The Product Attributes module allows you to define the characteristics that differentiate variants of a product, such as Colour, Size, Material, Capacity, or Pack Size. Rather than creating separate Product Master records for every variation, attributes and their values are defined once, enabling the system to automatically generate all valid product configurations.

Each Product can have a single Product Attributes record that contains its attribute definitions, possible values, generated configurations, and business rules for allowed or restricted combinations. This approach simplifies product management while ensuring consistency across sales, inventory, procurement, and manufacturing processes.

Purpose

The Product Attributes module enables your organisation to:

• Define product variants using configurable attributes.
• Maintain multiple attribute values for a product.
• Automatically generate valid product configurations.
• Eliminate the need to create separate Product Master records for each variant.
• Apply business rules to allow or restrict specific attribute combinations.
• Support configurable products across sales, inventory, manufacturing, and procurement.
• Maintain a consistent product variant structure throughout the ERP.

Navigation

Product → Product Attributes

Key Features

The Product Attributes module provides the following capabilities:

• Product attribute management
• Multiple attribute value definition
• Automatic product configuration generation
• Variant combination management
• Sell Quantity Update configuration
• Combination rule management
• Product variant maintenance
• Change history tracking

Screen Overview

The Product Attributes module enables authorised users to define product variants by creating attributes and assigning possible values to each attribute.

Once the attributes and values are defined, the system automatically generates all possible product configurations, which can be further refined by adding or removing specific combinations or by applying business rules.

The screen includes the following sections:

Section	Description
Product Information	Selects the Product Master record and displays the product description.
Attributes & Values	Defines product attributes (such as Colour or Size) and their available values.
Product Configurations	Automatically generates all valid product variant combinations based on the defined attributes and values.
Combination Rules	Allows users to define Allowed or Not Allowed combinations for specific attribute values.

Data Model

The Product Attributes module stores variant information using a hierarchical structure consisting of Product Attributes, Attribute Lines, Attribute Values, Product Configurations, and Combination Rules.

Product Attributes

The Product Attributes record is linked directly to a Product Master. Each Product can have only one Product Attributes record, which stores the complete variant definition for that product.

Information Stored

Category	Information
Product Reference	Product ID, Product Description
Attribute Information	Attribute ID
Audit Information	Created By, Created Date, Updated By, Updated Date

Attribute Lines

Each Attribute Line represents one configurable product characteristic, such as Colour, Size, Material, or Pack Size.

Each attribute contains one or more values and may optionally be designated as the Sell Quantity Update attribute for quantity conversion purposes.

Attribute Values

Each Attribute contains one or more possible values.

For example:

• Colour
  • Black
  • White
  • Blue
• Size
  • Small
  • Medium
  • Large

The system uses these values to generate product configurations automatically.

Product Configurations

The system automatically creates product configurations by generating every valid combination of attribute values.

For example:

Colour	Size
Black	Small
Black	Medium
White	Small
White	Medium

Users may manually add or remove configurations when required.

Combination Rules

Combination Rules allow organisations to explicitly allow or block specific combinations of attribute values.

For example:

• Allow Black + Large
• Block White + Small

These rules help ensure only commercially valid product variants are available for business transactions.

Entity Relationship

Product Master
│
└── Product Attributes
      │
      ├── Attribute Lines
      │      └── Attribute Values
      │
      ├── Product Configurations
      │
      └── Combination Rules

The Product Attributes record serves as the parent entity, while Attribute Lines, Attribute Values, Product Configurations, and Combination Rules work together to define and manage all product variants for a single Product Master.

How It Works

Creating Product Attributes generally follows these steps:

1. Create a new Product Attributes record.
2. Select the Product Master.
3. Add one or more product attributes.
4. Define one or more values for each attribute.
5. Optionally configure the Sell Quantity Update attribute.
6. Allow the system to automatically generate product configurations.
7. Review and adjust generated configurations if required.
8. Create Allowed or Not Allowed combination rules where necessary.
9. Save the Product Attributes record.

After saving, the generated product variants become available for use throughout GEMS ERP wherever configurable products are supported.

Best Practices

• Create Product Attributes only after the Product Master has been created.
• Use meaningful attribute names such as Colour, Size, or Material.
• Ensure every attribute contains at least one value.
• Configure only one Sell Quantity Update attribute per product.
• Review automatically generated configurations before saving.
• Use Combination Rules instead of deleting configurations when restricting specific variants.
• Update product variants whenever new product options become available.

Next Steps

The Product Attributes module is divided into the following sections, each covered in its own User Guide page:

1. Product Attributes List
2. Create Product Attributes
3. Edit Product Attributes
4. View Product Attributes
5. Manage Attributes
6. Manage Attribute Values
7. Product Configurations
8. Combination Rules

Each section explains its purpose, available fields, and the steps required to configure and maintain product variants within GEMS ERP.