic should be displayed first, second, third, etc? Enter a position number into this field. If an item has multiple characteristics, then the characteristics will be displayed in the plentyShop in ascending order according to their position number.

Searchable

This option relates to the old Shopware connector. It is no longer relevant in most cases. Choose this option () if the characteristic should be found through the old Shopware connector.

Show

Where should the characteristic be displayed? Choose the areas () where your customers should see the characteristic and its surcharge (assuming one exists).

Order characteristic

Select this option () if customers should be allowed to personalise their orders. For example:

  • by entering a personal text that should be engraved.

  • by choosing optional services for an additional fee.

How exactly customers can personalise their orders depends on which type of characteristic you chose.

Note

Enter a note, for example to display specific information about the characteristic.

Characteristic links for markets and price comparison portals

Select the marketplace characteristic from the drop-down list. This links the characteristic with a characteristic on a marketplace like Amazon.

2.3. Linking characteristics to items

Have you finished creating your characteristics and sorting them into groups? Then you’re ready to link your characteristics to items.

For example, if you created a characteristic called “Bluetooth”, then next you would specify which of your products are equipped with Bluetooth.

Linking a characteristic with an item:

  1. Go to Item » Edit item.

  2. Search for and open the item.

  3. Click on the Characteristics tab. The screen is divided into two areas:

    • Characteristics that have already been linked to the item are displayed in the upper area called Characteristics,

    • Characteristics that have not yet been linked are displayed in the lower area called Activate further characteristics. Here, the characteristics are sorted into their groups.

  4. Expand the characteristic group in the lower area if needed () and select the characteristic ().

  5. Save () the settings.
    → The characteristic is now linked to the item and displayed in the upper area.

Linking a characteristic with multiple items

Use the item group function if you want to link several items at once.

Saving additional information

Depending on the scenario, it might be necessary to save additional information. For example, if the characteristic is something like a weight or a length, then it will be necessary to enter a numeric value.

  1. Carry out additional settings in the Characteristics tab. Note Table 3.

  2. Save () the settings.

Modifying the additional information for multiple items

Use the group function in the menu Setup » Item » Characteristics » Tab: Group function if you want to edit this information for several items at once.

  1. Select the characteristic’s language.

  2. Property selection: Choose the characteristic that you want to edit.

  3. Value to be changed: Enter the old value for the characteristic.

  4. New value: Enter the new value for the characteristic.

  5. When you save the settings, the characteristic value will be changed for all of the items that have this value.