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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.arcuserp.com/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

The variant parent groups the choices. The variant is the sellable and stock-aware record operators add to orders, receive, count, price, list, and fulfill.

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When To Use Variants

  • Use variants: the same product family has option choices and each choice needs its own SKU, stock, price, weight, or component recipe.
  • Use a physical product: there is only one sellable item and no option matrix is needed.
  • Use a kit: the customer buys one bundle and Arcus consumes component products.
  • Use a variant kit: each variant choice has its own component recipe.
  • Use a service: the item is labor, fees, or non-stock work with no inventory or shipping behavior.
Do not use the parent as the stocked item A variant parent organizes choices. Stock, serials, pricing overrides, listings, package data, and components belong on the child variant when the choice matters.

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Review The Variants Tab

Open the variant parent product and select Variants. The tab shows active variant count, image, option label, SKU, price, cost, on-hand quantity, status, and the actions to open or edit each variant. Matrix view is available when the option shape fits a matrix; list view is better for direct row review.

Variant parent product with Variants tab, Generate from Options button, List and Matrix controls, and child variant rows
  • Open: use the full variant editor for detailed setup.
  • Edit: make quick SKU, price, or cost changes from the row when available.
  • Status: inactive variants are hidden from new order entry but kept for history.
  • Kit badge: the variant has its own component recipe.
  • Selection: select rows when you need bulk price, cost, or active-state changes.

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Generate Variants From Options

  1. Open the variant parent product.
  2. Go to Variants.
  3. Click Generate from Options or Add Variants.
  4. Enter each option name, such as Size, Color, Lid, or Model.
  5. Add values for each option.
  6. Review the generated count.
  7. Click Generate Variants.
Generate Variants from Options modal with Size and Color options, values, cartesian preview count, and Generate button
Keep option names customer-readable Option names and values become the language operators see when selecting a product. Use names that sales, warehouse, purchasing, and support teams can recognize quickly.

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Use The Variant Editor

Click Open on a variant row to use the full editor. The editor is where variant-level setup lives when the child choice needs behavior that differs from the parent or from another variant.

Variant editor General tab with variant title, SKU, barcode, active status, option values, tabs, and Save changes button
  • General: variant title, SKU, barcode, active state, and option values.
  • Media: variant-specific image behavior when the child needs its own image.
  • Variants: switch between sibling variants without returning to the parent first.
  • Pricing: variant-level pricing and policies when the child should price differently.
  • Purchasing: vendor or buying setup when the child is purchased as its own SKU.
  • Inventory: variant-specific stock and movement context.
  • Shipping: dimensions, weight, and package behavior for the exact child variant.
  • Components: visible when the variant is configured as a kit.

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Variant Settings

Use Variant settings for high-impact toggles. The current settings drawer includes active state and kit configuration. If a variant is a kit, selling that variant consumes the components defined on the variant Components tab.

Variant settings drawer with This variant is a kit toggle, kit mode message, and Active status toggle
Turning off kit mode changes future selling behavior Component rows are preserved when kit mode is turned off, but the variant no longer sells as a component-consuming kit until kit mode is enabled again. Review open work before changing this setting on a variant already used by the team.

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How Variants Affect Other Workflows

  • Order entry: operators select the exact variant, not just the parent, before adding the line.
  • Inventory: on-hand, allocated, available, transfers, counts, and receiving are tied to the child SKU.
  • Pricing: variant policies can beat product-level policies when a child needs different pricing.
  • Fulfillment: stock, serials, bins, package data, and component requirements come from the selected variant.
  • Purchasing: vendor setup and reorder behavior can differ by variant when each child is bought separately.
  • Marketplace listings: external listings should map to the exact product or variant being sold on the channel.

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Common Blocks

  • Variant does not appear in order entry: confirm the variant and parent are active, and that the order search is using the right SKU or title.
  • Generated count looks wrong: review option names and values before generating. The count is the combination of valid values.
  • SKU will not save: active variants must keep unique SKUs inside the entity.
  • Matrix view is unavailable or too large: use List view when the option set is too large or does not fit a clean matrix.
  • Variant kit will not fulfill: review variant components, component stock, serial requirements, and order holds.
  • Wrong listing receives updates: review marketplace mapping and make sure the external listing is tied to the exact child item.

Product Setup

Create physical products, services, and product records.

Product Types and Costing

Understand product type conversion rules, FIFO layers, product value, and Recost repair behavior.

Kits and Assemblies

Create kits, add components, understand kit cost, and sell bundles safely.

Pricing Rules

Configure quantity breaks, customer pricing, and multiplier rules.

Inventory Management

Track stock, locations, reorder points, and inventory movement history.

Marketplace Listings and Mapping

Map Arcus products and variants to marketplace listings, resolve drift, and use Shopify Bulk Map.