Setting up product attributes

[Shiftypow]

Hi Guys ive set up my website and am after some advice or direction. I sell bicycles online and have been making people write thir sizes of frames in the comments box in the order process. I finally decided to set up the sizes on the products. How do i go about this :S

For example i sell two different types of bikes and there frame sizes are 16", 18", 20" and the other manufacturer is 17",19",21". How would i do this. As far as i can tell looking at how to do it i go to catalog -> attributes controller but looking in there i am so confused. If you would like to see the site i will post it. Thanks for any help given

[dbltoe]

From admin, go to the Catalog menu and click on Attribute Controller to open it and the click on the option names button.

Enter Frame Size -- 5 (in the order block) and click on the insert button (I seldom start order with 0 and always order by 5s at least {{THANKS Ajeh}}). This creates the option of frame size that we will use on both bikes.

Next, we'll click on the option values button at the top of the page. The option name of Frame Size should already be there. Enter Select Frame Size where it says en: and set the order to zero this time. click on insert and it should list the option with its value on the page. Do the same for 16 inch, 17 Inch, 18 inch, 19 inch, 20 inch, and 21 inch. Give them orders of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30. Use the inch so as not to confuse someone and use the order in steps of five in case you need to add something in the future.

You now have all the options and values needed to sell both bikes.

Back in the attribute controller we go and select the first bike. You may have to select a category first and then the bike but we're looking for the screen with the grey area and the title ADDING NEW ATTRIBUTES in that area. In the Option Name dropdown select Frame and select Please Select Frame Size in the Option Value dropdown. Next we move to the area of price, weight, etc. Leave this blank for the Please Select option EXCEPT that the order should be zero (0).

In the colored blocks below that, click on Yes in the yellow and orange blocks. The others are up to you and your setup but the yellow and orange are important for the Please Select. Enter an image if you wish and then click on the insert button. You'll do the same process for 16, 18, and 20 (first bike remember) and give them a sort order of 5, 10, 15. You'll also need to enter the correct figures in price, weight, etc. For the colored blocks on each size, the yellow and orange will be NO for each as these are actual choices.

When all is done, you should have four choices for frame size. The Please Select makes sure the customer selects the size they really want versus just clicking to buy without realizing the sizes available.

You can play with images, etc to your heart's content. An example of how simple or involved it can be can be found at http://www.gomagnetic.com/index.php?...roducts_id=139
Thanks again to ajeh for steering me in the right direction years ago.