Update Product Attributes

Need to modify item attributes for an existing product? This guide covers the workflow for updating product attributes in Business Central and triggering the sync to update the website.

What you'll accomplish: Change product attributes and run the flow to sync updates to the website in real-time.

Time required: 5-7 minutes

What you need:

  • Access to Business Central

  • Authorization to run flows

  • The product's item card

  • New attribute values

Important: First Time vs Modifications

First time adding attributes? You don't need to run the flow. See Add Attributes to a New Product instead.

Modifying existing attributes? You MUST run the flow to trigger the sync. That's what this guide covers.

The Complete Workflow

When you modify attributes on an existing product, you need to trigger a system action event. Here's the process:

  1. Make changes to attributes

  2. Save the changes

  3. Run the flow to submit changes to the backend

  4. Backend processes and syncs to website

Why the flow? Modifications to existing products need an explicit trigger. The flow tells the backend "hey, I changed something, update the website."

Step 1: Select the Product

1. Search for the product in Business Central

  • Use the SKU number to find it

2. Select the product

  • Click to open the item card

Step 2: Open Attributes Window

1. Navigate to Item > Attributes

  • From the main menu or sub menu

  • An attributes table will open on your screen

2. Review current attributes

  • See what's currently configured

  • Identify what you need to change

Step 3: Make Your Changes

1. Modify the necessary attribute values

Common changes:

  • Update Collection Name (if product moved to different collection)

  • Change Category (if product type changed)

  • Update dimensions

  • Modify finish options

  • Change specifications

2. Ensure changes follow requirements

  • Collection Name must match SharePoint folder

  • Category must be one of 4 valid values

  • Dimensions must follow formatting standards (see Attribute Formatting Standards)

3. Close the pop-up window to save

  • This saves your changes to the item

Step 4: Navigate to Automate

From the main menu:

1. Select "Automate"

  • This opens the automation menu

Automate menu showing the V3 API Connection button (button name may vary)

2. Look for the API Connection button

  • The button name continuously changes

  • It might say "API Connection", "Submit Changes", or similar

  • This is the flow trigger button

Step 5: Run the Flow

1. Click the API Connection button

  • A module will open on the right side of your screen

Run flow dialog that appears on the right side of the screen

2. Click "Run Flow"

  • This triggers the flow execution

Click 'Run flow' to trigger the sync

3. Wait for success message

  • A success message will appear when the flow is complete

  • This confirms the changes were submitted

What Happens Next

After running the flow:

  1. Backend receives the update request - Flow triggers a system action event

  2. Changes are validated - Backend checks attribute formatting and values

  3. Database is updated - Product data gets updated across systems

  4. Website syncs - Changes appear on the website

Sync timing: 5-10 seconds typically. Refresh the product page to see updates.

Critical Reminder

Steps 4-6 MUST be actioned to trigger the system action event.

If you skip running the flow:

  • ❌ Changes stay in Business Central only

  • ❌ Website doesn't update

  • ❌ Backend doesn't know about the changes

  • ❌ Product displays with old data on the website

Always run the flow after modifying attributes on existing products.

What You Can Modify

Safe to Change:

✅ Collection Name - Moves product to different collection

✅ Category - Changes product categorization

✅ Dimensions - Updates size specifications

✅ Finish - Changes or adds finish options

✅ Specifications - Updates wattage, material, bulb type, etc.

✅ Any optional attributes - Modify product details

Requirements Still Apply:

Even when modifying, you must follow the rules:

Collection Name:

  • Must match SharePoint collection folder exactly

  • Can't use arbitrary names

Category:

  • Must be one of: Pendants, Chandeliers, Wall Mounts, Ceiling Mounts

  • No custom categories

Dimensions:

  • Must follow formatting standards

  • Auto-rejection email if format is wrong

Common Update Scenarios

Scenario 1: Moving product to different collection

When: Product is being reassigned to a new family

Steps:

  1. Open item card and navigate to attributes

  2. Change Collection Name to new collection

  3. Verify new name matches SharePoint folder exactly

  4. Close attributes window to save

  5. Navigate to Automate > API Connection

  6. Run Flow

  7. Success message appears

  8. Product appears under new collection on website (after sync)

Scenario 2: Correcting wrong category

When: Product was mis-categorized initially

Steps:

  1. Open attributes

  2. Change Category to correct value (Pendants, Chandeliers, Wall Mounts, or Ceiling Mounts)

  3. Save and close

  4. Run the flow

  5. Product moves to correct category on website

Scenario 3: Updating dimensions

When: Product specs changed or were initially incorrect

Steps:

  1. Open attributes

  2. Modify dimension attribute value

  3. Ensure format follows standards: 10" L x 5" W x 20" H

  4. Save and close

  5. Run the flow

  6. Website displays updated dimensions

Scenario 4: Adding new specifications

When: Need to add finish options, wattage, or other specs

Steps:

  1. Open attributes

  2. Add new attribute rows with values

  3. Save and close

  4. Run the flow

  5. New specs appear on product page

Scenario 5: Bulk attribute updates

When: Updating multiple products in same collection

For each product:

  1. Open item card

  2. Update attributes

  3. Save

  4. Run flow

  5. Move to next product

  6. Repeat

Important: Run the flow for EACH product. You can't batch-run flows (in-progress)

Auto-Rejection Notifications

If your attribute changes don't meet formatting requirements, you'll receive an email notification explaining the issue.

Common rejections:

  • Dimension formatting doesn't follow standards

  • Invalid category value (not one of the 4 valid options)

  • Collection name doesn't match SharePoint

What to do:

  1. Read the rejection email for specifics

  2. Go back to the item card

  3. Open attributes again

  4. Fix the issue

  5. Save and close

  6. Run the flow again

Troubleshooting

Issue: Ran flow but website not updating

Solutions:

  • Wait 10-15 minutes for sync

  • Verify success message appeared after running flow

  • Check that attribute values are valid

  • Look for auto-rejection email

  • Try running flow again

Issue: Can't find API Connection button

Solutions:

  • Look in the Automate menu from main menu

  • Button name changes - look for anything about API, Connection, Submit, Flow

  • Ensure you have authorization to run flows

  • Contact admin if button is missing

Issue: Flow failed / error message

Solutions:

  • Note the error message

  • Try running flow again

  • Verify attribute changes are valid

  • Check that required attributes are still present

  • Contact support if error persists

Issue: Changed Collection Name but product still in old collection

Solutions:

  • Verify new Collection Name matches SharePoint folder exactly

  • Confirm you ran the flow after making changes

  • Wait for sync to complete (10-15 minutes)

  • Check that SharePoint folder for new collection exists

Issue: Multiple changes, which ones need the flow?

Solution:

  • ANY attribute modification requires running the flow

  • Even changing one attribute requires it

  • Run flow once per item, not once per attribute

Best Practices

Before making changes:

After making changes:

For multiple products:

Related Guides

PreviousAdd Attributes to a New ProductNextAttribute Formatting Standards