How to create attributes in ZenCart

Want to collect additional information from customers like what size of shirt they want to order? Or what color of an item would they like? Or maybe you sell personalized products and need to collect details like names, and dates.

ZenCart makes it easy to do all of the above using what is called attributes.

Adding attributes in ZenCart is a three-step process.

1. Option Names
2. Option Values
3. Attributes Controller

Option Names

Option names are the titles for fields. For example, if you want a field titled “Your Name” to collect a name, you would need to create an Option Name called “Your Name”

To create Option Names, click on “Option Name Manager” under Catalog

To add a new option name, enter the following:

1. Option Name (example: Select Size)
2. Order (optional)
3. Option Type (choose dropdown, text, etc)

Once you have entered the information, click on “insert” to create.

The next step is to add a value to the name you created.

Option Names

Option Values provide the actual options for the field names you just created. For example, if you just created a field titled “Select Shirt Size” you would need to create values for it like Small, Medium, and Large.

To create Option Values, click on “Option Value Manager” under Catalog

To add a new Option Value, enter the following:

1. Choose the Option Name you want to add a value for
2. Enter Option Value (example: Small, Purple, etc)
3. Order (optional)

Once you have entered the information, click on “insert” to create.

IMPORTANT: If the value is TEXT, where customers will enter their own information, you do not need to create a value. For example, if you created an Option Name titled “Enter your name” and want customers to type in their name – just create the Option Name. You do not need to create an Option Value for it.

The next step is to add the Option Names and Values to your products.

Attributes Controller

The Attributes Controller is where you manage (or control) which Option Names and
Values are associated with which products.

To access the Attributes Controller, click on “Attributes Controller” under Catalog

When you first click to enter the Attributes Controller, you will be asked to select the category you wish to work with.

Once you select a category, you will be directed to the Attributes Controller.

The first step is to choose a product to add an attribute to.

Choose the product name you want to work with (see above) and click on “display”

Now scroll down a bit until you see:

All that basically needs to be done is:

1. Choose the desired Option Name
2. Choose the desired Option Value
3. Click on “insert”

Check back in next week for my tutorial on more features available in the Attributes Controller.

If you run into any issues, please let me know below.

Related tutorials that might interest you:

How to sell ebooks using ZenCart
Moving attributes in ZenCart
How to add quantity discounts in ZenCart
Order tracking in ZenCart
How to install ZenCart at GoDaddy

Added by Gerae on Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 in ZenCart 1.3.8 Tutorials.