[IMP] sales: updated variants doc for v16

closes odoo/documentation#7019

X-original-commit: c2c835c2d6
Signed-off-by: Kevin Scannell (ksc) <ksc@odoo.com>

content/applications/sales/sales/products_prices/products/variants.rst

@@ -2,186 +2,286 @@
 Product variants
 ================
 
-Product variants are used to give single products a variety of different characteristics, such as
-size and color. Products using variants can be managed at the product template level (for all
-attributes and variants of that product), and/or at the variant level (for individual variants).
+Product variants are used to give single products a variety of different characteristics and options
+for customers to choose from, such as size, style, or color, just to name a few.
 
-As an example, a company selling t-shirts may have the following product:
+Products variants can be managed via their individual product template, or by navigating to either
+the :guilabel:`Product Variants` or :guilabel:`Attributes` page. All of these options are located
+within the Odoo *Sales* application.
 
-- T-shirt
+.. example::
+   An apparel company has the following variant breakdown for one their best-selling t-shirts:
 
-  - Color: Blue, Red, White, Black
-  - Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL
+   - Unisex Classic Tee
 
-In this example, the **T-Shirt** is the product template, and **T-Shirt, S, Blue** is a product
-variant. **Color** and **size** are the attributes. **S** and **Blue** are values.
+     - Color: Blue, Red, White, Black
+     - Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL
 
-The above example has a total of 20 different product variants (5 sizes x 4 colors). Each one of
-these has its own inventory, sales, etc.
+   Here, the **T-shirt** is the product template, and **T-shirt: Blue, S** is a specific product
+   variant.
+
+   **Color** and **Size** are *attributes*, and the corresponding options (like **Blue** and **S**)
+   are *values*.
+
+   In this instance, there is a total of twenty different product variants: four **Color** options
+   multiplied by five **Size** options. Each variant has its own inventory count, sales totals, and
+   other similar records in Odoo.
+
+.. seealso::
+   :doc:`/applications/websites/ecommerce/managing_products/variants`
 
 Configuration
 =============
 
-Activating product variants
----------------------------
+To use product variants, the *Variants* setting **must** be activated in the Odoo *Sales*
+application.
 
-To use product variants, go to :menuselection:`Sales --> Configuration --> Settings -->
-Product Catalog`, and enable the :guilabel:`Variants` feature. Finally, click :guilabel:`Save` to
-apply the setting.
+To do that, go to :menuselection:`Sales app --> Configuration --> Settings`, and locate the
+:guilabel:`Product Catalog` section at the top of the page.
+
+In that section, check the box to enable the :guilabel:`Variants` feature.
 
 .. image:: variants/activating-variants-setting.png
    :align: center
-   :alt: Activating product variants.
+   :alt: Activating product variants on the Settings page of the Odoo Sales application.
 
-Creating attributes
--------------------
+Then, click :guilabel:`Save` at the top of the :guilabel:`Settings` page.
 
-Attributes need to be created before product variants can be set up. Attributes can be accessed
-via :menuselection:`Sales --> Configuration --> Products --> Attributes`.
+Attributes
+==========
+
+Before product variants can be set up, attributes **must** be created. To create, manage, and modify
+attributes, navigate to :menuselection:`Sales app --> Configuration --> Attributes`.
 
 .. note::
    The order of attributes on the :guilabel:`Attributes` page dictates how they appear on the
    :guilabel:`Product Configurator`, :guilabel:`Point of Sale` dashboard, and :guilabel:`eCommerce`
    pages.
 
-To create a new attribute, click :guilabel:`Create`. First, choose an attribute name, such as
-"Color" or "Size."
+To create a new attribute from the :guilabel:`Attributes` page, click :guilabel:`New`. Doing so
+reveals a blank attributes form that can be customized and configured in a number of ways.
 
 .. image:: variants/attribute-creation.png
    :align: center
-   :alt: Attribute creation window.
+   :alt: A blank attribute creation form in the Odoo Sales application.
 
-Then, select a :guilabel:`Display Type`, which determines how this product will be shown on the
-:guilabel:`eCommerce` page, :guilabel:`Point of Sale` dashboard, and :guilabel:`Product
-Configurator`.
+First, create an :guilabel:`Attribute Name`, such as `Color` or `Size`.
 
-- :guilabel:`Radio`: options appear in a bullet style list.
-- :guilabel:`Select`: options appear in a dropdown menu.
-- :guilabel:`Color`: options appear as small colored squares, which reflect any HTML color codes
-  set.
+Next, in the optional :guilabel:`Category` field, select a category from a drop-down menu to group
+similar attributes under the same section for added specificity and organization.
+
+.. note::
+   To view the details related to the attribute category selected, click the internal link
+   :guilabel:`➡️ (arrow)` icon to the far-right of the :guilabel:`Category` field. Doing so reveals
+   that attribute category's detail form.
+
+   .. image:: variants/attribute-category-internal-link.png
+      :align: center
+      :alt: A standard attribute category detail page accessible via its internal link arrow icon.
+
+   Here, the :guilabel:`Category Name` and :guilabel:`Sequence` is displayed at the top. Followed by
+   :guilabel:`Related Attributes` associated with the category. These attributes can be
+   dragged-and-dropped into a desirable order of priority.
+
+   Attributes can be directly added to the category, as well, by clicking :guilabel:`Add a line`.
+
+.. tip::
+   To create an attribute category directly from this field, start typing the name of the new
+   category, then select either :guilabel:`Create` or :guilabel:`Create and edit...` from the
+   drop-down menu that appears.
+
+   Clicking :guilabel:`Create` creates the category, which can be modified later. Clicking
+   :guilabel:`Create and edit...` creates the category and reveals a :guilabel:`Create Category`
+   pop-up window, in which the new attribute category can be configured and customized.
+
+Beneath the :guilabel:`Category` field are the :guilabel:`Display Type` options. The
+:guilabel:`Display Type` determines how this product is shown on the online store, :guilabel:`Point
+of Sale` dashboard, and :guilabel:`Product Configurator`.
+
+The :guilabel:`Display Type` options are:
+
+- :guilabel:`Radio`: options appear in a bullet-style list on the product page of the online store.
+- :guilabel:`Pills`: options appear as selectable buttons on the product page of the online store.
+- :guilabel:`Select`: options appear in a drop-down menu on the product page of the online store.
+- :guilabel:`Color`: options appear as small, colored squares, which reflect any HTML color codes
+  set, on the product page of the online store.
 
 .. image:: variants/display-types.png
    :align: center
-   :alt: Display Types on Product Configurator.
+   :alt: Display Types on Product Configurator on the online store in Odoo.
 
-The :guilabel:`Variants Creation Mode` informs Odoo when to automatically create a new variant once
-an attribute is added to a product.
+The :guilabel:`Variants Creation Mode` field informs Odoo when to automatically create a new variant
+once an attribute is added to a product.
 
 - :guilabel:`Instantly`: creates all possible variants as soon as attributes and values are added
   to a product template.
-- :guilabel:`Dynamically`: creates variants only when corresponding attributes and values are added
-  to a sales order.
-- :guilabel:`Never`: never automatically creates variants.
+- :guilabel:`Dynamically`: creates variants **only** when corresponding attributes and values are
+  added to a sales order.
+- :guilabel:`Never (option)`: never automatically creates variants.
 
-.. note::
+.. warning::
    Once added to a product, an attribute's :guilabel:`Variants Creation Mode` cannot be edited.
 
-Values should be added to an attribute before saving, but more values can be added at any time,
-if needed. To add a value, click :guilabel:`Add a line`. From there, you can:
+Lastly, the :guilabel:`eCommerce Filter Visibility` field determines whether these attribute options
+are visible to the customer on the front-end, as they shop on the online store.
 
-#. Type in the value's name.
-#. Check a box to indicate whether or not the value is custom (i.e. the customer provides unique
-   specifications).
-#. Specifically for colors, add an HTML color code to make it even easier for salespeople and
-   customers to know what they're selecting.
+- :guilabel:`Visible`: the attribute values are visible to customers on the front-end.
+- :guilabel:`Hidden`: the attribute values are hidden from customers on the front-end.
 
-A color code can be selected either by dragging the slider around or by entering a specific HTML
-color code (e.g. #FF0077).
+Attribute values
+----------------
 
-.. image:: variants/picking-a-color.png
-   :align: center
-   :alt: Selecting a color.
+Attribute values should be added to the :guilabel:`Attribute Values` tab. Values can be added to an
+attribute at any time, if needed.
 
-Finally, click :guilabel:`Save` to finish creating the attribute.
+To add a value, click :guilabel:`Add a line` in the :guilabel:`Attribute Values` tab.
+
+Then, enter the name of the value in the :guilabel:`Value` column. Next, check the box in the
+:guilabel:`Is custom value` column, if the value is custom (i.e. the customer gets to provide unique
+specifications that are specific to this particular value).
+
+.. note::
+   If the :guilabel:`Display Type` - :guilabel:`Color` option is selected, the option to add an HTML
+   color code will appear to the far-right of the value line, to make it easier for salespeople and
+   customers to know exactly what color option they're choosing.
+
+   .. image:: variants/attribute-value-add-a-line.png
+      :align: center
+      :alt: Attribute values tab when add a line is clicked, showing the custom columns.
+
+   To choose a color, click the blank circle in the :guilabel:`Color` column, which reveals an HTML
+   color selector pop-up window.
+
+   .. image:: variants/picking-a-color.png
+      :align: center
+      :alt: Selecting a color from the HTML color pop-up window that appears on attribute form.
+
+   In this pop-up window, select a specific color by dragging the color slider to a particular hue,
+   and clicking on the color portion directly on the color gradient window.
+
+   Or, choose a specific color by clicking the *dropper* icon, and selecting a desired color that's
+   currently clickable on the screen.
 
 .. tip::
    Attributes can also be created directly from the product template by adding a new line and
    typing the name into the :guilabel:`Variants` tab.
 
-After an attribute is added to a product, a new tab appears on the attribute's page called
-:guilabel:`Related Products`. This tab lists every product in the database that is currently using
-the attribute.
+Once an attribute is added to a product, that product is listed and accessible, via the attribute's
+:guilabel:`Related Products` smart button. That button lists every product in the database currently
+using that attribute.
 
-Creating product variants
--------------------------
+Product variants
+================
 
-After creating an attribute, use the attribute to create a product variant by going to
-:menuselection:`Sales --> Products --> Products`. Then, select an existing product and click
-:guilabel:`Edit`, or create a new product by clicking :guilabel:`Create`.
+Once an attribute is created, use the attribute (and its values) to create a product variant. To do
+that, go to :menuselection:`Sales app --> Products --> Products`, and select an existing product to
+view that desired product's form. Or, click :guilabel:`Create` to create a new product, to which a
+product variant can be added.
 
-The :guilabel:`Variants` smart button at the top of the product template indicates the number of
-currently configured variants on the product.
+On the product form, click the :guilabel:`Attributes \& Variants` tab to view, manage, and modify
+attributes and values for the product.
 
-To add a new variant, click on the :guilabel:`Variants` tab, then click on :guilabel:`Add a line`
-to add any attributes and values. When all the attributes and values have been added, click
-:guilabel:`Save`.
+.. image:: variants/attributes-values-tab.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The attributes and values tab on a typical product form in Odoo Sales.
+
+To add an attribute to a product, and subsequent attribute values, click :guilabel:`Add a line` in
+the :guilabel:`Attributes \& Variants` tab. Then, choose the desired attribute from the drop-down
+menu that appears.
+
+.. tip::
+   Attributes can be created directly from the :guilabel:`Attributes \& Variants` tab of a product
+   form. To do that, start typing the name of the new attribute in the blank field, and select
+   either :guilabel:`Create` or :guilabel:`Create and edit...` from the mini drop-down menu that
+   appears.
+
+   Clicking :guilabel:`Create` creates the attribute, which can be customized later. Clicking
+   :guilabel:`Create and edit...` creates the attribute, and a :guilabel:`Create Attribute` pop-up
+   form appears. In the pop-up form, proceed to modify the attribute in a number of ways.
+
+Once an attribute is selected in the :guilabel:`Attribute` column, proceed to select the specific
+attribute values to apply to the product, via the drop-down menu available in the :guilabel:`Values`
+column.
+
+.. note::
+   There is no limit to how many values can be added.
 
 .. tip::
    Similar product variant creation processes are accessible through the Purchase, Inventory, and
    eCommerce applications.
 
-Managing product exclusions
----------------------------
+Configure variants
+------------------
 
-The following examples are all based on a product template that has two attributes:
+To the far-right of the attribute line is a :guilabel:`Configure` button. When clicked, Odoo reveals
+a separate page showcasing those specific :guilabel:`Product Variant Values`.
 
-- T-Shirt
-
-  - Color: Blue, Red, White
-  - Size: S, M, L, XL, XXL
-
-With the above product template, there are 15 different t-shirt variants in three different colors
-and five different sizes. If the white t-shirts are not available in the XXL size, then that
-variant can be deactivated.
-
-To deactivate a particular product variant, go to :menuselection:`Sales --> Products --> Products`
-and select the relevant product. Next, click on the :guilabel:`Configure` button next to the
-relevant attribute value. Then select the relevant value (in this example, the :guilabel:`White
-Color` attribute), and then click on :guilabel:`Edit`.
-
-In the :guilabel:`Exclude for` section, click :guilabel:`Add a line` and select any product(s)
-and/or specific attribute values that are currently unavailable. Finally, click :guilabel:`Save` to
-apply the setting, and Odoo will automatically show the product variant as unavailable on the
-eCommerce page.
-
-.. image:: variants/attributes-exclusions.png
+.. image:: variants/product-variant-values.png
    :align: center
-   :alt: Excluding attributes.
+   :alt: The Product Variant Values page accessible via the Configure button on a product form.
 
-Setting a price per variant
----------------------------
+Here, the specific :guilabel:`Value` name, :guilabel:`HTML Color Index` (if applicable), and
+:guilabel:`Value Price Extra` are viewable.
 
-Extra costs can be added to a product's standard price for specific product variants.
+.. note::
+   The :guilabel:`Value Price Extra` represents the increase in the sales price if the attribute is
+   selected.
 
-To do this, open :menuselection:`Sales --> Products --> Products`, and click on the relevant
-product. Next, click on :guilabel:`Configure Variants` to access the list of product variant
-values.
+When a value is clicked on the :guilabel:`Product Variant Values` page, Odoo reveals a separate
+page, detailing that value's related details.
 
-Then, click on a variant value, and :guilabel:`Edit`. In the :guilabel:`Value Price Extra` field,
-type in the additional cost for this particular value. This amount is added to the standard price.
-Finally, click :guilabel:`Save` to apply the extra price to the value.
-
-.. image:: variants/value-price-extra.png
+.. image:: variants/product-variant-value-page.png
    :align: center
-   :alt: Value Price Extra setting.
+   :alt: A Product Variant Values page accessible via the Product Variants Values general page.
+
+On the specific product variant detail page, the :guilabel:`Value` and :guilabel:`Value Price Extra`
+fields can be found, along with an :guilabel:`Exclude for` field.
+
+In the :guilabel:`Exclude for` field, different :guilabel:`Product Templates` and specific
+:guilabel:`Attribute Values` can be added. When added, this specific attribute value will be
+excluded from those specific products.
+
+Variants smart button
+---------------------
+
+When a product has attributes and variants configured in its :guilabel:`Attributes \& Variants` tab,
+a :guilabel:`Variants` smart button appears at the top of the product form. The :guilabel:`Variants`
+smart button indicates how many variants are currently configured for that specific product.
+
+.. image:: variants/variants-smart-button.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The variants smart button at the top of the product form in Odoo Sales.
+
+When the :guilabel:`Variants` smart button is clicked, Odoo reveals a separate page showcasing all
+the specific product variant combinations configured for that specific product.
+
+.. image:: variants/variants-page.png
+   :align: center
+   :alt: The variants page accessible via the variants smart button on the product form in Odoo.
 
 Impact of variants
 ==================
 
-- :guilabel:`Barcode`: barcodes are associated with each variant instead of the product template.
-  Each individual variant can have its own unique barcode/SKU.
+In addition to offering more detailed product options to customers, product variants have their own
+impacts that can be taken advantage of throughout the Odoo database.
 
+- :guilabel:`Barcode`: barcodes are associated with each variant, instead of the product template.
+  Each individual variant can have its own unique barcode/SKU.
 - :guilabel:`Price`: every product variant has its own public price, which is the sum of the
-  product template price and any extra charges for particular attributes. For example, a red
-  shirt's cost is $23 because the shirt's template price is $20, plus an additional $3 for the red
-  color variant. Pricelist rules can be configured to apply to the product template or to the
-  variant.
+  product template price *and* any extra charges for particular attributes.
+
+  .. example::
+   A red shirt's sales price is $23 -- because the shirt's template price is $20, plus an additional
+   $3 for the red color variant. Pricelist rules can be configured to apply to the product template,
+   or to the variant.
 
 - :guilabel:`Inventory`: inventory is counted for each individual product variant. On the product
   template form, the inventory reflects the sum of all variants, but the actual inventory is
   computed by individual variants.
-
 - :guilabel:`Picture`: each product variant can have its own specific picture.
 
 .. note::
    Changes to the product template automatically apply to every variant of that product.
+
+.. seealso::
+   :doc:`import`