Virtual Parent Code (VPC) and Members
The VIRTUALPARENTCODE field and the MEMBERS field both create an association between individual products.
Virtual parent code
The VIRTUALPARENTCODE is used to associate items together by creating a "sibling" relationship among products that share the same virtual parent code. It is not an identifier for an actual product.
Example: paperback, hardcover, and ebook variations of a book. Each variation is related to the other variations because the content of the books is the same.
The VIRTUALPARENTCODE field contains a string that you define as the unique way to identify a set of associated products.
Here’s an example of how to use the VIRTUALPARENTCODE field (several fields omitted for simplicity):
SKU | TITLE | VIRTUALPARENTCODE |
|---|---|---|
45722 | Selling Llamas Online (paperback) | 5a2c28-llama |
45723 | Selling Llamas Online (hardcover) | 5a2c28-llama |
65270 | Selling Llamas Online (ebook) | 5a2c28-llama |
Example: Virtual parent code in tab-delimited format
SKU TITLE VIRTUALPARENTCODE
45722 Selling Llamas Online (paperback) 5a2c28-llama
45723 Selling Llamas Online (hardcover) 5a2c28-llama
65270 Selling Llamas Online (ebook) 5a2c28-llamaHow virtual parent codes impact your installation
Reviews and questions for each "sibling" product (any product that shares the same virtual parent code) can display as related content in each of the other siblings' review and Q&A widgets.
In the book example, the VIRTUALPARENTCODE field creates the following "related content" relationships:
Members
Use MEMBERS when an ID includes one or more products that are also listed under their own ID.
Example: a camera kit. All of the pieces can be sold individually, but the kit has its own ID, title, price, product image, etc.
The MEMBERS field contains a comma-separated set of the IDs that this item contains.
Here’s an example of how to use the MEMBERS field (several fields omitted for simplicity):
ID | TITLE | MEMBERS |
|---|---|---|
99674 | Camera Kit | 78515, 95178, 98254 |
78515 | Digital SLR Camera | |
95178 | Camera Carrying Case | |
98254 | 50mm Lens |
Example: Members in tab-delimited format
ID TITLE MEMBERS
99674 Camera Kit 78515, 95178, 98254
78515 Digital SLR Camera
95178 Camera Carrying Case
98254 50mm LensHow members impact your installation
Reviews and questions for the bundle can display as related content in the individual members' review and Q&A widgets. Reviews and questions for each member product can display as related content in the bundle product’s review and Q&A widgets.
In the camera kit example, the MEMBERS field creates the following "related content" relationships:
The MEMBERS field does not create any relationship between the individual bundle members. In other words, they don’t become "sibling" products.