Welcome to NetSource Configurator. This guide walks you through the fastest path from a fresh install to seeing a working configurator on one of your products. You will not need to change any default settings. Plan on about 10 minutes.
You will:
1. Run the Setup Guide so the app can show your configurators on the storefront.
2. Turn one of your products into a configurator product.
3. Visit your storefront and try it out as a customer would.
If you already approved the free trial, you are in the right place. If not, click Start free trial on the welcome screen first.
Step 1: Set Up Required App Blocks Using the Setup Guide
Tip: If you prefer watching a video instead reading this guide, go here.
To watch a video on how to set up the custom product template, go here.
The Setup Guide adds the pieces the app needs in your theme. Without these pieces, your configurators will not show up on your storefront. The guide takes about 5 minutes.
1. In the app, look for the yellow banner at the top that says "Setup is not complete." Click the Go to Setup Guide button on the banner. You can also reach the Setup Guide from the left side menu under Setup Guide.
2. The Setup Guide has numbered steps. Work through them top to bottom. Each step has its own button that opens the right Shopify screen for you, so you do not have to hunt for anything.
3. As you finish each step, come back to the Setup Guide and click the **Re-check** button. A green badge appears next to steps that are done.4. When the required steps are all green, the Mark setup complete button at the top turns on. Click it.
Tip: The "Create a custom product template" step is optional. You can skip it for now. The defaults work fine without it. If you would like to see how Configurator takes advantage of having the whole page for layout, then go ahead and set it up as well.
Tip: If you ever publish a different theme, the app will detect it and ask you to run the Setup Guide again. This is normal. The new theme starts empty, so the pieces need to be added again.
Step 2: Create your first configurator product
Tip: If you prefer watching a video instead, please go here.
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A configurator product is any product in your store that lets the customer pick options and see the price change as they choose. Here is the quickest way to set one up.
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Click Products in the Shopify menu
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Find a product you would like to test with. This product should have no variants or options. Think of it like an empty parent product. If you don't have one handy - go ahead and create one.
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At the bottom of the product you've found or created you'll see a Blocks section. Click + Block and then click NetSource Configurator that appeared above the block. Click Yes - now it will be treated as a Configurator product. In the top right corner of the card you'll see a Pin - go ahead and click it so this block will always appear.
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If you've already set up the custom product template, then at the bottom of the right column you'll see Theme template. Select configurator so this product will use the custom product template.
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Click Save to save this product.
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Now let's go back to the Configurator app and set up your first Configurator product. Click Configurator Products on the app menu.
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Click the Create Configuration button on the right side of the screen. The product you either selected or created now appears in the listing. Go ahead and click it.
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Click Add New Category. A modal will appear with a list of your Collections. Select one that has products. It's been added to your new configuration.
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Now, decide what products in that collection you want to be available in this configuration. Click the Add items link.
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Go ahead and select one or more products and then click the Add items button.
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Typically, when creating a Configurator product, you'll want to Save as Archived so you can review it before making it available to your customers. Go ahead and click the Save as Archived button.
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Now that it's saved, click the Preview button to see what it looks like.
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Go ahead and click the Configurator Products app tab. Since you saved your new configuration as Archived, it will not show up in the default Active listing and will not be seen by your customers.
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Click the Archived tab (next to Active). You'll see the product you just created. When ready to have it go live and be seen by your customers, click the Restore Configuration icon:
- this will make this configurator product active. -
Click the Active tab and it's now in the active listing.
That is all you need for a first test. You can add more categories and custom groups later. The app supports things like quantity discounts, customer quotes, custom text, and image swatches, but none of that is required to see a working configurator.
Tip: You can switch between five different layouts (Accordion, Tabbed, Wizard, and more) by clicking the Layout selector on the Configurator Settings page. The default layout works for almost any product. Try other layouts later to see which fits your store best.
What to do next
You have a working configurator. From here, take your time to explore at your own pace. A few good next steps:
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Try the other layouts. Some layouts work better for fashion products, others for tech or furniture. Switching takes one click.
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Add another Category or Option Group. For example, add a "Material" or "Engraving" option group to the same product.
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Visit the Marketing tab. The app can automatically email customers who save a configuration but do not buy. The default messages are ready to go. You just turn it on when you are ready.
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Visit the Reports tab. Once customers start using your configurations, you will see what is popular and how much extra revenue is being generated.
If you get stuck on anything, click the small question mark icon at the top of any page. It opens help articles for that specific feature.
Welcome aboard.