Part numbers and search
Shoppers often arrive with a part number from a catalog, a worn part, or an invoice, not with a product name. Chassis treats part numbers as first-class data. The brand part number, the barcode, the OEM numbers and the cross-references are shown on cards and product pages, and the store search finds them. This page explains where each number goes, how the search works, and how to use quick order and compare.
The four kinds of number
| Number | Where it goes | Shown as | Searched |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand part number | The variant SKU | The part-number plate on cards, product pages and cart lines | Yes, by Shopify search |
| EAN or UPC | The variant barcode | The barcode line on the product page | Yes, by Shopify search |
| OEM numbers | Metafield parts.oem_numbers, or product tags with the prefix in OEM tag prefix | The OEM and cross-reference block | Depends on your setup. See the notes below |
| Cross-references | Metafield parts.cross_references | The OEM and cross-reference block | Depends on your setup |
The brand part number is the SKU, so use one SKU per variant. Do not put an OEM number in the SKU field.
Brand part number (SKU)
- Open the product in the admin and select each variant.
- Enter the part number in SKU. Use your own catalog number exactly as printed, including dots and dashes.
- Turn on Show SKU in Theme settings > Product cards if you want the number on cards.
- The SKU block on the product page shows the number. Add it to the product page if it is not already in the layout. See Product page.
Barcode
Enter the EAN or UPC in the variant Barcode field. The product page shows it in the Part numbers block.
OEM numbers and cross-references
OEM numbers are the numbers that the vehicle maker uses. Cross-references are the numbers that other brands use for the same part. Enter them as product metafields.
- parts.oem_numbers (list of single line text). Write each entry as
Make: number. The text before the colon groups the list by make:
Halden: 34 11 6 794 300
Halden: 34 11 6 794 301
Veloce: 5GM-12405-00
- parts.cross_references (list of single line text). Use the same form, with the brand as the group:
Rennstahl: RS-09.C398.11
Carbonia: CB-4410
The product page groups the entries by the text before the colon. Keep the spelling of each number exactly as the source prints it, so a shopper can match it against a catalog.
Tag fallback
If you do not want to use metafields for OEM numbers, you can write them as product tags with a prefix. The default prefix is oem:, and you can change it in Theme settings > Part numbers > OEM tag prefix.
oem:34 11 6 794 300
oem:5GM-12405-00
Use the tag fallback when a search for an OEM number must find the product, and you have not set up search filters.
The search suggestions read variant SKUs, titles, product types, vendors, variant titles and tags, and they match a barcode exactly. They do not read the parts.oem_numbers metafield. Use the tag fallback for every OEM number that a shopper may search.
What the search finds
The search box in the header uses Shopify's search, with the theme's suggestions on top.
- A search for a SKU or a barcode finds the product. When the search term matches a variant SKU or barcode, ignoring case and separators, the product is pinned first with the label Part number match.
- A search for a part number works with or without the separators. When the term contains a digit and no spaces, the theme also searches the term with dots, hyphens and slashes removed. So
RS 09 C398 11andRS-09.C398.11return the same product. - In the search suggestions, a part number match is not limited to your vehicle. The suggestions do not use the selected vehicle.
- Product titles, tags, vendor names and product types are searched too.
Settings in Theme settings > Search:
| Setting | Effect |
|---|---|
| "Enable search suggestions" | Shows product suggestions as the shopper types |
| "Show vendor" | Shows the brand in each suggestion |
| "Show price" | Shows the price in each suggestion |
Quick order by part number
The quick order page lets a shopper add many parts at once. Each line takes a part number and a quantity. The shopper can also paste a list from a spreadsheet or an invoice.
- Create a page, and choose the Quick order template for it.
- Select the page in Theme settings > Trade tools > Quick order page.
- The shopper enters a part number and quantity on each line, or pastes a list.
- Each line is checked against the SKU. The lines that match are added in one step. Lines that do not match are shown so the shopper can correct them.
The section Quick order has the settings "Heading" (default "Quick order") and "Intro". Edit the intro text to tell shoppers how to enter a part number.
Compare
The compare page lists up to four products side by side. The shopper adds products with the compare checkbox on the collection page and in search results.
- Create a page, and choose the Compare template for it.
- Select the page in Theme settings > Trade tools > Compare page.
- The compare page shows the image, price, part number, fit line and specification rows. Specification rows are matched by label, so use the same labels across products. See Product page.
- Differences between products are highlighted.
The compare checkbox is turned on or off with Show compare checkbox on cards in the collection and search sections.
Common problems
A search for a part number finds nothing. Check that the SKU is entered exactly as printed. Check that the variant is not hidden from the online store sales channel.
An OEM number is not found. Use the tag fallback for that product. See the note above.
The barcode line does not show. The barcode is shown only when the variant has one. Enter it in the variant Barcode field.