Using properties to characterise storage locations

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 storage locations beyond just the standard data fields. For example, the information that a storage location is suitable for items needing refrigeration.

This page of the manual teaches you how to manually create properties step-by-step:

1. Groups

Over time, you’ll probably need many different properties for many different scenarios. Groups help you keep track of it all.

1.1. Creating a new group

First, create all of the necessary groups, e.g. the group “Warehouse Berlin”.

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

  2. Click on Create group.

  3. Customise the settings to meet your needs.

  4. Save () the settings.

1.1.1. 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

Enter the position number for the property group. Properties are sorted by the position number in ascending order. If a storage location has properties from multiple groups, then the groups will be displayed in ascending order.

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

Group type

This option is not relevant for storage location properties. It is intended for a different scenario: namely, for order properties of the type None

Surcharge type

This option is not relevant for storage location properties. It is intended for a different scenario: namely, for order properties

1.1.2. Names

Setting Explanation

Name

Enter a name for the property group in the specified language.

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

Description

Enter a description of the property group in the specified language.

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.

1.2. Searching for existing groups

Previously created property groups are displayed in an overview.

  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.

Filter 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.

1.3. Deleting groups again

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

  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.

2. 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 storage locations beyond just the standard data fields. For example, the information that a storage location is suitable for items needing refrigeration.

2.1. Creating a new property

Create the properties that you’ll use to characterise your storage locations, e.g. the note “suitable for refrigerated items”.

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.

2.1.1. 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 Storage location. Such properties are used to characterise your storage locations. But properties can also be used to characterise items or contacts. 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.

Type What is the type useful for?

None

The property’s name can be displayed. This is useful, e.g. to highlight keywords for a storage location (“suitable for refrigerated items”).

Selection

Suitable for situations where there are multiple choices, but only one applies to the storage location.

Example of use:
Imagine you have multiple refrigerators and freezers in your warehouse. The refrigerators are used to store food at 4° C. The freezers are used to store food at -18° C. The information "Temperature: 4° C" should be displayed for the refrigerators and the information "Temperature: -18° C" should be displayed for the freezers.

  1. First: Create the various options - like 4° C and -18° C.

  2. Second: While you link the property to your storage locations, you’ll specify which locations should have the value "4° C" and which should have the value "-18° C".

Position
(Mandatory field)

Enter a position number for the property. Properties are sorted by the position number in ascending order.

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

2.1.2. Names

Setting Explanation

Name
(Mandatory field)

Enter a name for the property in the specified language.

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.

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.

2.1.3. 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. This area is invisible for properties of the type None.

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.

2.1.4. 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.

2.2. Linking properties with storage locations

Once you’ve created a property, you can link it to a storage location.

  1. Go to Setup » Stock » Warehouse » [Select a warehouse] » Storage locations.

  2. Use the search filters to search ( for the storage location.

  3. Click on a storage location to see its details. Here you can add up to 3 properties and their corresponding values.

    1. Select the property from the drop-down list Property.

    2. Select the value from the drop-down list Value. This field is only available if the property is of the type Selection.

  4. Save () the settings.
    → The properties are linked with the storage location.

Linking multiple storage locations with properties

Use the group function () if you want to simultaneously link multiple storage locations to a property.

2.3. Searching for existing 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.

2.4. 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 warehouse along with the data fields WarehouseLocation 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.

2.5. 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.

3. FAQ

Can I import the properties, rather than create them manually?

Yes. If you want to create lots of properties, then you can save time by importing them.

Can I also use properties to characterise products and contacts?

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