Catalog

Merge duplicate catalog items

When two catalog items are the same thing, merge them. Every variant moves to the item you keep, and the other item stays as merged history.

Propose a merge

1. Open the item you want to merge away from Catalog.
2. Select Merge item.
3. In Keep this catalog item, choose the item that should remain.
4. Read the preview: how many variants move, both descriptions, and which SKUs are moving.
5. Enter a Reason for merging of at least three characters, such as “Imported twice from the spring price list”.
6. Select Propose merge.

Nothing changes until someone approves the proposal.

Approve or decline a merge

1. Open the item being merged away and select Merge item. Each waiting proposal is listed with its reason; choose it to review it.
2. Check the preview, the reason and who proposed it.
3. Select Approve merge to merge now, or Decline proposal, enter a Reason for declining and select Confirm decline. Revise proposal lets you choose a different item instead.

After you approve, the surviving item opens. If either item changed after the proposal was made, Biosphere says so and asks for a new proposal.

What a merge does

• Variants keep their SKUs, prices, stock sources and order history; only their item changes.
• The surviving item keeps its name, description and status.
• Links from imported sources point to the surviving item from then on.
• Classifications of both items are combined.
• The merged item leaves the Catalog list. Opened from a link or its Activity, it shows This item was merged. with a link to the surviving item. Its name becomes free to use again.

What to know

• Only a person signed in to Biosphere can approve or decline a merge. Scout can propose one but never approves it.
• A merge can’t be undone.
• Both items must have the same role and the same options with the same labels. Biosphere refuses the merge and says why when they differ, or when two variants would end up with the same option values.
• The merged item can have up to 100 variants and 100 values per option.
• Items with different categories or reporting groups can’t be merged until one is changed by a catalog import.