Intro

This VirtueMart plugin is dedicated to all e-commerce that sell products definable by variants size and color.
The main feature of this extension is that, compared to all other competitors, it does nothing but create a convenient interface for creating and managing product variants (the child products) using all the features that are natively already present in VirtueMart but by automating all those processes that otherwise would have to be done by hand.
Ironically, it is possible to install this plugin, use it and uninstall it without affecting its operation of the store itself.

Minimum requirements:

• Joomla 3.9.x
• VirtueMart 3.8.x
• It is also compatible with the new VirtueMart BE theme.

Setup

The plugin installs like any other Joomla plugin. Just follow the instructions below:

• Log in to the control panel.
• From the upper menu select the item Extensions → Manage → Install.
• Drag the vmsizecolor.zip file into the dedicated frame or select it using the button Upload the file.

Once installed, just enable and configure it from the appropriate section Extensions → Plugin.

Configuration

Once the plugin is installed, from the main backend menu, access the Extensions section → Plugin . Click on Size and Color Smart System for VirtueMart in order to open the configuration form.
The plugin consists of four main tabs:

• Plugin - Includes main setting items.
• Colors - This is the color management form.
• Sizes - This is the size management form.
• Documentation - The guide to the functions and configurations of the plugin.

Plugin

In this tab there is the fundamental part of the configuration of this plugin. It consists of four settings:

• The selection of the custom field Multi variant. This must be created in VirtueMart → Products → Custom Fields set as follows:
  • Custom Field Type: Multi Variant
  • Published: Yes
  • Cart Attribute: No
  • Cart Input: No
  • Searchable: No
  • Layout Position: addtocart
  You can also use both ajax and classic mode by setting the Use ajax in browse view item in relation to Yes or No. The other items must be left with the default parameters.
• The selection of the custom field Color. This value is optional. It should be used if you want use the variants Size/Color in the VirtueMart search engine and/or if you want to show Size/Color in the cart, in the order and in the invoice. This must be created in VirtueMart → Products → Custom Fields set as follows:
  • Custom Field Type: String
  • Published: Yes
  • Cart Attribute: Yes
  • Cart Input: No
  • Searchable: Yes
  • Layout Position: hidden
  The other items must be left with the default parameters.
• The selection of the custom field Size. This value is optional. It should be used if you want use the variants Size/Color in the VirtueMart search engine and/or if you want to show Size/Color in the cart, in the order and in the invoice. This must be created in VirtueMart → Products → Custom Fields set as follows:
  • Custom Field Type: String
  • Published: Yes
  • Cart Attribute: Yes
  • Cart Input: No
  • Searchable: Yes
  • Layout Position: hidden
  The other items must be left with the default parameters.
• Enabling logs is an unused option.

Once these fields have been configured and the plugin enabled, we are ready to use it.

Colors

In this tab you can start populating the list of colors which will then be available in the product sheet by VirtueMart. It is not essential to do this now as you can also add colors directly from the form product management. In any case, each color is made up of 7 fields.

• Cod. Color
• Color label
• Color 1
• Color 2
• Color 3
• Color 4
• Texture

The first field (Cod. Color) has been inserted if the site has a bridge that imports the products from an external source. Color Label is the field for the name of that color or combination of colors (supports language variables) which can be set in subsequent fields (up to 4 colors + 1 texture). Of course, you can also set just the texture as a variant.

Sizes

As for the color list, the size list will also be available in the product sheet by VirtueMart. It is not essential to fill it in now as you can also add sizes directly from the product management form. In any case, each color is composed only of the Size field (which supports language variables).

How to use?

Once a parent product has been created (E.g .: Summer jersey) we can see that at the end of the main tabs Size/Color Variants has also been added. From here it will be possible:

• Add colors.
• Add the sizes.
• Select colors and sizes for the product in question.
• Automatically generate child variants already configured.
• Access the generated variants.
• Manage images for each variant (with multiple image uploads).
• Manage inventory.
• Manage variant SKUs.
• Manage variant GTINs.
• Publish / Unpublish variants.

All these actions do not require saving the parent product as they are done runtime via ajax. The only thing to remember is that all variants are generated without being published. It is an operation that it must be done manually (always from sight) for obvious reasons.