This update enhances how kit products handle selectable attributes, removing a key limitation that previously prevented certain kits from being sold.
Kits can now include child products that have required selectable attributes (such as size, colour, or finish). Customers are able to make selections directly on the kit product page, and where appropriate, those selections are automatically applied to the child products.
This allows businesses to offer fully customizable kits without blocking the add-to-cart process.
What Was the Behaviour Before?
Previously, if a child product within a kit had required attributes that were not pre-selected, the kit could not be added to the cart.
Customers were unable to choose attribute options for child products directly from the kit page. This often resulted in validation errors stating that a required attribute was missing, even though the customer had no way to select it at that stage.
As a result, kits containing customizable products were difficult — and sometimes impossible — to sell.
What Has Changed?
Kits now support attribute selection in a structured and predictable way.
Customers make their selections on the kit product page. The system then determines how those selections apply to the child products based on how the attributes are configured.
The “Add to Cart” button remains blocked until all required attributes are selected, ensuring the configuration is complete before proceeding.
After the kit has been added to the basket, customers can still edit child products if needed before placing the order.
How Attribute Inheritance Works
Attribute behaviour depends on how the parent kit and its child products are configured.
When Attribute Names Match
If a child product has attribute names that match those of the parent kit, the values selected on the kit page will automatically be inherited by the child product when the kit is added to the basket.
For example, if both the parent kit and the child product include an attribute called “Colour,” and the customer selects “Red” on the kit page, the child product will automatically receive the same “Red” selection.
This ensures customers only need to make their choice once.
When Attribute Names Are Different
If a child product has different attribute names to the parent kit, the parent’s selection will not be inherited.
Instead, the child product will retain its own configured attribute values.
For example, if the parent kit includes an attribute such as “Colour – Red,” but the child product has a different attribute such as “Finish – Green,” the child will use its own “Green” value rather than inheriting “Red.”
Customers can still change the child product’s attributes from within the basket before placing the order if adjustments are needed.
This allows flexibility while keeping attribute relationships clear.
When the Child Product Has No Attributes
If a child product has no attributes configured, it will not inherit any values from the parent kit.
In this case, the child behaves as a standard item within the kit and does not require any additional configuration.
Editing Child Products from the Basket
Even after a kit is added to the basket, customers can open and edit child product selections before completing checkout.
This works similarly to customizable product behaviour. If a customer wishes to change an option on a child product, they can access it from the basket and update the selection as needed.
This ensures both flexibility and control without disrupting the purchasing flow.
Why This Is Beneficial
This update removes a significant restriction in kit configuration.
Businesses can now:
-
Include customizable products inside kits
-
Prevent attribute validation errors during checkout
-
Offer more flexible bundled products
-
Improve the overall purchasing experience
Customers benefit from a clearer and more intuitive configuration process, selecting options once on the kit page and only making further changes if necessary.
Important Considerations
To ensure inheritance works as expected, attribute naming between the parent kit and child products must be structured intentionally.
Matching attribute names allow inheritance. Different attribute names will not inherit and will instead use the child’s own defined values.
There are no changes to pricing, taxation, shipping, or inventory logic beyond respecting the selected attribute combinations.
Troubleshooting
If a kit cannot be added to the cart, confirm that all required attributes on the kit page have been selected.
If attributes are not inheriting as expected, check whether the parent and child products share the same attribute names.
If a child product is displaying a different attribute than expected, remember that differing attribute names will not inherit from the parent and can be edited in the basket if needed.