Creating SKUs

You can create category-level SKUs, or if you have products, you can create product-level SKUs for that product. After you create SKUs, you can then sell the items in your store.

About this task

When you create a SKU for a product, only one SKU can be manually created at a time.

Introduced in Feature Pack 1You can generate multiple SKUs for a product at a time. For more information, see Generating product-level SKUs.

Restriction: For the customer to order a product it must exist and have a valid SKU. This SKU can be a product SKU or a category SKU. You can use a category SKU for a non-ATP store when the store does not use defining attributes for products
WebSphere Commerce EnterpriseNote: If you are using the extended sites model and are currently in the extended site store, you can add a SKU to the extended site store from the asset store. To add the SKU, copy an inherited asset store SKU. When you copy the SKU that you inherit from your asset store to the extended store, the copied SKU becomes local to the store, not inherited.

WebSphere Commerce EnterpriseWhen you create a catalog entry in an extended sites store, either directly or by copying an inherited catalog entry, avoid specifying a code for the catalog entry that is a duplicate of an inherited catalog entry code. An extended site store catalog entry and a catalog asset store catalog entry can have the same code because the catalog entries belong to different stores. If duplicate codes exist, store functions that retrieve catalog entries by only the code value can behave unexpectedly or can result in an error. For example, if a store function uses the code to retrieve only a single catalog entry and instead finds two catalog entries that have the same code, an error can occur. Ensure that the code value that you set for any extended site store catalog entry does not exist for an inherited catalog entry. If your extended site store does include duplicate codes, use the Catalogs tool to change the codes for your extended site store catalog entries.

Procedure

  1. Open the Catalogs tool.
  2. From the explorer tree, select a catalog.
  3. Choose an option:
    1. In the list view or explorer tree, right-click the SKU. Then, click Copy.
    2. In the list view, right-click. Then, select Paste.
      A new SKU is added with the same properties.
    • To create a SKU for a category, in the explorer tree, right-click the category. Then, click New Category-level SKU.
    • To create a SKU for a product, click File > New > Product-level SKU.
    Restriction: You cannot drag SKUs into the explorer tree when you are using the Master Catalog Categories filter or Sales Catalog Categories filter.
    Note: You cannot drag a SKU to any explorer tree view, nor can you create a SKU in the sales catalog.
    The SKU Properties view displays.
  4. Click the Manage SKU tab.
  5. Expand the General SKU Information section. Complete the following information:
    PropertyDescription
    Code Type the SKU code, which uniquely identifies the item. This SKU code is based on the parent product code (before attributes). For example, if the product code for a "Ladies' cable-knit sweater" is SKU-12345, then the individual SKU for each attribute would be SKU-12345-1 (Ladies' cable-knit sweater, small, red), SKU-12345-2 (Ladies' cable-knit sweater, medium, red), SKU-12345-3 (Ladies' cable-knit sweater, large, red).
    Name The name of the catalog entry. This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Short description Type a brief description of the catalog entry.This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Long description
    Type a detailed description, if applicable. You can enter HTML code in this field. If you choose to specify HTML code, you should receive this source code from your developers. Before you paste HTML code into the field, you must click the following icon in the text toolbar:
    • If you are using the default WebSphere Commerce rich text editor, click Display HTML.
    • Feature Pack 7 or laterIf you activated CKEditor, click Launch CKEditor to launch CKEditor, then click Source.
    For more information about rich text editors, see Rich text editors.
    Keyword Type one or more keywords, which are separated by a comma and a space that describe the contents of the Web page. Some Internet search engines use these keywords to determine whether your page satisfies a search query. This field can be edited in multiple languages.
    Additional description 1 Type a detailed description of the catalog entry, if applicable. This field is disabled by default and not visible.
    Additional description 2 Type a detailed description of the catalog entry, if applicable. This field is disabled by default and not visible.
    Manufacturer Type the name of the manufacturer or vendor.
    Manufacturer part number Type the part number for the catalog entry, uniquely defined by the manufacturer. This number is different from the code that is used to define the object in the system.
    Parent product The category or product to which the SKU belongs. For example, a SKU could belong to the DVD category, or it could be a Men's Red Shirt and belong to the Men's shirt product. Product-level SKUs have a parent product, whereas category-level SKUs have a parent category.
    Introduced in Feature Pack 2Recurring order item Introduced in Feature Pack 2Indicate whether the catalog entry is available for a recurring order.
    Introduced in Feature Pack 2Subscription item Introduced in Feature Pack 2Indicate whether the catalog entry is a subscription item.
  6. Expand the Publishing section. Complete the following information:
    PropertyDescription
    For purchase This check box is read-only and cannot be cleared if the entries for purchase are on auction.
    On special Indicates whether the catalog entry is on special.
    On auction Indicates whether the catalog entry is available for auction. This field is read-only.
    Announcement date Add the year, month, and day that the catalog entry becomes available to customers. Click the calendar icon to select a date. This is an informational field.
    Withdrawal date Add the year, month, and day that the catalog entry is removed from the catalog and is unavailable for customers to purchase. Click the calendar icon to select a date. This is an informational field.
    Availability date Add the year, month, and day that the catalog entry is available to customers for purchase. Click the calendar icon to select a date. This is an informational field.
    Last date to order Add the final year, month, and day that the catalog entry is available for order. Click the calendar icon to select a date. This is the latest date that a customer can order the catalog entry. For example, a manufacturer can discontinue a product, but because stock still exists, it is still available for order for one month.
    End of service date Add the year, month, and day when the catalog entry is no longer in service. For example, this date can be the date that a software manufacturer stops providing upgrades for a version of their product. Click the calendar icon to select a date. This is an informational field.
    Discontinued date Add the year, month, and day when the catalog entry is discontinued. For example, it can be the date that the manufacturer stops producing the product, or the date your store stops selling the product. Click the calendar icon to select a date. It is recommended that this field is used consistently to avoid confusion. This is an informational field.
  7. Expand the Display section. Complete the following information: If you do not define an image for the SKU, the image of the parent product is used.
    PropertyDescription
    Display to customers Select this check box to indicate that customers can view this category in the storefront.
    Thumbnail Type the path to the thumbnail image and the name of the image, such as images/shirt.jpg.

    Feature Pack 5 or laterFor the Aurora starter store, this path must be to the 160-pixel-wide thumbnail image of this catalog entry, for example:images/catalog/apparel/women/womens_dresses_160x160/WD_038_a_blue.jpgThis path must have a directory with a name that contains the following character string: 160x160. The server matches the character string to locate this image and the other catalog entry images in different sizes.

    If you do not define a thumbnail image for the SKU, the image of the parent product is used.

    Full image Type the path to the full-size image and the name of the image, such as images/shirt.jpg.

    Feature Pack 5 or laterFor the Aurora starter store, this path must be to the 1000-pixel-wide full image of this catalog entry, for example:images/catalog/apparel/women/womens_dresses_1000x1000/WD_038_a_blue.jpgThis path must have a directory with a name that contains the following character string: 1000x1000. The server matches the character string to locate other catalog entry images in different sizes. The 1000-pixel-wide full image is not currently used in the Aurora storefront. On the product details page, the 447-pixel-wide image is used as the full image of the product.

    If you do not define a full image for the SKU, the image of the parent product is used.

  8. Expand the Pricing section. If you do not set a price for the SKU, the price of the parent product is used. Complete the following information:
    PropertyDescription
    List Price An optional field to display the list price. List price is sometimes called MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). This price is intended for catalog display purposes only; it is not typically used as the actual price customers must pay. A store might display a list price above an offer price to show customers that they are getting a better deal with the offer price. One common use of the list price is to display the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). Your site can choose not to use a list price at all.

    Introduced in Feature Pack 2If your store uses price rules for the list price, the default List price rule sets the list price customers see on the storefront. The List price rule might use the price in this field as is, or the rule might adjust the price. Make sure that you are aware of how the List price rule sets list prices before you add or update this price. The price in this field is stored in the default List Price list.
    Offer Price

    The price at which the catalog entry is offered for purchase. Click New to add in a new offer price. Type a Minimum Quantity at which the catalog entry can be offered at this price. The maximum quantity is determined by the minimum quantity of the next range. For example, if the minimum quantity of a catalog entry to be sold at $35.00 is one, and the minimum quantity of the same catalog entry to be sold at $25.00 is 10, then the maximum quantity for the catalog entry to be sold at $35.00 is nine.

    Introduced in Feature Pack 2If your store uses price rules, the price at which the catalog entry is offered for purchase is set by a price rule. The price rule might use the price in this field as the offer price for this product. Alternatively, the price rule might adjust the price in this field, or calculate a price for this product by using a different price list, for example. Make sure that you are aware of how price rules are used in relation to this Offer price value before you add or update the price. The price in this field is stored in the default Offer Price list.
  9. Optional: Expand the Custom section. Complete the following information:
    OptionDescription
    Property Description
    Field 1 A customized field for your catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
    Field 2 A customized field for your catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
    Field 3 A customized field for your catalog entry data. The entry must be a whole number such as 5.
    Field 4 A customized field for your catalog entry data. The entry must be text.
    Field 5 A customized field for your catalog entry data. The entry must be text.
  10. Optional: Click the Search Engine Optimization tab to change the SEO options for the SKU:
    To insert an SEO substitution parameter, use the format: <seo:SEOSUBSTITUTIONPARAMETER/>.
    SEO substitution parameters
    <seo:StoreName/>
    The name of the store. For example, Aurora.
    <seo:StoreDescription/>
    The store description. For example, Online Department Store.
    <seo:ProductName/>
    The catalog entry name.
    <seo:ProductKeyword/>
    The catalog entry keyword.
    <seo:ProductShortDescription/>
    The catalog entry short description.
    <seo:ProductPartNumber/>
    The catalog entry part number.
    <seo:ProductManufacturerPartNumber/>
    The catalog entry's manufacturer part number.
    <seo:ProductManufacturer/>
    The catalog entry manufacturer.
    Override the default values for any of the following fields:
    PropertyDescription
    URL keyword Specify a unique name for the category to be used in the URL on the storefront. If you do not specify a keyword, the name is used.
    Page title The language-specific page title for this category. The title that you provide displays in the title bar in the customer's browser.
    Meta description The language-specific meta description for the page. The meta description is used by a search engine to provide a description of your site and this category on a search results page. The text that you provide is put in the page's META tag.
    Image alt text The language-specific image alternative text for the category image. The alt text describes the contents of the image for search engines to accurately rank and index the image. The text that you provide displays when a customer hovers over the category image.
  11. Click Save; then click Close.

What to do next

  • Click the Descriptive Attributes tab to work with attributes.
  • Click the Defining Attributes tab to work with attributes. This tab is available for product-level SKUs only.
    Note: You can create product-level SKUs without defining attributes however, you must customize Management Center to support these SKUs in the storefront. Defining attributes are managed in the store default language only.
  • Click the Merchandising Associations tab to work with merchandising associations.
  • Click the Associated Assets tab to work with attachments.
  • Click the References tab to view any merchandising associations, bundles, or kits that are associated with the product.