Setting Up Combined Listings (Limited Access)

Combined listings is a SHOPLINE app that lets you present multiple independent products as a single, unified storefront page, connected through shared option selectors such as Color or Size. Instead of sending customers to separate, disconnected pages, you can group related products together, allowing customers to seamlessly switch to the corresponding product when selecting different options, without requiring a full page refresh.

This guide explains how to create a combined listing, edit linked products and option values, and manage combined listing configurations from the app.

How Combined listings Work

Combined listings unify multiple related products into a single entry point, allowing customers to explore variations and switch between products seamlessly using option selectors.

When to Use Combined Listings

The Combined listings app is especially useful when your product range includes items that are closely related but managed as separate listings.

For example:

• A sofa collection with different colors and seating configurations (e.g., 2-seater, 3-seater)
• A clothing line where different silhouettes (e.g., T-shirt, hoodie) share the same style family
• A footwear collection where different styles (e.g., low-top, high-top, or other design variations) share the same design or theme

Without Combined listings, these products would exist as separate pages, making it harder for customers to compare options or switch between variations. With the app, you can unify them into a single browsing experience.

How the Combined Listing Structure Works

When you set up a combined listing configuration, SHOPLINE creates a parent product that serves as the storefront entry point. The parent product displays the option names and values you define (e.g., Color: Red / Blue, Seating Capacity: 2-seater / 3-seater). Each combination of option values is linked to one of your existing products, known as child products.

This allows you to manage 2-seater and 3-seater sofas within the same collection as separate products, while grouping them under a single entry page using options such as "Color" and "Seating Capacity" for easy switching and browsing.

Storefront Experience

In the storefront, customers interact with the parent product’s option selectors. When a specific combination is selected (e.g., Olive Green + 3-Seater), the page seamlessly switches to the corresponding child product page without requiring a full page refresh.

Key Concepts

• Parent product: The combined listing hub that displays all options and values. 
• Child product: An existing product linked to a specific option value combination, which can be purchased directly. Once the customization is completed by contacting SHOPLINE Support, the product can be purchased directly.
• Option names: The dimensions customers choose from (e.g., Color, Seating Capacity). Up to 5 per configuration.
• Option values: The selectable values within each option (e.g., Red, Blue; 2-seater, 3-seater). Each combination maps to one child product.

Prerequisites for Combined Listings

• Your store must have access to the Combined listings app. Contact SHOPLINE Support if you’re interested in enabling this feature for your store.
• Prepare the child products you want to link before creating the combined listing.
• Only eligible products can be added. Products that are already part of another combined listing configuration, subscription products, and bundled-set products may not be available for selection.
• Make sure each linked product has the correct price, inventory, images, and sales channel settings. These details are still managed from each linked product page.

Creating a Combined Listing

To create a new combined listing configuration:

1. In your SHOPLINE admin panel, go to Apps > Combined listings, then click Create.

   

2. In the Product title field, enter a name for this configuration (maximum 255 characters). This becomes the title of the parent product displayed on the storefront.
3. Click Add product to open the product selector pop-up window.
4. Search for and select the products you want to include, then click Confirm. The product selector shows only eligible regular products, and you can link up to 60 child products per configuration.

5. In the Variant list section, set up your option structure:

   • Enter an option name (e.g., Color).
   • Enter the option values and press Enter after each value (e.g., Red, Blue). Each option value name is limited to 255 characters.
   • To add another option name, click + Add option. You can add up to 5 option names.
   • If needed, click Sort options and drag to adjust the order, or click the trash icon to delete an option.

   

6. In the Multiple variants section, link each option value combination to a child product:

   • Use the dropdowns to select the option value combination for each product.
   • To replace a linked product, click the replace icon and select another product.
   • To remove a linked product, click the trash icon.
   • To add more linked products, click + Add product.

   

7. Check the SKU selector preview panel on the right to verify how the options will appear to customers. Click any option value label to confirm the linked product is correct.

   

8. Click Add to save the configuration.

Editing a Combined Listing

To edit an existing configuration:

1. Go to Apps > Combined listings to open the configuration list.

2. Find the configuration you want to edit and click its name to open the edit page.

   

3. Update the title, option names, option values, or linked child products as needed.

   Note: Option value names cannot be edited directly on the parent product’s Admin page. To rename an option value, return to the Combined listings app and edit the configuration here.

4. Click Update to save your changes.

Managing Your Combined Listing List

The app’s list page gives you an overview of all your configurations. From here you can:

• Search: Enter a product name in the search bar to filter results by title (prefix match).
• Filter by status: Use the Status dropdown to filter by Active, Inactive, or Archived.
• Sort: Click the sort icon to sort by product name (A–Z or Z–A), creation time, or last updated time.

Available actions for each configuration:

• View in Admin: Click the external link icon to open the parent product’s Admin edit page in a new tab.
• Preview on storefront: Click the eye icon to open the parent product’s storefront page in a new tab.
• Delete: Click the trash icon to delete the configuration. This removes the parent product and all combined listing relationships. The child products themselves are not deleted.

Viewing Combined Listing Details on Product Pages

Combined listing information also appears on related product pages in your admin panel.

Parent Product Page

When you open the parent product, the Combined listings section shows the option values and linked child products.

• You can open the Combined listings app from this section.
• You can edit option value images or colors when editing is available.
• You can open linked child product pages in a new tab.

Child Product Page

When you open a child product, the Combined listings section shows the parent product and the option values connected to that child product.

This section is for reference only. Manage option values and linked products from the Combined listings app.

Important Notes for Combined Listings

• Access is required: This app requires activation upon request. To enable it, please contact SHOPLINE Customer Support.
• Linked products stay separate: Prices, inventory, images, and availability are managed on each linked product page.
• Parent products are managed differently: Standard price, inventory, shipping, and variant management are not handled from the parent product page.
• Limits apply: Each configuration supports up to 5 options and 60 linked products. A store can create up to 5,000 combined listing configurations.
• Copied parent products become regular products: When a combined listing parent product is copied, the copy does not keep the combined listing relationship.
• Customer selection depends on linked products: If a linked product is unpublished, unavailable, or not included in the customer's market, customers may not be able to select or purchase that option combination.
• Storefront theme compatibility: Additional storefront configuration is required to support seamless ordering. Please contact SHOPLINE Support for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I add a product that is already part of another combined listing?

No. A product that already belongs to a combined listing configuration cannot be added to another combined listing.

Q2: What happens if I delete a combined listing?

The combined listing relationship is removed. The linked child products remain in your store and can still be managed as regular products.

Q3: Can I edit the price or inventory on the parent product page?

No. Edit price, inventory, images, and product availability from each linked child product page.

Q4: Why can't I select a product when creating a combined listing?

The product may already be part of another combined listing configuration, may be an unsupported product type, or may not be eligible for this feature.

Q5: Do child products still have their own product pages?

Yes. Child products remain regular products. They can appear as linked options in a combined listing while still keeping their own product information.