Item Attributes Quick Reference

Business Central item attributes are what connect your products to the website. Two specific attributes are absolutely critical. Without them, the backend system can't map products correctly and they won't appear on the website.

What you'll learn: The 2 essential attributes that make everything work, plus why they matter.

Time required: 2 minutes to read

What you need:

  • Access to Business Central

  • Understanding of your product categories and collections

The 2 Critical Attributes

These two attribute values must be added to every product in Business Central. Without them, the backend system cannot connect and map products, and the synergy between systems breaks down.

Attribute 1: Category - Product Category

This tells the website which product category the item belongs to.

Valid categories (must match exactly):

  • Pendant/s

  • Chandelier/s

  • Wall Mount/s

  • Ceiling Mount/s

Item Attribute Values window showing the two required attributes: Category - Product Category and Collection name

Important: The category value must match the website's categories exactly. Using any other value will cause the product to not display correctly.

Attribute 2: Collection Name

This maps the product to its family collection on the website.

Valid names must match:

  • Collection folder names in SharePoint (exactly)

  • The family name used in the collection structure

Examples:

  • If SharePoint has a folder named Belluno Collection, the attribute value should be Belluno Collection or Belluno

Important: The collection name in Business Central must match the SharePoint folder name exactly. If they don't match, the product won't map to the collection and won't appear on the website.

Why These Attributes Matter

The backend system uses these two attributes to:

  1. Map products to SharePoint folders - Matches BC products to SharePoint product folders by SKU

  2. Assign products to collections - Uses Collection Name to group products on the website

  3. Categorize products - Uses Category to organize products into the right sections

  4. Validate syncing - Confirms the product should sync to the website

  5. Display correctly - Ensures products appear in the right places

Without these attributes:

  • ❌ Product won't sync to the website

  • ❌ Product won't appear in its collection

  • ❌ Product won't be categorized correctly

  • ❌ Backend system can't confirm synergy between platforms

With these attributes:

  • ✅ Product syncs automatically

  • ✅ Product appears under correct collection

  • ✅ Product categorized properly

  • ✅ Everything maps correctly across platforms

Where to Add These Attributes

Location in Business Central:

  1. Open the item card for the product

  2. Navigate to Item > Attributes (from main & sub menus)

  3. The attributes window will open

  4. Add the two required attributes with correct values

  5. Save and close

Access method:

  • Main menu → Item → Attributes

  • Or use the sub menu navigation

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Wrong Category Values

Don't use:

  • "Pendant" (singular, should be "Pendants")

  • "Chandelier" (singular, should be "Chandeliers")

  • "Wall Mount" (no "s", should be "Wall Mounts")

  • Custom categories not in the valid list

Use only:

  • Pendants

  • Chandeliers

  • Wall Mounts

  • Ceiling Mounts

❌ Collection Name Mismatch

Don't:

  • Use "Belluno" when SharePoint has "Belluna Collection"

  • Use "Belluno" when Business Central "Belluna Collection"

  • Misspell the collection name

  • Use old collection names after renaming in SharePoint

Do:

  • Match the SharePoint folder name exactly

  • Check SharePoint first to confirm the correct name

  • Update BC when collection names change in SharePoint

❌ Missing Attributes

Don't:

  • Skip adding these attributes

  • Leave them blank

  • Add only one of the two

  • Think other attributes can substitute

Do:

  • Add both attributes to every product

  • Ensure values are correct before saving

  • Verify attributes are present before expecting products on website

Additional Attributes (Optional)

While Category and Collection Name are required, you can add other attributes for product specifications:

Common additional attributes:

These additional attributes enhance product pages but aren't required for basic syncing.

Validation Checklist

Before closing the attributes window, verify:

What Happens After Adding Attributes

For New Products (First Time):

When you add attributes for the first time:

  1. Save and close the attributes window

  2. No further action required

  3. Backend system automatically fetches the data

  4. Product syncs to website (assuming SharePoint folder exists)

See guide: Add Attributes to a New Product

For Existing Products (Modifications):

When you modify attributes on existing products:

  1. Make changes in the attributes window

  2. Save and close

  3. Run the flow to trigger sync (additional steps required)

  4. Backend processes the attribute changes

  5. Website updates with new data

See guide: Update Product Attributes

Quick Reference Card

Related Guides

Troubleshooting

Issue: Product not appearing on website

First check:

  • Are both required attributes present?

  • Is Category one of the 4 valid values?

  • Does Collection Name match SharePoint folder exactly?

Solutions:

  • Add missing attributes

  • Fix incorrect category values

  • Update collection name to match SharePoint

  • See full troubleshooting: Common Issues

Issue: Product in wrong category on website

Solution:

  • Check the Category attribute value in BC

  • Update to correct category (Pendants, Chandeliers, Wall Mounts, or Ceiling Mounts)

  • Run flow to sync changes (see Update Product Attributes)

Issue: Product not showing under correct collection

Solution:

  • Check Collection Name attribute in BC

  • Compare to SharePoint folder name (must match exactly)

  • Update if there's a mismatch

  • Run flow to sync changes

Pro tip: Before adding products to Business Central, make sure the corresponding collection folder exists in SharePoint and you know the exact folder name. This prevents mismatches between the Collection Name attribute and SharePoint reality. Double-check the spelling. Even small differences break the mapping.

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