Multi-option and subcategory groups
A group in FD Combined Listings links separate Shopify products so shoppers can switch between them. There are three types of group. All three are available on every plan, including Free.
| Type | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single Option | Groups products by one option. Each product is one value. | A shirt in Sand, Olive and Navy |
| Multi Option | Groups products by two to four options. Each product is one combination. | A shirt in Sand or Olive, Short or Long sleeve |
| Subcategory | Shows independent rows of swatches. Each product belongs to one row. | A bikini with a Top row and a Bottom row |
Create a group
- Open Product Groups.
- Click Create group. To go straight to a type, open the arrow next to it and pick Create multi-option group or Create subcategory group.
- Under What type of group do you want to create?, pick Single Option, Multi Option or Subcategory.
Pick the type before you add products. Switching the type resets the group's options.
Multi-option groups
Use a multi-option group when each product is one combination of two or more options. For example, you sell each color and sleeve length as its own product.
- Under Options, enter an Option Name and its values for each option, for example Color with Sand and Olive, and Sleeve with Short and Long. You need at least two options and can add up to four. Values in one option must be unique.
- Optional: set Appearance on Product Page for each option. Color can show as swatches and Sleeve as buttons.
- Click Add products and pick the products.
- On each product, click Click to match. The Match variants window lists every combination, like Sand / Short. Pick the one this product is. Combinations already used by another product in the group are grayed out.
- Click Save.
How it shows on your store
The product page shows one row per option. When a shopper picks a value, they go to the product with that value. The app keeps their other choices when a product with that combination exists.
Each row after the first only shows values that exist with the shopper's current choices. If you sell Sand in Short only, a shopper on Sand sees only Short. You don't need a product for every combination.
Subcategory groups
Use a subcategory group when a product page should show separate rows that don't combine, such as tops and bottoms sold as separate products.
- The group starts with two subcategories, Subcategory 1 and Subcategory 2. Rename each one under Option name, for example Top and Bottom.
- Click Add products inside each subcategory to add its products. A product belongs to one subcategory.
- Use + Add subcategory for more rows, and Move up, Move down or Delete to manage them.
- Click Save.
If two products in one subcategory have the same value, you see a warning. They would show as duplicate swatches.
How it shows on your store
Each subcategory is its own row, labeled with its name. A shopper on a Top product sees the Top row with that product selected, and the Bottom row with nothing selected. Clicking any swatch opens that product.
Single-option groups
In a single-option group, set Option Name (e.g. color) once, then give each product its value. When you add products, Smart Fill fills in the values from the product titles. See Bulk create groups and automations.
Things to know
- Automations and the title and handle patterns in bulk create make single-option groups. Build multi-option and subcategory groups in the group form.
- A CSV import can create single-option and multi-option groups with up to two options. Subcategory groups can't be imported from a CSV. See Migrate from another swatch app.
- Shopify Sidekick edits single-option groups only. See Use Shopify Sidekick.
