How do I set clothing sizes? Searched ALLOT but not finding what I need

I have clothes which of course are different sizes! All the searching I have done and things I tried I still have not found anything that works for me, or I am probably doing it WRONG of course!
Total newbie here, though I have played with the program a good while and have done a ton of searching for info I need. Tons of good info here, but when I don't really know what I am searching for it's hard to find it, and often I don't understand half of what I do find either. :blush:

What I want to do is pretty standard and common on most sites with any clothes to sell.
List 1 item like "vest4" and have it show in the store in the VEST category only 1 time!
That 1 listing should have the option to choose what size you want to buy such as small, medium, large, etc... and choosing the size should then add the correct item to the cart.
Item #'s are listed as like Vest4SM Vest4L Vest4XL etc...

I will of course also need to edit "SOMETHING" somewhere as right now all my items with sizes each have their own listing. So Vest4 is shown 1 time for each size. My site shows like 30 vests, but really it's more like 6 different vests in 5 sizes LOL

I do not have my store open for sales yet, just getting started and learning how to build it still. If I can get the clothing stuff listing correct then I can start making it my own custom store. For now I have been concentrating on trying to do products, not any looks of feel yet so it just looks like the default installed store with my items in it.

Any help would be great!
You can get to my store at http://shirts-and-stuff.com/zenstore/ for now to look at it.
Items like Chaps would be something I need to fix, and vests, and jackets, etc...

Chaps I have manually added the pics to the items.
That is another problem I have but will make another separate post about image problems.
There are several problems, the biggest though is the large image does not display correct, the bottom is cut off and no way to pan up down to see what's missing! If you look at the site you'll see what I mean if you go to the full size images.
They are 800pix but I thought they should re-size or pan but instead they are cut off.

THANKS!

Bikerstuff:

I have clothes which of course are different sizes! All the searching I have done and things I tried I still have not found anything that works for me, or I am probably doing it WRONG of course!
Total newbie here, though I have played with the program a good while and have done a ton of searching for info I need. Tons of good info here, but when I don't really know what I am searching for it's hard to find it, and often I don't understand half of what I do find either. :blush:

What I want to do is pretty standard and common on most sites with any clothes to sell.
List 1 item like "vest4" and have it show in the store in the VEST category only 1 time!
That 1 listing should have the option to choose what size you want to buy such as small, medium, large, etc... and choosing the size should then add the correct item to the cart.
Item #'s are listed as like Vest4SM Vest4L Vest4XL etc...

I will of course also need to edit "SOMETHING" somewhere as right now all my items with sizes each have their own listing. So Vest4 is shown 1 time for each size. My site shows like 30 vests, but really it's more like 6 different vests in 5 sizes LOL

I do not have my store open for sales yet, just getting started and learning how to build it still. If I can get the clothing stuff listing correct then I can start making it my own custom store. For now I have been concentrating on trying to do products, not any looks of feel yet so it just looks like the default installed store with my items in it.

Any help would be great!
You can get to my store at http://shirts-and-stuff.com/zenstore/ for now to look at it.
Items like Chaps would be something I need to fix, and vests, and jackets, etc...

Chaps I have manually added the pics to the items.
That is another problem I have but will make another separate post about image problems.
There are several problems, the biggest though is the large image does not display correct, the bottom is cut off and no way to pan up down to see what's missing! If you look at the site you'll see what I mean if you go to the full size images.
They are 800pix but I thought they should re-size or pan but instead they are cut off.

THANKS!

You can add sizes to products using attributes. Check the FAQs section for a tutorial about how to add attributes to products.

Thanks,

Anne

Thanks, but that's not helping me much, as I already mentioned I have searched allot already and looked in FAQ and Tutorials.

What I find are things about adding item stock volume attribs from 2006 and looks like newest Zencart pretty much does that now pretty easy. Or I just lucked out on that one. LOL
Many other old threads asking the same question but not getting answers that help me any, and they are locked so I can't bump them asking for any further info.

I did find a thread with info about setting colors, and I thought OK should be same for Sizes, but it did not help me any either. I have tried about 20 times now and got nowhere except I added Small (might be wrong) and when I do same thing to add Medium I get and error page now everytime.

Some of what I find is like the thread I am reading NOW, 113 pages total and locked now, it was last posted to March 2012 and was started in May 2006 and not helping me much either so far. I have no idea what has changed in 2-8 years LOL
When people talk about needed MODS to add the number of items in stock for a product it makes me think the info may be out of date as Zencart seems to have that as a default attrib now.

Not complaining, just explaining, I'm not lazy and I have done tons of looking for the info I need already, just not finding anything that helps!

One post almost seemed to help, about colors, but it was vague and not clear, and it showed using things like
YnnYYnY for one color product and NNNYYNY for the next color, and nothing said at all about what the Y and N means, and I did not see anywhere to put those anyway when I tried.

If there is a good tutorial that explains how to set sizes for clothing can you point me too it, I have not found it.
I have found many posts from other people asking the same thing, but no real answers there either that I could find YET!

With this thread I have added yet another thread to show up in a search for the next person to read that has the same exact question! LOL

I'll keep looking. This is my major hold up for about the last week though, so I could really use some help on this!

Nope, the tutorial Anne mentioned (http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?99-how-do-i-add-attributes-to-my-products) is all you need. I'll agree that the Attributes Controller is the most difficult part of Zencart admin to understand, but the tutorial is accurate and you can add sizes as attributes. Be sure you understand the difference between Option Names and Option Values.

Any time you try to do something in Zencart and get an 'error page' it's important to let us know exactly what the error message said.

@bikerstuff,

As has been stated, attributes is the way to go. I struggled a lot with this, so let me share some tips.

You'll probably create an option name called "Size," with a whole lot of option values called Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, 28-30", 32-34", 36-38." Then you will go into Attribute Manager and assign which option values are available for which item(s) - note all items do not to be used for each item.

Where it gets tricky is when your customer can order vest in small, medium, and large AND that vest comes in red and blue. This is handled very well with a second option name called "Colour" and option values of red and blue, however you can start having troubles in when it comes to inventory control.

There is a module (from That Software Guy, I believe) that allows you to control inventory right down to the red small vest, but for my business, that was less than ideal. It is a good mod, and it might work well for you though, so please take a look at it.

The reason why it was a fail for me was that, to simplify we make "stuff" from components. Our components require inventory - say 10 metres of red fabric in your case - and that red fabric might be used to make red vests, or red trousers, or red dresses. However, there is not a specific inventory of each red item. If I sell 10 metres worth of red trousers, I would also be unable to make any red dresses or red vests. If your products are like that and your order volumes are modest, you might want to consider not trying to use Zen Cart for inventory.

To manage OUR inventory, we manually eliminate option values through Attribute Manager, when we physically see that a product variation is no longer available - and that works for our business . . .

Hope that all makes sense to you, ;)

OK, Thanks very much everyone!

I see now! I never found THAT tutorial in all of my searching, but it looks like what I need!
http://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?99-how-do-i-add-attributes-to-my-products

I had found other things having to do with attributes which I thought was what was meant to look for, and of course I was still looking too, just not finding the right one so far. Nothing else I found had gone into so much detail like this one does, no maybe now I'll get the idea!
I guess I am like the old Horse that needed lead to the water. LOL

Well, I'll do some work and see if I can make things happen now.
If I get the error I had before I'll post it also, but I think it was probably me doing something wrong most likely.

OH, is there a way to have the forum send me a e-mail notice for when there are new posts to threads I join or start. I normally do that on important forums and have looked but not found a option for it yet.

In the gray header at the top of this thread, under Thread Tools, click "Subscribe to this Thread".

Do I need to do that for each thread I want to stay active in or is there like a global setting that I only need to post into the thread to get notices?
Subscribed to this one now, thanks!

And for an update, I just already added "Size", S-5x, total 9 entries into Product Options top field box.
Not much I know, but in a couple minutes I've got done what I could not do for a week!
This is where I was also getting an error page at before, but I am not getting it now!

OK, back to work.

I never need to use this as I check for new posts every time I open the forum, but you can go to Settings in the top of the page, then My Settings > General Settings > Messaging and Notifications > Default Thread Subscription Mode: and select "instant e-mails".

So that was where it was hidden. LOL
Thanks, I found it and set it to e-mail and made some other changes also.

I think I set my Admin -> Catalog -> Option Name Manager correct.

ID Option Name Option Type Sort Order Size Max
1 Size Text 0 32 32
2 Small Checkbox 12 32 32
3 MD Checkbox 13 32 32
etc.. up to 5X

Is that all I need to set on that page?
If I try to do anything in boxes below I get a yellow banner at top says no products found.
At first I did not try the lower boxes as the Tutorial did not say to do anything there so I did not.

Next step I hit the wall again!

Defining Option Values
Catalog ... Option Value Manager

ID Option Name Option Value Default Order Action
1 Small Small 10 Insert
that and any other size I try like MD, Large etc get me a blank page saying exactly
"WARNING: An Error occurred, please refresh the page and try again."
and it says nothing else at all. That was same as when I was not able to add the options names before.

I seem to be stuck at step 2 which sounds pretty easy!
Defining Option Values

Catalog ... Option Value Manager

a) Pick the Option Name
b) Give a Name like Red
c) Give a default Sort Order

??????????????????? Any thoughts where I got lost?

Well I had things lined up for what I thought was a good format, but did not post that way.
Can't find the Edit button for that post now either to try again.

Does the Edit button only last a short time? Been about 2 hrs and that other post does not have an edit button now, but this post does have it, for now at least.

Good forum but I have to learn how it works still.

Spacing and alignment don't always work in forum posts (all forums, not just this one). You have seven minutes to edit a post, and you can't delete a post.

Option Name Manager

ID Option Name Option Type Sort Order Size Max
1 Size Text 0 32 32
2 Small Checkbox 12 32 32
3 MD Checkbox 13 32 32
etc.. up to 5X You will only have "Size" in option names; the actual sizes are option values belonging to that option name. Assuming you want the customer to select one size per order, the Size option should be dropdown or radiobutton type. "Text" will give only a text input box and "checkbox" will allow any or all (or no) sizes to be selected.

The next step, Option Values Manager, is where you select the option name "Size" and assign sizes to it.

You can then apply any of the size selections to any product. If something doesn't come in XXL, you don't add that to the product in Attributes Controller.

I changed the "Size" to drop down button in names, but in values I find no way to add the Small, Med, Large, etc.. and what I have tried in the EN: and order boxes has given me the same error again.

Maybe I should actually explain how I expect to set this up and have it work for sizes to make sure it will work as I think it should. If it won't work the way I think then I am beating my head against a wall for nothing I guess.

My product that come in sizes like vests have item numbers like myvestSM, myvestXL etc.. where the item number is "myvest" and the last letters are the size.
So if a person wanted a vest in say 2XL the item number would be "myvestXXL"

I want to show 1 page for the item myvest. On that page the customer would select the size to add to the cart such as 2XL and the cart would order item myvestXXL

I had planned to use check boxes, so the item page would show 1 time, there would be a quantity to order box for each size and an add to cart button also.
In this way if a person wanted 2 Small vests and 3 large vests of the same style they would add them all to the cart from that 1 item page.
Also being 5 styles of vests in 6 sizes I would only be showing 5 items as 5 styles of vests, not showing 30 separate items as I now show each size as 1 item.

I am now wondering if this will work as planned or not, and if the best way?
I have found 2 competitors sites selling from the same supplier, exactly same items and only same items. Both sites are doing the items as a separate item for each size.
That is not how I wanted to do it, but maybe there is a problem my way?

I have another idea how to do it if the attributes are not the best way for what I am trying to do.

My other idea to do all sizes of an item on one page ( if attributes are not the best way ) would be like this.

Maybe make 1 item (maybe a category?) such as "myvest" to show the item and details on the page but not order attributess. Then the page would have the actual items by size listed below to order from, kinda like links but no details. Something like,

Picture here
Details This is a great vest for all occasions etc etc....
Price $45

Choose your size here
Small quantity box Add to cart button, (and this would add item # MyvestSM to the cart).

2XL quantity box Add to cart button, (and this would add item # MyvestXXL to the cart).

That is what I am trying to do with attributes, but now not sure if that would be the best way?
I am wondering since each item size has it's own Item number what is going to happen?
I think if I just fill the items in the category VESTs with attributes what I will end up with may be 30 separate items, 1 item for each size, then each size in sizes S-XL ?? :blink: Not what I want :blush:

Would not be good to give the customer the option to order the 2XL in Small. :shocking:

Any advice how to get the results I want?

If you need to have each size own a model number, attributes won't work as is. The same goes for multiple quantities of a size.

Your scenario is a good approach. Make a (sub)category for each vest style, with the actual products being the sizes. You would never want the customer to drill down to the product info page, but make all selections on the product listing page. You can put all of the vest description and extra pictures in the category description. The "product" listing can be set to show only name and quantity input box, and you can set the listing to have an "add all selected products to cart" button at the top and/or bottom of the page.

This does not allow for colors, though. For that, you would need to go down into the product info page for each size and have a color attribute. These sizes could not be added to cart from the listing page, as the color also needs to be selected.

There is a mod "Product Attribute Grid" in Plugins which may allow combinations of size and color or size and quantity to be selected from the product info page. This would not be able to apply model numbers to the sizes.

@bikerstuff,

You may be making this more complicated than you need to - do you really need different model numbers for different sizes of the same vest. That sounds like a nightmare because if you need to change some part of the detail (product description and price may occasionally need updating) you will have to make sure you change myvestSM, myvestM, myvestL, and myvestXL. That is a lot of file maintenance.

If I think like a customer, the idea of looking through all of those screens before I can find a buy it now button seems "inventory-centric," and customer-unfriendly.

But first, it seems you may be confused by the terminology; option names tend to be along the lines of: Colour, Size, & Fabric.

The corresponding option values might be: Colour (blue, red, green); Size (small, medium, large); Fabric (wool, cotton).

By the way, I always add an option value ("Please select colour") that displays at the top of the list, and is the "Default Atttribute Marked as Selected" and is "Required" but is "Used for Display Purposes Only." This forces the customer to choose from the lists, so that you don't get orders without sizes or colours. Sorry that was a bit random, but figured I would toss it out there ;)

However, as I tried to explain in my previous post I don't believe there is anyway that you can "nest" attributes. In other words if you need to be able to control inventory of size, colour, and fabric independently (i.e. smalls are available in blue and green in all fabrics, but there are no red small cottons in stock) then it becomes a bit more challenging.

If that is the case, I would still use attributes, but perhaps set them us as, option name equals "Make it Yours" and the corresponding option values would then be: "small, red, wool," "small, blue, wool," "small, green, wool," "small, red, cotton," "small, blue, cotton," "small, green, cotton," . . . and the same for all the other sizes.

In this example 332 option values = 18 possible variations - This could get very ugly, so maybe you would decide to make wool vests and cotton vests separate products leaving you with just nine size-colour option values for each product.

I suppose the most important considerations in all of this is what is going to be easiest for the customer, but also what will be easiest for you to administer. Don't underestimate how challenging maintenance will be . . . . that can be even more challenging than initial set-up.

As I alluded to before, Zen Cart is not a great inventory control system, especially if you have offline sales that pull from the same inventory or ever-changing stock levels. You may need to use another tool for inventory.

Good luck. Hope this helped.

By the way, I've definitely been in your shoes, and I know it can sometimes be a challenge to see your store through the eyes of a visitor. We have one line of products that comes in twelve style variations and twenty colour variations. We ultimately chose to make each style a product and the colours (each with a colour sample) are the attributes. Luckily we can update just one product in Attribute Manager (when our colour stock changes) and copy it to all of the other products in the category. It works for us.

You may be making this more complicated than you need to - do you really need different model numbers for different sizes of the same vest. That sounds like a nightmare because if you need to change some part of the detail (product description and price may occasionally need updating) you will have to make sure you change myvestSM, myvestM, myvestL, and myvestXL. That is a lot of file maintenance.

I will be getting CVS files from the supplier and that is how they do the items numbers. Most things will be in the CVS that I need to update. Since I need to order the items with their type of item numbers as well as update the store using their CVS file I think I need to use their item number scheme. Later if I can set it up there are allot of other options I have that will need their item number system also.
Not sure what will or will not work, but in theory for drop shipping I could set my store to order the items somewhat automatically when the customer completes his order and payment made, or once a day, etc...
Also I won't try it now as too confusing already, but the supplier has a setup XSL (XML? ) that I could have the store auto update about once per hour to track quantity in stock etc. I don't know if Zencart can do that or not yet, but it's an option later if it can.

If I think like a customer, the idea of looking through all of those screens before I can find a buy it now button seems "inventory-centric," and customer-unfriendly.

I totally AGREE! That is why I am trying to change it.
That is basically how it loaded the items from the CVS file with suppliers item number system. I have changed ALLOT already for products, this item size thing has been my biggest headache so far and I have not got done yet. Of course it would pertain to the items I most want to sell also!
Did you look at my site? I saw earlier it showed 2 guests online, I was one, and I only put the URL here so I figured it must have been a member.

Is there a way to hide a Catagory like to hide an item?
When I imported the CVS file today after making changes in it, I did not delete the category column from CVS file, so allot of things I had moved from the root or deleted went back into the root again.
I am thinking to avoid such a mistake again, and the fact the distributor has about 2000 items and I only want to deal with about 800 at this time, maybe just importing everything would work and then hide the categories I do not want to sell at this time.

I think that CVS is a good thing, but I can see some problems with it already for me. Like I had to have the entire all items list and no way to select only the item I want, then had to manually edit to remove what I did not want.
Next time I download the CVS to update the site it will again contain all items.
I have thought to simplify things a bit, just import everything and hide what I do not want, but that will also import categories I do not want and should hide.
OR, would it be best to change the CVS file once so that all items I do not want goes into like MISC category, set value in CVS to hide for the items, then upload that once. Then make sure no NEW CVS as any catagory column.
I can choose what info I want to include in the CVS file, but not what items or types of items, I just get all items.