Out of Stock Variant Filter Enhancer for WooCommerce

Plugin Overview

The “Out of Stock Variant Filter Enhancer for WooCommerce” plugin is a robust WordPress inventory management plugin designed for WooCommerce store owners who need better visibility and control over product stock statuses. This plugin enhances the default WooCommerce admin panel by introducing a “Partially out of stock” status for variable products with some out-of-stock variations and includes simple products that are completely out of stock in its filtering capabilities. With a filter checkbox and visual indicators (e.g., warning icons and detailed labels), it simplifies identifying and managing stock issues, making it ideal for stores with large catalogs or complex product variations.

Introduction

In a WooCommerce-powered WordPress site, the stock status of a variable product in the admin panel depends on the stock status of its variations, while a simple product has a single stock status.

Variable Product Stock Status

A variable product in WooCommerce is a product with multiple variations (e.g., a T-shirt with different sizes or colors). Each variation has its own stock settings (quantity or "in stock"/"out of stock" status). In contrast, a simple product has no variations and a single stock status. In the WooCommerce admin panel (under Products > All Products), the stock status displayed for a variable product is determined by the combined stock status of its variations, while a simple product’s status reflects its individual stock setting.

General Rule for Variable Products

• A variable product is considered "In Stock" if at least one of its variations is in stock.
• A variable product is considered "Out of Stock" only if all of its variations are out of stock.

Example Scenario

Imagine you sell a product called "Classic T-Shirt" (a variable product) that comes in three sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. Each size is a variation, and you track stock separately. For example, you have 10 Small T-Shirts and 5 Large T-Shirts in stock, but the Medium size is out of stock with 0 units. In the WooCommerce admin panel, under Products > All Products, the "Classic T-Shirt" will show as "In Stock" because at least one variation (Small and Large) is available. Now, consider a simple product, like a "Basic Mug," with 0 units in stock. In the admin panel, it will show as "Out of Stock" because it has no variations and no stock available.

If all sizes of the "Classic T-Shirt"—Small, Medium, and Large—are out of stock with 0 units each, the admin panel will show it as "Out of Stock" because none of its variations are available. Similarly, the "Basic Mug" remains "Out of Stock" if its inventory is 0. This clear distinction, which only exists for simple products, helps you quickly see which products can be sold and which cannot, without needing to check each variation or product individually.

Stock Status Distinction

The Stock column under Products > All Products shows "In Stock" for variable products if at least one variation is in stock and "Out of Stock" if all variations are out of stock. For simple products, it directly reflects their stock status. This binary approach (In Stock vs. Out of Stock) is straightforward for assessing whether a product is available for purchase. However, it doesn’t provide details about which variations of a variable product are out of stock or whether all variations are in stock. This can be a drawback if you need to quickly identify variable products with partial stock or simple products that are completely out of stock, requiring you to edit the product to check details.

By default, no! WooCommerce’s admin panel does not provide a way to distinguish whether all variations of a variable product are in stock without checking each variation individually. The Stock column in Products > All Products only indicates "In Stock" if at least one variation has stock, and it does not differentiate between "all variations in stock" versus "some variations in stock." To confirm if every variation is in stock, you must:

• Go to Products > All Products.
• Click Edit on the variable product.
• Navigate to the Variations tab in the product editor.
• Manually check the stock status or quantity for each variation.

The Out of Stock Variant Filter Enhancer for WooCommerce plugin addresses the limitations of WooCommerce’s default admin panel by introducing a more detailed and efficient way to manage and display the stock status of both variable and simple products. Unlike the standard WooCommerce behavior, which only shows a variable product as "In Stock" or "Out of Stock" based on its variations, this plugin adds a "Partially out of stock" status for variable products with some out-of-stock variations and enhances visibility for out-of-stock simple products. It makes it easier for store managers to identify and manage products with stock issues without manually checking each variation or product.

What the Plugin Does

The plugin modifies the Products > All Products admin panel by:

• Introducing a filter checkbox: A "Partially out of stock" checkbox is added to the admin panel’s product filtering options, allowing you to view both variable products with some out-of-stock variations and simple products that are completely out of stock.
• Adding a "Partially out of stock" indicator for variable products: For variable products with at least one out-of-stock variation, it displays a visual marker (e.g., a warning icon in the Stock column and a text label in the Name column) alongside details of the out-of-stock variations (using their SKU or variation ID).
• Enhancing visibility for simple products: Simple products that are out of stock are included in the "Partially out of stock" filter, ensuring all out-of-stock products are easily identifiable in one view.
• Customizing database queries: The plugin uses efficient SQL queries to identify variable products with out-of-stock variations and simple products with an out-of-stock status, ensuring accurate filtering without impacting performance.

For example, in the "Classic T-Shirt" scenario (with variations Small: 10 units, Medium: 0 units, Large: 5 units), the plugin would mark the product as "Partially out of stock" in the admin panel, display a warning icon in the Stock column, and list "Medium [SKU or ID]" as the out-of-stock variation in the Name column. Similarly, the "Basic Mug" (a simple product with 0 units) would be included in the "Partially out of stock" filter, marked as out of stock in the admin panel. You could then use the "Partially out of stock" checkbox to filter and see all such products—both variable and simple—at once.

• Comprehensive Inventory Oversight: The "Partially out of stock" status and filter provide immediate visibility into variable products with mixed stock availability and simple products that are out of stock, saving time compared to manual checks.
• Efficient Filtering: The filter checkbox allows store managers to quickly isolate both partially out-of-stock variable products and completely out-of-stock simple products, streamlining restocking or promotional efforts.
• Enhanced User Experience: Clear visual indicators (like warning icons for variable products and detailed labels) make the admin panel more intuitive, reducing the risk of overlooking stock issues across product types.
• Scalability: The plugin’s database-driven approach ensures efficient performance for stores with large catalogs, handling both variable and simple products seamlessly.

To use the plugin, install and activate it via the WordPress admin panel. Once active, navigate to Products > All Products, where you’ll see the new "Partially out of stock" filter checkbox. Check it to filter products like the "Classic T-Shirt" (with out-of-stock variations, e.g., Medium) and the "Basic Mug" (a simple product with no stock). For variable products, the Stock column will show a warning icon, and the Name column will list specific out-of-stock variations, such as "[Medium]".

The plugin’s functionality is admin-focused and doesn’t affect frontend behavior unless extended by developers. By integrating the Out of Stock Variant Filter Enhancer for WooCommerce, store managers gain a powerful tool to manage stock for both variable and simple products more effectively, reducing manual checks and improving operational efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions