Create a Variation Listing - Quick Guide

Last updated 2020-10-03

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Use the Advanced or Business Listing form, not the Quick Lister or Mobile App.
Start a new listing (not a sell-similar, not a revision, not a relist).
Select your item Category, and immediately check whether Variations are supported in that category. Look for a "Variation" button just below the category selection.
If variations are supported, then continue here.

Up to 5 "Attributes" (drop list groups) are allowed (fewer in some categories).
Up to 60 "Options" are allowed in each drop list (more in some categories). If more than 60 are needed, split across more "Attributes".
A maximum of 250 total "Combinations" are allowed (not the implied 300).

Up to 12 photos may be uploaded for the listing's default view.
Up to 12 photos are allowed for each dropdown option within one attribute group, but only one attribute group may include option photos, so collect the appropriate photo sets before starting.

On the Variations screen, click the +Add button to open a premade list of Attributes.
Checkmark no more than 5 Attributes that will label each drop list (or Add your own) and click "Save".
Now click each chosen Attribute, and for each one, select no more than 60 premade "options" or create your own options.
The "Options" toggle on or off and selections will migrate to the right panel.
When all Variations and their Options have been added, rearrange if necessary in the right panel. Up/Down arrows move the attribute group, while the options can be dragged left or right to rearrange.
Click "Update variations" when the structure is created, and continue on to the variation details page.
You will be asked whether you want to manually build your variation Combinations or whether they should be automatically built for you. If new to variations, it may be simpler to let the system build your Combinations and then delete any you don't want when you get to that screen.

The Variation Photos screen will appear where you can add up to 12 default photos. Default photos will be shown to visitors who have not yet made any variation selections.
Below the photo grid, you can choose to use these default photos for all variations, or you can select one of your Attributes and set up photos for all the Options in that Attribute.
If you choose an Attribute, you will be able to upload up to 12 photos for each Option in that Attribute.

Below the photo grid is a grid for your Combination details.
Every Combination of every Option can be built, and there will be a row for each.
Delete any Combinations you don't plan to support, or those in excess of the 250 limit on Combinations.
The Combinations can be edited in bulk or individually.
- For individual editing, change the data directly in the grid.
- For bulk editing, checkmark the affected rows. Click a field button above, add the value, and apply in bulk.
When adding available quantity, zero quantity can only be used if out-of-stock is enabled. If not, then any Combinations with zero quantity will be purged later when publishing the listing.
When finished, click "Save and close" to return to the main listing form.

The remainder of your listing can be completed normally.
Revising the variations:
- At any point you may return to the variation details screen to edit any of the Combinations with no ill effect.
- If you need to change the structure (on the Attributes and Options screen), you may lose some of your variation work.
- If Attributes or Options are added or removed, it is safer to choose to manually add new combinations, instead of automatically updating, to avoid clearing the grid details.
The popup preview links are disabled, so the variation drop menus are not testable.
Optionally submit as scheduled listing to view droplists prior to public display.
Submit listing when all fields are populated