Management Center: Creating SKUs

Operate > IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce > Catalogs tool > Work with SKUs

Creating SKUs

You can create category-level SKUs, or if you have products, you can create product-level SKUs for that product. Creating SKUs enables you to sell the item in the store.

Restriction: For the customer to order a product it must have a product SKU. In this case the product must exist and it must have a valid SKU. If the store does not use defining attributes for the products you can save work by creating one category SKU instead of a product and a SKU.

Procedure

Open the Catalogs tool.

From the explorer tree, select a catalog.

Choose an option:

To copy an existing SKU, find the SKU to change; then on the explorer tree, click the product the SKU belongs to.

In the list view or explorer tree, right-click the SKU; then click Copy .

In the list view, right-click; then select Paste. A new SKU is added with the same properties.

Restriction: To copy SKUs, you can also drag and drop them from the main work area or utilities view into the explorer tree when using the Master Catalog filter. You cannot drag and drop SKUs into the explorer tree when using the Master Catalog Categories filter or Sales Catalog Categories filter.

To create a new SKU for a category, in the explorer tree right-click the category; then click New Category-level SKU.

To create a new SKU for a product, from the File menu, click File > New > Product-level SKU.

You cannot create a new SKU in the sales catalog. Add a new SKU by copying an existing one from the master catalog. The SKU Properties view displays.

Click the Manage SKU tab.

Expand the General SKU Information section. Complete the following information: This information is managed in the store default language only.

Option Description
Code Type the SKU code, which uniquely identifies the item within the WebSphere Commerce system. This SKU code is based upon 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), and so on.
Name The name of the SKU. If the store supports more than one locale, then this name changes to match each different language.
Short description Type a brief description of the SKU. The description is language specific.
Long description Type a detailed description, if applicable. The description is language specific.
Keywords Type one or more keywords, 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 the page satisfies a search query.
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 WebSphere Commerce system.
Parent The category or product to which the SKU belongs for example, a SKU could belong to the DVD category, or a SKU could be a Men's Red Shirt and the product to which it belongs could be a Men's Shirt. Note that product-level SKUs have a parent product, whereas category-level SKUs have a parent category.

Expand the Publishing section. Complete the following information:

Option Description
For purchase Indicate whether customers can include the catalog entry in their shopping carts and order it. This check box is read-only and cannot be cleared if the entries for purchase are on auction.
On special Indicates whether or not the catalog entry is on special.
On auction Indicates whether the catalog entry is available for auction. This field is read-only. This field is not displayed by default in the list view.
To display the field as a column in a list view, right-click on a column heading in the list view and click Configure Columns.
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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
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 field is for the information only.
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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
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 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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
Discontinued date Add the year, month and day when the catalog entry is discontinued. For example, this date can be the date the manufacturer stops producing the product, or the date the store stops selling the product. Click the calendar icon to select a date. IBM recommends that this field be used consistently to avoid confusion. This field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
Field 1 A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
Field 2 A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
Field 3 A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a whole number such as 5.
Field 4 A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be text.
Field 5 A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be text.

Expand the Display section. Complete the following information:

Option Description
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. All image files must be placed in the store's defined image directory. Determining the correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on the store's configuration. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path pointing to the default installation directory under the store name. Use of a relative path is most common. Use of an absolute path is dependent on the initial configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory if you are unsure.
Full image Type the path to the catalog entry full size image and the name of the image, such as ../images/shirt/jpg. All catalog entry image files should be placed in the store's defined image directory. The correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on the store's configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path to the default installation path.

Expand the Pricing section. Complete the following information:

Option Description
List Price The list price for the catalog entry. The list price is supplied by the manufacturer, as part of the catalog entry description. This field is for the information only.
Offer Price The price at which the catalog entry is offered for purchase. Click New to add in a new offer price. Type in 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 $25.00 is one, and the minimum quantity of the same catalog entry to be sold at $35.00 is 10, then the maximum quantity for the catalog entry to be sold at $25.00 is nine.

Click the Descriptive Attributes tab to work with descriptive attributes.

Click the Defining Attributes tab to work with defining attributes. Select a defining attribute value in the table. This tab is available for product-level SKUs only. Note: You can create product-level SKUs without defining attributes however, do some customization in order 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 Manage Attachments tab to work with attachments.

Click the Reference tab to view any merchandising associations, bundles, or kits associated with the product.

Click Save and Close, or click Close.

Related concepts

Product-level SKUs
Category-level SKUs
IBM Management Center for WebSphere Commerce

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Option	Description
Code	Type the SKU code, which uniquely identifies the item within the WebSphere Commerce system. This SKU code is based upon 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), and so on.
Name	The name of the SKU. If the store supports more than one locale, then this name changes to match each different language.
Short description	Type a brief description of the SKU. The description is language specific.
Long description	Type a detailed description, if applicable. The description is language specific.
Keywords	Type one or more keywords, 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 the page satisfies a search query.
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 WebSphere Commerce system.
Parent	The category or product to which the SKU belongs for example, a SKU could belong to the DVD category, or a SKU could be a Men's Red Shirt and the product to which it belongs could be a Men's Shirt. Note that product-level SKUs have a parent product, whereas category-level SKUs have a parent category.

Option	Description
For purchase	Indicate whether customers can include the catalog entry in their shopping carts and order it. This check box is read-only and cannot be cleared if the entries for purchase are on auction.
On special	Indicates whether or not the catalog entry is on special.
On auction	Indicates whether the catalog entry is available for auction. This field is read-only. This field is not displayed by default in the list view. To display the field as a column in a list view, right-click on a column heading in the list view and click Configure Columns.
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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
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 field is for the information only.
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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
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 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 field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
Discontinued date	Add the year, month and day when the catalog entry is discontinued. For example, this date can be the date the manufacturer stops producing the product, or the date the store stops selling the product. Click the calendar icon to select a date. IBM recommends that this field be used consistently to avoid confusion. This field is for the interpretation and information only. WebSphere Commerce does not perform any actions based on this date.
Field 1	A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
Field 2	A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a decimal number such as 5.345.
Field 3	A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be a whole number such as 5.
Field 4	A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be text.
Field 5	A customized field for the catalog entry data. The entry must be text.

Option	Description
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. All image files must be placed in the store's defined image directory. Determining the correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on the store's configuration. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path pointing to the default installation directory under the store name. Use of a relative path is most common. Use of an absolute path is dependent on the initial configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory if you are unsure.
Full image	Type the path to the catalog entry full size image and the name of the image, such as ../images/shirt/jpg. All catalog entry image files should be placed in the store's defined image directory. The correct image directory and whether you need an absolute or relative path depends on the store's configuration. Ask a store developer with Site Administrator authority for the correct image directory. For example, the WebSphere Commerce starter store images use a relative path to the default installation path.