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Product Variation Swatches (Local-vs-Global Attributes)

This topic has 7 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 2 days, 13 hours ago ago by Tony Rodriguez

Enduratex

Participant

August 19, 2025 at 07:46

Hello,

I have read all of your documentation about configuring the XStore Theme Options to support variation swatches.
When implemented, was able to create and customize the following, 1st product example:

Example 1:
https://dev.enduratex.space/xstore/product/alchemy-2/

Note:
I have added extra CSS to customize swatch sizing, and look-and-feel..

But, now we have a problem to inquire about with you::

1. There are approximately 100 products
2. With a total of about 1200 variations
3. There are ZERO “shared attributes”
4. Every variation is 100% unique
5. 1200 swatches for 100 products

For this reason we had intended to move forward creating our 100 products, each with 10 to 50 LOCAL Color Swatch Attributes.

But upon testing, we discovered that your Variation Swatches logic only works with Global Attributes. The variation swatch image thumbnails do not appear for LOCAL Attribute variations.

Example 2:
https://dev.enduratex.space/xstore/product/alchemy-1/

Please Advise:
Is there any way to get around this limitation?
If we went to your Variation Swatches logic…
we have to generate 1200 Global Attributes…
even though they are each only used once?

We wish to keep the Xstore Style ( Example 1 above )
but using only local instead of global attributes.

Thank You!

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6 Answers

Andrew Mitchell

Support staff

August 19, 2025 at 11:16

Hello, Enduratex,

Unfortunately, at the moment, it is not possible to implement the swatches display for local attributes. We kindly recommend that you submit a feature request via our roadmap at
https://www.8theme.com/roadmap/
or consider reaching out to our customization service for further assistance: https://www.8theme.com/contact-us/

Best regards,
The 8Theme Team

#452985 Copied

Enduratex

Participant

September 13, 2025 at 06:25

Andrew,

Ok – Understood.
Thank you for the reply.

The process of reviewing and trying to figure which of the 10 to 20 competing WooCommerce Variation Swatch plugins has proved to be a bit daunting. There are so many.

It is a bit difficult to figure out which is the best option to enable simply displaying variation swatches in exactly the same manner that the X-Store Theme already does – as a built-in feature – for global attribute-based variations.

Your functionality is quite good and also clean and simple.
It would be really, really good to find that it works as well for local variations one day soon.

For now – I will post the feature request as you advised.

Thank You

#454911 Copied

Niddy

Participant

September 14, 2025 at 14:45

Sorry to interject but this will never be approved as it’s futile. You must understand the logic of filtering –

If you plan on using filter widgets or a faceted search (e.g. filter by color, size, brand):
• You must use global attributes for those fields.
• Custom attributes won’t show up in filters unless you buy/use a filter plugin that explicitly supports meta-based filtering – and to date there’s only a couple and they aren’t that great!

Remember, non Filterable: Custom attributes won’t appear in WooCommerce’s Layered Navigation filters or most product filter plugins (unless the plugin specifically supports custom meta).

– There is no SEO Benefit: No taxonomy archive pages – they exist only as product metadata.

– Use Global Attributes for anything you want customers to filter by (size, colour, material, brand, etc.).

– Use Custom Attributes only for product-specific details that are not relevant to filtering (e.g. “Custom Text”, “Limited Edition of 25”) etc…

Filters are the biggest pain ever! But once you master the logic, you’ll be sorted!

#454954 Copied

Enduratex

Participant

September 14, 2025 at 20:43

Hi Niddy,

Certainly I can appreciate and understand your feedback here.
But you are assuming we mean attributes for use in filtering.

Our client site has 100 types of Vinyl products.
Those 100 products have 1200 Unique Color Swatches.
Every, single, Variation Swatch is unique.

They are not sizes.
They are not colors.
Thy are not used for filtering.
They are simply vinyl swatch images.
Just like a store that has Paint Color Swatch samples.

Now… in the XStore Theme, on single product pages, they have provided a visually appealing way to display Variation Swatches like a gallery (instead of a drop-down list.

But… that only works if the variations use global attributes.
Meaning there would be at least 1200 global attributes.

As you can imagine, when adding or editing product variations, it is not good UI/UX to make the client have to deal with or search through a list of 1200 Attribute Names.

But, adding the “Swatch Attribute” with only 10 to 20 unique names LOCAL to each product works very nicely.

When we do that… all of XStore’s built-in presentation style for Image Swatches as nice graphic blocks – is gone.

We are left with nothing but a drop-down list of Swatch Variation names. And yes, there are 20 plugins out there competing in the marketplace under the search term “Product Variation Swatches”.

But which one do we buy – and test – and tell our client is the BEST, RIGHT one? The XSTore Theme already does this perfectly. Except… for Local Attributes. Aw, darn!

SO – we’re only asking for the 8Theme to consider allowing their same, already existing logic for Variation Swatches… to include Variation Swatches based on Local Attributes as well.

Thank You

#454976 Copied

Enduratex

Participant

November 30, 2025 at 21:10

Thanks for the support! My topic “Product Variation Swatches (Local-vs-Global Attributes)” has been successfully resolved.

#461132 Copied

Tony Rodriguez

Support staff

November 30, 2025 at 21:10

Dear Enduratex,

Thanks for being part of our WordPress & WooCommerce community!

We’re happy we could assist you. Your feedback truly matters — it helps us make XStore better, faster, and more reliable with every release.

Leave Feedback →
(takes less than a minute)

Together, we’re shaping a better WooCommerce experience for everyone.

Topic closed.
The 8Theme Team

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Product Variation Swatches (Local-vs-Global Attributes)

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