Sell a product in sizes and colours

Sell one product in several sizes, colours or materials. You describe the choices once, and NoqtaShop makes a variant for every combination, each with its own SKU, price, stock and photo.

From a new product to ten variants: a Size set, a Colour option named in English and Arabic, then Generate variants and Save.

Options and variants: the difference

An option is a choice the customer makes, such as Size or Colour. Its values are the answers: XS, S and M, or Emerald and Black. A variant is one combination of values that you sell, such as Emerald / M. Layal's Terracotta linen shirt dress comes in one colour and five sizes, so it has five variants.

Each variant has its own SKU, price, stock, weight and photo. Customers choose one on the product page, where colour values show as round swatches.

A product with no options is sold as it is. Its price, SKU and stock live on the Pricing tab, and its Variants tab lists no variants: it opens on No variants yet with Add option, and the tab shows no count. Add options only when customers really choose between versions.

The Variants tab of a saved product without options: the Variant builder, the Combination preview with 0 options configured and 0 possible combinations, Generate with AI, and Product options saying No variants yet with an Add option button. — A product without options: nothing to review here, because its price and stock are on the Pricing tab.

You build options and variants on the product's Variants tab:

In the sidebar, open Products.
Open a product, or select Add product.
Select the Variants tab.

The Variants tab of the Terracotta linen shirt dress: the Variant builder banner, the Combination preview with 2 options configured and 5 possible combinations, and the Generate with AI panel — The top of the Variants tab: what you have set up, what it will make, and the AI shortcut.

The tab has three parts, from the top: the Combination preview, Product options, where you build the choices, and Review generated variants, which lists the variants once you generate them. Changing those variants afterwards is covered in Edit variants: prices, stock and photos.

The whole Variants tab from top to bottom: the preview, two options with their English and Arabic values, and the five generated variants as cards — The whole tab on a finished product. Options sit above the variants they make.

Tip

On a new product, set the price, stock and base SKU on the Pricing tab before you generate. Every new variant starts with those values, so you only change the ones that differ. See Set a product’s price, cost and stock.

Add an option

On the Variants tab, in Product options, select Add option.
Choose Custom option for an empty option you name yourself, or a ready-made set:
- Size set adds Size with XS, S, M, L and XL.
- Colour set adds Colour with Black, White, Red and Blue.
- Material set adds Material with Cotton, Leather and Wood.

The Add option menu open with Custom option, Size set, Colour set and Material set, above a Colour option whose value Terracotta has the Arabic name تيراكوتا — The menu under Add option. A ready-made set arrives filled in.

In Option name, type the name customers see, such as Colour. There is one box for each of your store's languages, with your default language first.
In Values, type a value and press Enter, or select Add value. Repeat for each value.
In each value's other-language box, type the value as customers in that language read it, for example تيراكوتا for Terracotta.

A new product with two options: Size with XS to XL and Colour with Emerald, Black and Champagne, each value with an English and an Arabic box, and Generate variants (15) at the bottom — Two options ready: 5 sizes × 3 colours make 15 combinations.

What to know about options:

A ready-made set writes its name and values in your store's own languages, not the console's. If the product already has an option with the same name, the set adds only the values it is missing.
If you already have an empty option, Custom option takes you to it instead of adding a second one.
An empty value box in another language shows the default-language value in grey. That is only a hint and is not saved. An empty option-name box shows e.g. Colour instead. Fill the boxes yourself, or let AI do it with Fetch missing translations: see Translate a product to your other languages.
An option whose name means colour (Colour, Color, Couleur, اللون) shows Auto colour swatches. NoqtaShop gives each value a matching dot when it knows the colour name, such as Black, Navy or أسود. Other names get the default teal dot. Select the dot to pick the exact colour customers see.
Every other option shows six icons: Generic, Size, Capacity, Material, Weight and Package. NoqtaShop picks one from the name, and you can select another. The icon only helps you tell options apart in the console.
Renaming an option or a value, in any language, keeps its variants: they keep their SKU, price, stock and stock history, and only their names change.
To remove a value, select × beside it. Variants that used it leave the review list at once, and are deleted when you save.
To remove a whole option, select its bin icon. The variants fold together on the options that are left: Terracotta / XS becomes XS, and keeps its SKU, stock and history. Where several variants become the same combination, the first one is kept and the others are deleted when you save. Removing the last option turns the product back into one without options, and the variant it keeps brings its price, SKU and stock back to the Pricing tab.

When a save would delete variants that still have stock, a stock history or past orders, it asks first — see when a save deletes variants.

Type several values at once

In the option, select Bulk add values.
Type or paste the values, separated by commas or one per line, for example Sand, Olive, Ivory.
Select Apply.

The Bulk add values window for the Colour option with Sand, Olive, Ivory typed in, and Cancel and Apply buttons — Separate values with commas or put each on its own line.

Values the option already has are skipped, so pasting a list twice adds nothing new. A value written twice in the same list is added twice, though: remove the extra one with × before you generate. Bulk values arrive in your default language only, so fill the other-language boxes afterwards.

Note

Only the English comma (,) and a new line separate values. The Arabic comma (،) does not, so رملي، زيتي، عاجي becomes a single value. When you type Arabic values, put each one on its own line.

Preview the combinations

The Combination preview at the top of the tab updates as you type:

Item	What it shows
Options configured	Options that have a name and at least one value.
Possible combinations	How many variants generating would make: the number of values in each option multiplied together. 5 sizes × 3 colours make 15.
Generated combinations	The first four combinations.
View all	Opens Preview sets with every combination.

Each combination reads in your default language first, then in your other languages, separated by dots: XS . Emerald . XS . زمردي.

The Preview sets window listing 15 possible combinations, from XS . Emerald to XL . Champagne, each with the Arabic colour name — Every combination the builder will make. Nothing is created yet.

Nothing is created until you generate. Check the number before you do: every combination becomes a variant to price and stock.

Generate the variants

At the bottom of Product options, check the count, for example 15 Possible combinations and Ready to generate variants.
Select Generate variants. The button carries the count, for example Generate variants (15). Once the product has variants in the list, it reads Regenerate variants.
Check the new variants under Review generated variants.
Select Save at the top of the page. Until you save, the variants exist only on your screen.

Review generated variants with 15 variants as cards: XS / Emerald, XS / Black, XS / Champagne and S / Emerald, each with its SKU, price 45, stock 0 and the Arabic title beneath — Generated variants, each with a Latin SKU and the starting price from the Pricing tab.

Each new variant gets:

Part	Where it comes from
Name	Its values joined with a slash, such as XS / Emerald, with the name in your other languages beneath.
SKU	The base SKU from the Pricing tab when you set one, then one code for each value: `LY-ESSD-XS-EMERALD`. SKUs are always Latin letters, digits and hyphens. An Arabic value uses its English name where it has one, so أسود gives BLACK. Without a base SKU, the SKU is only the values, such as `XS-EMERALD`. Another product with the same sizes and colours then gets the same SKUs and cannot be saved, so give each product its own base SKU, such as `LY-ESSD`, before you generate.
Price, compare-at price, cost, weight	Copied from the Pricing tab.
Stock	On a product not saved yet, copied from the Pricing tab. On a saved product, 0.
Track inventory, Allow backorder	Copied from the Pricing tab.
Photo	None until you choose one.

Regenerate after you add or remove a value, or add an option. The variants you already have carry on:

A variant whose combination still exists keeps its SKU, price, stock, photo and stock history.
A new option is added to every variant you have: each one becomes the first combination it grows into, so Black becomes Black / S and keeps everything it had. A product without options turns its own variant into the first combination in the same way.
New combinations start from the Pricing tab — at stock 0 on a saved product, so no pieces appear that you do not have.
Combinations that no longer exist are removed, and deleted when you save.

For example, adding the colour Sand to the saved Terracotta linen shirt dress and selecting Regenerate variants gives ten variants. The five Terracotta sizes, XS to XL, keep their stock — 2, 6, 8, 4 and 1 — and their Stock history buttons. The five Sand sizes start at 0, and get a Stock history button once you save.

Review generated variants with a count of 10, in the Table view, after adding the colour Sand to the Terracotta linen shirt dress: Variant readiness says All variants look ready, the five Terracotta sizes keep their stock of 2, 6, 8, 4 and 1 and their Stock history buttons, and the five new Sand sizes start at stock 0 with no Stock history button and SKUs such as LY-TLSD-SAND-XS. — New combinations start at 0; the variants you had keep their stock and history.

On a saved product with options, the SKU on the Pricing tab is the base its variants share: for the Terracotta linen shirt dress, whose variants are LY-TLSD-TER-XS, LY-TLSD-TER-S and so on, it reads LY-TLSD. New combinations are built on that base, so adding the colour Sand gives LY-TLSD-SAND-XS. Check the new SKUs before you save, and change any on the variant's card. See edit variants.

Save is refused while any variant has no SKU, or a price of zero. The Variant readiness line then says how many variants need a SKU or price, and the page opens the Variants tab so you can fix them.

Warning

Removing a value, or regenerating without it, deletes the saved variants that used it when you save. Their SKUs, stock and stock history go with them, and so do customers' back-in-stock requests; past orders keep their items as they were sold. If any of them still has stock, a stock history or past orders, Save asks Delete variants with stock or history? first, and Cancel saves nothing.

What stops generating

Generate variants is greyed while no option has both a name and a value, or while two options share a name. When no option is complete, the bottom line reads Add an option name and at least one value to generate variants. Pressing the greyed button shows what is missing and takes you to the first option that needs attention.

An unfinished option next to complete ones does not stop you. It is left out of the variants, and of the count, until you finish it.

Message	When you see it	What to do
Enter an option name.	The option has no name.	Type a name, or delete the option with its bin icon.
Option names must be unique.	Two options have the same name. Capital letters do not count, so Size and size match.	Rename one, or move all the values into one option and delete the other.
Add at least one value for this option.	The option has a name but no values.	Add a value, or delete the option.
This value already exists.	You typed a value the option already has. Capital letters do not count.	Type a different value, or leave it out.
Enter a value first.	You pressed Enter in an empty Values box.	Type the value, then press Enter.

An option with no name after Generate variants was pressed: Enter an option name. under the name boxes and a greyed Generate variants button — No option name: the builder points at the empty box.

An option named Colour in English and Arabic with no values, outlined in red with Add at least one value for this option. — A name but no values.

Emerald typed again in the Values box of a Colour option that already has Emerald and Black, with This value already exists. beneath — A value typed twice is refused, whatever its capitals.

Let AI suggest sizes and colours (Growth and up)

AI variant suggestions are on Growth and up. On a lower plan, Generate with AI carries a padlock, and pressing it names the plan that includes it. See Plans and what each includes.

The AI reads the product's name, category and description (or the short description when there is no description). It suggests up to three options with up to eight values between them, and up to 24 variants. It knows the options you already have and suggests only different ones.

On the Details tab, give the product a clear name, choose the most specific category, and mention the sizes or colours you sell in the description. The small i beside Name, Description and Category gives tips.
On the Variants tab, in Generate with AI, select Generate with AI. The button reads Generating variants… while the AI works.
Read the AI variant suggestions window:
- Confidence: how sure the AI is, as a percentage.
- The AI's reason in one line, and any warnings, such as values it guessed rather than read in your description.
- Product options: the options and values it suggests.
- Review generated variants: every variant with its short SKU code. The first is marked Default variant.
Select Apply suggestions to use them, or Discard to close the window and change nothing.
Check the variants, fill in the other languages, and select Save.

AI variant suggestions for the Emerald satin slip dress: 72% confidence, a Size option with XS to XL and a Colour option with Emerald, Black and Champagne, and variants from Emerald / XS (Default variant, EMR-XS) down to Black / XL — The suggestions to review. Nothing changes until you apply them.

When you apply, the console says AI variant suggestions applied. Review before saving. Values for an option you already have are added to it, and a new option is added after yours. Your existing variants carry on exactly as when you regenerate: each keeps its SKU, price, stock and history in the first combination it grows into.

The variants the AI adds get SKUs from its short codes, in the order of your options, such as XS-EMR, after your base SKU (or the product name in capitals when you have not set one). They take the price from the Pricing tab and start with a stock of 0, with Track inventory on and Allow backorder off, whatever the Pricing tab says. Set their stock before you publish.

The AI writes the options in one language, and its reason and warnings may be in English whichever language the console is in. Use Fetch missing translations to fill your other languages.

Each answer from the AI uses one AI variant-suggestion credit from your monthly allowance, including an answer that suggests no variants. Growth includes 100 a month and Business 500; Enterprise is not counted. If the AI cannot be reached, no credit is used. See How AI credits work.

The Variants tab of a new product on the Growth plan after Generate with AI, with the red message You have used all AI variant suggestion credits for this month. — This month's suggestions are used up. They come back with next month's allowance.

Message	Meaning	What to do
Enter a product name.	The product has no name, so the AI has nothing to read. The console opens the Details tab.	Type the name, then try again.
Could not generate AI variant suggestions.	The AI did not answer, or its answer could not be used.	Try again in a moment.
You have used all AI variant suggestion credits for this month.	This month's allowance is used up.	Add the options yourself, or wait for next month's allowance. To get more, ask us in a support ticket.
AI variant suggestions are not included in this plan.	Your plan does not include the feature.	Move up to Growth, or add options yourself.
You do not have permission to do this.	Your role cannot edit products.	Ask the store owner about your role.

Anyone whose role can edit products can use the button, including the built-in Store manager. See Staff roles: what each one can see and do.

When AI suggests no variants

Sometimes the AI decides the product needs no variants. The window then shows No variants suggested and the line AI could not suggest reliable variants from the current product details. Check the name, description and category, then try again. Its reason above explains why, and only Discard is offered.

AI variant suggestions for a hand-rolled silk scarf at 81% confidence, explaining a silk scarf is usually sold in one size, with No variants suggested and a Discard button — A one-size product: the AI suggests nothing and says why.

What to do next:

If the product really comes in one size and one colour, it needs no options. Set its price and stock on the Pricing tab.
If it does come in choices, add the options yourself, as described in Add an option.
Or make the name and description more specific, for example by listing the sizes you stock, and try again. Each try uses another credit.

What to do next

Edit variants: prices, stock and photos, to set each variant's price, stock and photo.
Translate a product to your other languages, to name your options and values in every language.
Adjust stock and see its history, to correct a variant’s stock after a count.