Converting an Item from using Options to Variations

Converting an Item from using Options to Variations

Introduction

This tutorial demonstrates how to convert an item that uses Options to instead use Item Variations, using a real-world case from an UltraCart merchant.

Both Options and Variations allow customers to select product configurations. However, Variations offer significantly more flexibility. When a customer selects a variation and adds it to their cart, UltraCart replaces the item with a corresponding child item, enabling unique configurations per variation such as:

  • Separate inventory tracking (e.g., by size)

  • Recurring order eligibility

  • Custom pricing and cost structures

  • Distinct shipping and fulfillment settings

Note: Each variation adds a new item, but the flexibility gained makes it worthwhile.

 

Scenario

In this example, the merchant is selling a sweatshirt available in two styles: Pullover Hoodie and Zip-up Hoodie. The original item only had a Size option (e.g., Adult Large, Adult Extra Large, Adult XX Large), and the merchant needed to track inventory separately by both Style and Size. To accomplish this, the item is converted from using Options to Variations.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: You must have an item configured with Options in the Item Editor.

screenshot of the two syles of hoodie for sale.
Two versions of the hoodie are for sale: Pullover & Zip up.

 

screenshot of example Item configured with Item Options we will be converting to an Item Variations configuration.
Example Item configured with Item Options we will be converting to an Item Variations configuration.

 

 

The current item had one option, Size.

View of Size Item Option in the Options-Variations tab of the item editor.
View of ‘Size’ Item Option in the Options/Variations tab of the item editor.

The size option had these values: Adult Large, Adult Extra Large, and Adult XX Large.

Size Item Option - Drop-down list of available sizes.
‘Size’ Item Option - Drop-down list of available sizes.

 

The rest of this tutorial will show the steps taken to convert this item from the options above to using variations.

Steps

Navigate to the Option/Variations Tab in the Item Editor:

HomeItems → [Select an Item] → [Edit Item] → Options/Variations (tab) → Variations (section) → Variation Wizard (blue button)

Adding the missing Style Option

We need to add the ‘Style’ option to the item option configuration before we convert to item variations configuration, since the wizard will automatically generate the child items representing each purchasable variation of the item based upon both the selected style and selected size.

From the Options/Variations tab, click the Add Option button, then add Style:

 

Select Drop-down List of values, then enter the two styles Pullover Hoodie and Zip up Hoodie.

image-20250613-152227.png
Adding in the Style item option.

 

Save the changes. Now we have our two item options that we will convert to the item variations configuration, so that we have all of the 'child items representing all of the purchasable variations:

screenshot image of Both item options to be converted to item variations.
Both item options to be converted to item variations.

Using the Variations Wizard to convert the item options for item variations

screenshot of editing the item then navigating to Options-Variations tab then clicking the Variations Wizard button to initiate Variations Wizard.
Edit Item then navigate to Options-Variations tab then click the Variations Wizard button.

Click on the Variation Wizard button. (It's in Variations section of the Option/Variations tab in the item editor.)

Screenshot image Click Item Variations button to initiate the Variations Wizard.
Click Item Variations button to initiate the Variations Wizard.

You’ll be presented with a dialog window ‘Variation Wizard - Step 1’:

For Step 1, you’ll enter each of the variations needed to replace the existing item options.

screenshot of the Variation Wizard Step 1 dialog window.
Variation Wizard Step 1.

 

For Step 1, enter the variations needed.  Enter ‘Style' and in the next Variation Name field enter ‘Size’, then click the ‘Next’ button:

screenshot image of Variation Wizard Step 1, entering the Variation names.
Variation Wizard Step 1, entering the Variation names.

 

 

For Step 2, enter the Style variation options, they were ‘Pullover Hoodie' and 'Zip up Hoodie’.

Enter those, then click the ‘Next’ button:

Screenshot image of View of Variation Wizard - Step 2 -Style
View of Variation Wizard - Step 2 (Style)

Next, complete the same for Size variation:

Sheenshot image View of Variation Wizard - Step 3 Size
View of Variation Wizard - Step 3 (Size).

 

On the final screen, we're presented with a list of proposed child items that will map to each purchase variation:

screenshot image of View of Variation Wizard - Final Step
View of Variation Wizard - Final Step.

 

Here you have options to change and apply a new item prefix and also to manually modify the itemID’s of the variation child items. In this case, we will accept the suggested items, so we click the Finish button.

When we click the Finish button, the items are created by copying the parent item and then displayed for us to review in the Variations section of the Options/Variations tab in the item editor:

screenshot image of View of the created Style and Size item variations, with the newly created child items.
View of the created Style & Size item variations, with the newly created child items.

If everything looks good, so the last step is to remove the size option associated with this item.

In the Options/Variations tab, Click on the remove button for the Style & Size option in the Options section:

Screenshot of the item options section which we will remove.
Remove the Item Options that are no longer needed on the item.

We end up with our item configuration fully converted to the item variations configuration:

Screenshot image of the view of the Options-Variations tab after completing the conversion to Item Variations and removing the old Item Options.
View of the Options/Variations tab after completing the conversion to Item Variations and removing the old Item Options.

We now have the item converted from item options for Style and Sizing to the item variation configuration!

The customer will now be presented with two drop-down menu options: Style & Size and their selected style and size will be added to the cart:

screenshot image showing view of the item variations as presented to the customer.
View of the item variations as presented to the customer.

 

NOTE: With inventory tracking enabled on the Child items, when the customer selects their style and then clicks the drop-down list for size, only the in stock items will appear in the drop down list.