Use characteristics without variants

-- HikaShop version -- : 6.1.0
-- Joomla version -- : ‎5.3.3
-- PHP version -- : 8.0.2
-- Browser(s) name and version -- : Brave 1.81.136

I'm building a webshop for window-decorations, so I need a lot of characteristics (about 240 RAL colours, structured paint or not, etc...) So Hikashop is good with the custom fields to enter the dimensions and I think I understand the Characteristics with their variants.... But in my case the price does not change, I just need that selected info in the order. To create 1 product now, I need 480 variants (each RAL colour x Structured paint or not) Is there not another, smarter way to just add 'options' to a product without all the variants (that need to be clicked 1 by 1 in the Characteristics list)

Hi,

Instead of using a characteristic, configure a custom field of the table "item", but instead of selecting the type "text", use the type "single dropdown". That way, you can enter all the possible values in the custom field, and then, in each product the user will be able to use the dropdown of that custom field, like he would be with a characteristic.

Can you define different prices, pictures, SKUs and SEFs this way?

Hi,

If you need to change the price based on the selection in custom fields, you can use the price calculations plugin:
www.hikashop.com/marketplace/product/148...ce-calculations.html
However, you can't change the images, SKU or SEF information based on the selection in the custom fields of a product.
If you need that, then variants are the way to go.
Note that you can potentially combine both and use characteristics for some, and custom item fields for others.