Title: Help with variable products
Last modified: May 12, 2018

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# Help with variable products

 *  Resolved [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * (@craftheavenlk)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/)
 * I’m completely new to WooCommerce, and am looking for help uploading variable
   products via csv files.
    I exported the sample file (Xadapter) and cross-referenced
   with documentation to make sure I filled in everything correctly. I listed the
   parent product and child products individually and put the parent sku with each
   of the child products. After uploading, when I checked the category page, the
   parent shows the Select Options button but no options are listed on the product
   page. When I then link the variations manually via the Dashboard, the options
   do show on the product page.
 * I have several questions:
    – Is there a way to automatically upload and link 
   variations without having to manually link via the Dashboard. I’ve also tested
   WP All Import live demo, and that doesn’t seem to apply the options automatically
   either. – I want to manage stock at variation level. Do I also need to manage
   at product level? If so, do I manually enter the total of all variations as the
   product total, or if I leave that blank will it automatically calculate? – I 
   don’t want the child products visible individually, only as options under the
   parent product. Do I select hidden/private for the child products?
 * (I’ve linked to one of my parent products that should have 2 variations but these
   aren’t showing.)
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fhelp-with-variable-products%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

 *  [reygoch](https://wordpress.org/support/users/reygoch/)
 * (@reygoch)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273383)
 * Can you post your CSV file? There is a difference between variable and grouped
   product. For variable product you have to set attribute that you are using for
   variation.
 * Try to create one product in the administration the way it should be and than
   export that data to CSV, open that CSV and compare it with your version to see
   where you made a mistake.
 *  Thread Starter [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * (@craftheavenlk)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273438)
 * Hi.
    I did initially create products in admin and then used the exported file.
   That didn’t work for me either – it gave me parent and child columns but when
   I tried to upload, the mapping options only gave me parent and not child. I subsequently
   got on better when I downloaded sample files.
 * Sorry, I can’t see how to attach my csv file here?
 *  [reygoch](https://wordpress.org/support/users/reygoch/)
 * (@reygoch)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273530)
 * [@craftheavenlk](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/) just upload
   it to google docs or something like that and share a link.
 *  Thread Starter [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * (@craftheavenlk)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273538)
 * [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NN_PHppo5Q67Es2CGWSeb_jYBHusSv7B/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NN_PHppo5Q67Es2CGWSeb_jYBHusSv7B/view?usp=sharing)
 *  [reygoch](https://wordpress.org/support/users/reygoch/)
 * (@reygoch)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273622)
 * I’m not sure what happened there, but it seems like your exported file is all
   jumbled up. It has “t” as a separator instead of “,” for some reason and even
   than it is incorrect. Have you just uploaded it to the google docs or did you“
   import” it into google sheet?
 * Here is an example of properly formatted product file and you can see how variations
   are formed:
 * [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y9Rec3BVCwj9q34QZHUJ1piDu8-CMRbkAIWcdvplXX4/edit?usp=sharing](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Y9Rec3BVCwj9q34QZHUJ1piDu8-CMRbkAIWcdvplXX4/edit?usp=sharing)
 * Basically, you need to set product type to variation, and than set proudct parent
   to “id:parent_id” or “sku:parent_sku” and you than in attribute columns fill 
   out attributes that are specific for that variation.
 *  Thread Starter [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * (@craftheavenlk)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10273646)
 * Sorry, I’ve only used google docs before via emails. Have tried importing into
   spreadsheet but it’s still jumbled. Am linking to screenshots instead.
 * [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gGOMSUlY1qcQhi2QGIETRblHOwH1Wl67/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gGOMSUlY1qcQhi2QGIETRblHOwH1Wl67/view?usp=sharing)
   
   [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QPld6MyxDJMlxUA2cDoEN8_Vbg1x7MOg/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QPld6MyxDJMlxUA2cDoEN8_Vbg1x7MOg/view?usp=sharing)
 * Have checked your file and seems to be what I’ve done. Will go through it again.
 *  Thread Starter [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * (@craftheavenlk)
 * [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10278041)
 * Have done some more tweaking and my products are now uploading correctly in the
   sandbox temporary demo site, but the exact same csv file still doesn’t upload
   correctly to my own site.
    I’m guessing there’s some kind of conflict but have
   now idea how to proceed?
 * Am linking to screenshots of sandbox and actual sites, for comparison.
    Demo:
   [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hy_plrnArqXhd6xZoQQ-bRMtZCIV-qGt/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hy_plrnArqXhd6xZoQQ-bRMtZCIV-qGt/view?usp=sharing)
   Live: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SiMzyyrA9MTuXM51Glze7cam9ySy3epc/view?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SiMzyyrA9MTuXM51Glze7cam9ySy3epc/view?usp=sharing)

Viewing 7 replies - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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## Tags

 * [bulk upload](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/bulk-upload/)
 * [csv](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/csv/)
 * [variables](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/variables/)

 * 7 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Teresa Mc Bride](https://wordpress.org/support/users/craftheavenlk/)
 * Last activity: [8 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/help-with-variable-products/#post-10278041)
 * Status: resolved