This table describes how each product type is imported and exported to a catalog. You can also find a description of the inventory record, and product notes on options for each product type.
|
Catalog Object Import/Export |
Inventory |
Options |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Product | Has a single inventory record | Options can be configured and purchased. | |
| Base Product |
Imported as the <product> element, based on the definition in catalogs.xsd. If a base product is imported without its variants, the products specified in the <variants> section remain related to the main. Other variants are unlinked from the main and become normal products. Deleting a base product doesn't delete the variants. |
Does not have an inventory record. |
Options are defined in the base product, but only purchased with the variation product. |
| Variation Group |
Included within the <product> element under the <variations> block as a subelement called <variation-groups>. Catalog import can assign variation groups from one base product to another in the same way that variation products are assigned to a different base product. |
Does not have an inventory record. Inventory is calculated as the sum of inventory of any of the variation products in the group. | Options are defined in the base product, but only purchased with the variation product. |
| Variation Product |
If a variant product is imported without its base product, the product remains a variant. A variation product has exactly one base product. You can't reliably change this ownership from one base product to another in a single import process. You can, however, release the relationship with one import process and establish the relationship with a subsequent import process. |
Has an inventory record. However, some legacy variation products, configured before version 2.10, don't have an inventory record. In this case inventory levels are managed through the base product. |
Options are defined in the base product, but only purchased with the variation product. |
| Product Set |
If a set product is imported without its parent product set, it remains a member of the set. |
The set doesn't have an inventory record, but all the products in the set have their own inventory records. | Options can be configured and purchased for the product set or for each individual product in the set. |
| Product Bundle |
If a bundled product is imported without its bundle, it remains a member of the bundle. Deleting a bundle does not delete the bundled products. |
The product bundle has an inventory record and all products in the bundle have inventory records. | Options can be configured and purchased for the product bundle or for products within the bundle. |