Documentation
Product Manufacturer
MANAGING PRODUCT MANUFACTURERSDocument Revision: v1.0
OVERVIEW
Manufacturers represent the brands or makers of products in your catalog. Each
manufacturer has a name and optional description (one set per store language),
an image, SEO keyword, sort order, status, and store visibility. Once created,
a manufacturer can be assigned to products in the Product form so customers can
browse and filter by brand on the storefront.
REQUIRED PERMISSION
The signed-in admin user must have modify permission on catalog/manufacturer.
ADD/CREATE NEW: STEP-BY-STEP
1. Go to Catalog > Manufacturers.
2. Click the Insert button (top right).
3. On the General tab, for each enabled store language:
a. Enter the Manufacturer's Name (required, 2 to 128 characters).
b. Optionally enter a Manufacturer's Description (rich-text editor).
4. Open the Data tab and complete the remaining fields:
a. Stores: check Default and/or any additional stores where this manufacturer
should appear (Default is pre-selected for new manufacturers).
b. SEO Keyword: enter a URL-friendly keyword (no spaces; use hyphens).
If Auto SEO URLs are enabled for Manufacturers in store settings, the
keyword may be generated automatically as you type the name.
c. Image: click Browse to open the File Manager and select a logo image
(allowed formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF).
d. Sort Order: enter a number to control list ordering (default: 0).
e. Status: choose Enabled (default) or Disabled.
5. Save the manufacturer using one of these buttons:
- Save Saves the manufacturer and returns to the manufacturer list.
- Apply Saves the manufacturer and opens the edit form for the new
record (useful when you want to continue editing immediately).
- Cancel Discards changes and returns to the list.
EXAMPLE: CREATE "Sony Electronics"
Goal: add a new manufacturer with logo, description, and SEO-friendly URL.
General tab (English):
Manufacturer's Name: Sony Electronics
Manufacturer's Description: Sony Corporation is a Japanese multinational
conglomerate known for consumer electronics,
gaming, and entertainment products.
Data tab:
Stores: Default (checked)
SEO Keyword: sony-electronics
Image: catalog/manufacturers/sony-logo.png (selected via File Manager)
Sort Order: 10
Status: Enabled
Steps:
1. Catalog > Manufacturers > Insert
2. General tab > English: enter name and description above
3. Data tab: set keyword, browse for logo, Sort Order = 10, Status = Enabled
4. Click Save
Result: the list shows "Sony Electronics" with ID assigned automatically,
thumbnail logo, Sort Order 10, and Status Enabled. The manufacturer is now
available in Catalog > Products when assigning a product's manufacturer.
EDIT: STEP-BY-STEP
1. Go to Catalog > Manufacturers.
2. Locate the manufacturer (use the name filter if needed).
3. Click Edit in the Action column for that manufacturer.
4. Update fields on the General and/or Data tabs as needed:
- Change names or descriptions for any language.
- Adjust store visibility, SEO keyword, image, sort order, or status.
5. Click Save, Apply, or Cancel as when creating.
EXAMPLE: EDIT "Sony Electronics"
Goal: disable the manufacturer temporarily and update the SEO keyword.
1. Catalog > Manufacturers > Edit on "Sony Electronics"
2. Data tab:
SEO Keyword: sony
Status: Disabled
3. Click Save
Result: the list shows Status = Disabled for Sony Electronics. The storefront
SEO URL uses the updated keyword. Products already linked to this manufacturer
retain their assignment but the manufacturer page may be hidden depending on
storefront logic.
DELETE: STEP-BY-STEP
1. Go to Catalog > Manufacturers.
2. Check the box(es) next to the manufacturer(s) to delete.
(Use the header checkbox to select all manufacturers on the current page.)
3. Click the Delete button.
4. Confirm the dialog when prompted.
5. If deletion succeeds, a success message is shown and the list refreshes.
Note: a manufacturer cannot be deleted while it is still assigned to one or
more products. In that case the warning
"Warning: This manufacturer cannot be deleted as it is currently assigned to
X products!" is displayed and no records are removed. Reassign or remove those
products first, then delete the manufacturer.
EXAMPLE: DELETE ONE MANUFACTURER
Goal: remove an unused test manufacturer "Acme Test Brand" that has no products.
1. Catalog > Manufacturers
2. Optional: type "Acme" in the filter and click Filter
3. Check the box for "Acme Test Brand"
4. Click Delete > Confirm
Result: the manufacturer and all related descriptions, store links, and SEO
aliases are removed from the database.
If "Acme Test Brand" were assigned to 5 products, the delete would fail with
"...currently assigned to 5 products!" until those products are updated to use
a different manufacturer or none.
USING MANUFACTURERS ON PRODUCTS
After a manufacturer exists:
1. Open Catalog > Products and edit a product.
2. On the product form, select the manufacturer from the Manufacturer field
(autocomplete is available).
3. Save the product.
Manufacturers with Status = Disabled may not appear on the storefront depending
on theme and catalog settings. Sort Order controls relative ordering when
manufacturers are listed together.