Creating an Item Variation
The item variations functionality allows you to manage the records that represent configurable variations of an item in Business Central. This is useful in scenarios where multiple versions or variants of an item are available based on variable characteristics.
The item variations functionality allows you to establish an item’s configurable characteristics, review a proposed list of that item’s variable SKUs, and then generate corresponding items or variants in Business Central.
Before proceeding, be sure you have completed the Item Variation Setup.
Assigning Item Attributes
Each item variation supports two non-variable characteristics: Brand or Common Item.
It is possible to define global brand and common item attributes. These item attributes will be automatically assigned to newly created item variations, but you can manually change them, if desired.
When you are creating an item variation for an item, it is necessary for you to assign the item attributes that will be used as the item variation’s brand and common item attributes:
- Open the item for which you want to create an item variation
- From the Item ribbon, choose Attributes
- On a new line, in the Attribute field, enter the item attribute you want to assign as the item’s brand attribute.
- In the Value field, enter the value you want to assign as the item’s brand attribute value.
- Repeat above steps for the item attribute you want to assign as the item’s common item attribute
Creating Item Variations
An item variation contains the setup and configuration options that instruct the system on how an item’s variation SKUs will be built. An item variation is also where you define the item’s configurable item variation options and item variation option values.
For example, if we offered a product in multiple colors and were setting up an item variation to reflect this variable characteristic, we would create an item variation option called Color. This variation option would then have option values such as Red, Blue, and Yellow.
Each item in Business Central can have a single corresponding item variation:
- Open the item for which you want to create an item variation
- From the Actions ribbon, choose Functions then choose Create Variation
- If you wish to create the item variation from an existing item variation template, enable the Create From Template field, then enter the Item Variation Template Code field to enter the desired template
- Choose OK
A new item variation is created for the item; depending on how you have set up the item variations module, the system may notify you then the item variation has been created. You can view this item variation by choosing the Related ribbon, then choosing the Variation Info action in the Item menu.
It is not possible to create more than one item variation for an item. Accordingly, if an item has a related item variation, the Create Variation action is removed from the ribbon. If you wish to re-run this action for an item, you must first delete the item variation. This will restore the Create Variation action to the ribbon.