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CSM Listings - Variations

Configurable items are offered in several variations – a t-shirt in three colors and three sizes is nine configurations. Business Central can hold these as separate items or as variants of one item; either way, creating every combination by hand is slow (8 colors × 10 sizes = 80 records).

The CSM item variations module lets you define an item's variable characteristics once, review the resulting SKUs, and generate the items or variants automatically.

Note: The module is delivered with CSM but is standard Business Central functionality – it works for any item, whether or not it is sold online, and is platform-independent. It is the prerequisite for configurable CSM listings on Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce and Magento (see CSM Listing - Configurable Item Listings).

1. Setup

Brand and Common Item attributes

Two Business Central item attributes represent the non-variable characteristics of an item's variations and must exist first:

  • Brand – the item's brand.
  • Common Item – an item-specific value that links a parent to its children; child item numbers begin with it (parent common item 1234 → children 1234-…).

Create both as standard item attributes (text type recommended).

Note: If you will list the variations online, also create item attributes for each configurable characteristic (Color, Size, …) and link variation options to them. This is strongly recommended – the channel integrations are built from these attributes, and it matters most on shared-attribute platforms (WooCommerce, Magento).

Variations Setup page

  1. Search Business Central for Variations Setup.
  2. Assign the default Brand and Common Item attributes.
  3. Optionally enable Confirm After Create Item Variation to show a notification when a variation is created.

Variation Option Limit is fixed at 3 (the maximum number of options per variation). Contact your Suite Engine partner if you need to change it.

Item variation templates (optional)

A template predefines the settings and options of an item variation so you can copy them when creating one.

  • Create: search Variation Templates, choose New, enter a Template Code and fill in the fields (they mirror the Item Variation Card). Common Item Attribute Value Max Length exists only on templates: a template has no item-specific common item value, but the length is needed so generated child numbers fit field limits.
  • Copy: open a template, choose Actions > Copy Template, enter a New Template Code, OK.

2. Creating an Item Variation

  1. On the item, choose Item > Attributes and add lines for the brand attribute and the common item attribute with their values.
  2. Choose Actions > Functions > Create Variation. To use a template, enable Create From Template and pick the Item Variation Template Code. Choose OK.
  3. Open it from Related > Item > Variation Info.

An item can have one variation; Create Variation is hidden once one exists (delete the variation to restore it).

3. Configuring the Item Variation

On the Item Variation Card:

Field Purpose
Brand / Common Item attributes Defaulted from setup; adjust if needed
SKU Explode Method Generate Items or Variants
SKU Key Mask Segments (identifier built from key segment values) or Numerical (number series)
Variant Nos. Number series for Numerical + variants
Item Variation Template Code Set when created from a template (no ongoing sync)

Options and option values

Options are the variable characteristics (max 3), e.g. Color. Each option line has a code, sequence, link type (link to a Business Central item attribute), description and key segment settings. Total key length: 20 characters for items, 10 for variants.

Open the Item Variation Option Card to define values:

Field Purpose
Value Code / Value Description Identify the value (Red, Blue, Yellow)
Active Include the value when creating SKUs
Option Value Sequence Display order on the storefront
Key Segment Value Characters used for the value in generated identifiers
Swatch (FactBox) Optional image for colors, patterns or logos

Note: On shared-attribute platforms an option may carry many values. Mark only the values you sell as Active – Black and White, not all 20 colors.

4. Creating and Exploding SKUs

  1. Actions > Create Item Variation SKUs – one line per combination of active values. Re-running adds lines for new values; to change existing SKUs, delete them first.
  2. Review lines: SKU (manual or generated), SKU Unit of Measure (used by child listings; defaults to the parent's), SKU Status (Pending → set to Active or No Replenish for SKUs that will become listings; use Functions > Update SKU Status for many lines).
  3. Actions > Explode SKUs – creates the Business Central items or variants.

Identifiers follow the explode method and key mask (e.g. Segments + Items → SE200-RED-S). New records inherit fields and attributes from the parent. The Item Variation Details FactBox shows SKU count vs. records created.

5. Item Variation Worksheet

Use the worksheet when parent and child records already exist and just need to be linked, or to create variation SKUs in bulk (e.g. via RapidStart).

  1. Search Item Variation Worksheet and pick a Batch Name (standard journal batches).
  2. Choose Worksheet Visible Fields: Normal, Required – 1/2/3 Option(s) (only the columns needed), or All (adds common, brand and industry fields).
  3. Per line: Item No. (parent); SKU Explode Method (defaults to Variants; enter Items for separate items); Option n Code, Option n Value and optional Option n Key Segment Value (defaults to the value) for up to three options; a unique SKU; and SKU Item / SKU Variant Code if the child already exists (leave blank if not). One line per configuration.
  4. Select lines and choose Process Selected Lines. Line Status and Status Message show the result; failures are usually validation (e.g. a SKU item that does not exist).

If no item variation exists for the parent, one is created from the lines: key segments come from the line values (or the option value itself if blank – Yellow → Yellow, or YLW if given), and the option's maximum key segment length is set from the longest value processed.

Note: When a line creates a SKU for a record that does not yet exist, you must still Explode SKUs from the item variation card. Processed lines stay in the worksheet until you choose Delete Processed Lines.