Skip to main content

Category fields and characteristics

Category fields are characteristics that the seller fills in for products in the selected category.

For example:

  1. for clothing - size, material, color;
  2. for cosmetics - volume, skin type, brand;
  3. for appliances - power, warranty, country of origin;
  4. for gifts - set contents, packaging, occasion.

These fields help keep products in one format. The buyer can compare products more easily, and the seller is less likely to forget important characteristics.

The Category fields tab in the category form​

Open Product categories, choose a category, and go to the Category fields tab.

When a product belongs to this category, these fields appear in the product form at the Category fields step.

Category fields do not replace the product name, description, price, or image. They add characteristics to the product card.

On this tab you can prepare characteristics that the seller will fill in for products in the selected category. Start only with fields that really help the buyer compare products: size, color, material, volume, composition, brand, or another clear characteristic.

Next step: after changing fields, open a product in this category and check whether the needed characteristics appeared in the product form.

Field types​

The current interface may include these types:

  1. Text - for a free value, such as Cotton.
  2. Number - for a numeric value, such as weight or volume.
  3. Yes / no - for a simple answer, such as whether gift packaging is available.
  4. Single choice - for choosing from a prepared list.

If you create a field with options, add clear values and remove duplicates.

Required and optional fields​

A field can be required or optional.

If a field is required, the product may not be published without a filled value. Use required fields only for truly important characteristics.

Optional fields can be filled later if they help the buyer but are not critical for publication.

Parent category fields​

If a category is nested inside another category, it may receive fields from the parent category.

For example, if the Clothing category has a Material field, it may also appear in the T-shirts subcategory.

Parent category fields may be view-only at the child level. If you need to change such a field, open the parent category.

Add an existing field or create a new one​

In a category, you can:

  1. add an existing field from your library;
  2. create a new field and immediately add it to the category.

Use an existing field if the characteristic already fits the meaning. Create a new field if you need another question or another value type.

What changes for products​

Changing a category field may affect all products in that category.

Before changing it, think about:

  1. whether products already use this field;
  2. whether the field will become required;
  3. whether the seller will lose a clear characteristics format;
  4. whether product cards will need to be updated after the change.

What to do if...​

A required category field is not filled​

Open the product, go to Category fields, and fill in the required fields. Then save the product and try publishing again.

The field did not appear in the product​

Check whether the product has the right category selected. Fields depend on the category, so without a category or after changing a category, the field set may change.

You need to add a size or product variant​

If size, color, or material should only be shown as a characteristic, you can create a category field, such as Material.

If the buyer must choose a value before purchase, use product choice variants. For example, a T-shirt size, product color, or packaging type is better configured as a choice variant so the selected value is saved in the cart and order.

A parent field cannot be changed​

Open the parent category. A field inherited from the parent may be unavailable for editing inside the child category.