Convert text attribute to selection attribute

Sometimes it happens, for example, that an attribute that was declared as a text field at the beginning should be used as a selection field at a later point in time. This can be useful if, for example, third-party systems are connected that require this or because you want to offer customers a filter search for the attribute.

In Magento, by default, there is no way to change the type of the attribute afterwards. We show you now how it can be done easily with cobby.

Step 1: Create selection attribute in Magento

First we create the new selection attribute in Magento. To do this, we go to Catalog -> Attributes -> Manage Attributes (Catalog/Attributes/Manage Attributes) in the administration backend and create our selection attribute via Add new attribute. At this point we will not go deeper into the options for creating the new attribute.

Step 2: Assign attribute to attribute set

In the next step we assign the attribute to the desired attribute set. This is done via the menu item Catalog -> Attributes -> Manage Attribute Sets (Catalog/Attributes/Manage Attribute Sets). Simply select the desired attribute set from the list, then move the new attribute from the list of unassigned attributes on the right to the desired position in the attribute tree on the left, save, done.

Step 3: Resync

After changing the attribute set, we still need to resync cobby. We start the resync by switching to the Services/cobby tab in the System -> Configuration menu on the left side. Now save the configuration once and cobby will be resynced.

Step 4: Load products

In the last step we open Excel and load the products via the cobby ribbon.

Now we select the column containing the current texts completely and copy the content into our new column (copy'n'paste). Click on "Save products" in the cobby ribbon and all selection options are automatically created in Magento as well as assigned to the products.