Next up, let’s consider your product structure.
SCAYLE product data is separated into three categories: master, product, and variant.
You can configure more information at the product data level. Add details like color, brand, or size in “attribute groups.”
Product entity levels
An attribute group is a collection of different attributes (or attribute values). We use this information to define a product and its characteristics. All the information a customer may need to know about a product should be stored in an attribute group in SCAYLE.
There are two types of attribute groups available in SCAYLE:
Keep in mind that both types can be translated. This is relevant if you’re working with multiple shop countries and languages.
You can create attribute groups manually in the SCAYLE Panel or use the Admin API, but we recommend using the SCAYLE Panel.
Want to learn more about attribute group creation in the SCAYLE Panel? Click here.
Most shops offer a variety of products, so it's helpful to categorize these products. In SCAYLE, we use master categories, which could include divisions such as trousers, T-shirts, dresses, etc. Based on the master categories, you can define different product types (related to purchase categories in the tenant systems.)
For example, differentiating between clothing products and furniture products.
Every product requires a master category in SCAYLE, and you need this information to create a product. Within each master category, you can define mandatory attribute groups for corresponding products.
Master categories are only relevant for product structure in the SCAYLE backend. Their sole purpose is to structure products in the backend and are not related to the shop categories.
Shop categories, however, structure the assortment and are visible in the front end. Customers can use shop categories to navigate within a shop.
You can set up master categories manually or by importing them in the SCAYLE Panel. We recommend manual setup because you’ll only need to complete this step once. Details can be found in the User Guide.
Now that you have an overview of our product structure, you’ll need to decide what kinds of attribute groups and master categories you’ll need for your project.
We've put together this guide to help you with your decisions.
| Question/situation | Answer |
|---|---|
| What information about a product should be shown in the shop front end? | All product-related information should be listed in an attribute group in SCAYLE. |
| Do you have products in the same style but differing in dimensions like color, pattern, or print? | If yes, you should assign all the products of the same style to the same master. |
| Is there information that always remains the same about a product, besides color or size? | This information should be defined in an attribute group on the master level. |
| Is there information that differs between color options? | If yes, this information should only be related to the specific color and defined in an attribute group on the product level. |
| Is there specific information for a product size that is relevant for the customer? | If yes, this information should be defined in an attribute group on the variant level. |
| Is there any product-related information that is requested for third-party tools or reporting that has to be handled in SCAYLE? | You should also include this information within SCAYLE attribute groups. |
| How do you structure your products in your purchase tool? | You can usually use your purchase structure to create the same master categories. |
| Do you plan on selling different product types? | For example, furniture and fashion products should be handled with different master categories. |
| Should you list product information in an advanced or simple attribute group? | To decide which type of attribute group to use, consider if the information is reusable. Only free text descriptions or product-specific information (like EANs) should be advanced attribute groups. All product information can usually be listed in simple attribute groups. Please try to mostly use simple attribute groups to reduce database complexity. |
For our example, Fashion Store, we’re selling two types of products: trousers and T-shirts. These product types have very different properties and therefore require different information. When shopping for trousers, pant length is important, but this data isn’t relevant for T-shirts. For T-shirts, other properties like the neck type are significant. Therefore, we need to configure two master categories to start:
Configure master category
Settings > Product Structure > Categories > Add new category.
Master Categories
For basic setup, we need to add the following attribute groups:
| Attribute group name | Product Level | Structure | Attribute (values) |
|---|---|---|---|
| brand | Master | simple | adidas, nike |
| color | Product | simple | black, green, blue |
| size | Variant | simple | S,M,L,XL |
| description | Product | advanced | product-specific value |
Configure attribute groups
Settings > Product Structure > Attributes > Add attribute group.We can translate all attribute groups. Add translations for each attribute in any required languages. For our Fashion Store, we need translations in French.
You can add attribute values for simple attributes in the tab “attributes” in the attribute group settings:
Attributes tab
You don’t need to manually set up attributes in the SCAYLE Panel. Attribute generation also happens automatically when you create products via Admin API. Find details about this in the next chapter.
Additionally, make sure you assign any attribute groups you’ve created to your master categories so you can see this information on the product detail page in the SCAYLE Panel. Consider if your product needs an attribute group, and if so, define it as mandatory to ensure the product is sellable.
Add attribute group
Settings > Product Structure > Categories > Add relevant attribute groups.Complete this step for all attribute groups, and don’t forget to save your changes.
Congratulations! You’ve set up your first attribute groups and master categories.
You now have a great base to create your first product in SCAYLE!
Finetune your product data in the SCAYLE panel
Luisa Pscherer
Solution Consultant
Product Data Management
Finetune your product data in the SCAYLE Panel
