Smart Auto SKU Generator for WooCommerce

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**General Questions**

How does the SKU format work?

The SKU format follows this pattern: [2-digit category][2 letters][variable increment]

Examples:
– Category ID 15 with prefix “XY”: 15XY01, 15XY02, 15XY03
– Category ID 8 with prefix “AB”: 08AB01, 08AB02, 08AB03
– Category ID 42 with prefix “CD”: 42CD01, 42CD02, 42CD03

The format ensures:
– Uniqueness: Each SKU is unique across your entire catalog
– Organization: Easy to identify product categories
– Scalability: Supports thousands of products per category
– Readability: Human-readable and searchable format

Can I change the SKU length after generation?

Yes! You can change the SKU length at any time:

1. Go to WooCommerce → Auto SKU Generator
2. Select new SKU length (6-12 characters)
3. Save settings
4. The plugin will automatically adjust existing plugin-generated SKUs

Important Notes:
– Only plugin-generated SKUs are automatically updated
– Manual SKUs remain unchanged unless “Overwrite Existing” is enabled
– Longer SKUs support more products per category
– Changes are applied immediately to new products

What happens to existing SKUs when I install the plugin?

By default, existing SKUs are protected:

• Plugin-generated SKUs: Never overwritten automatically
• Manual SKUs: Preserved unless “Overwrite Existing” is enabled
• Empty SKU fields: Automatically filled with new SKUs
• Duplicate detection: Prevents conflicts with existing SKUs

To overwrite existing SKUs:
1. Enable “Overwrite Existing SKUs” in settings
2. Run bulk generation
3. All products will get new SKUs

I’m getting “Invalid or duplicated SKU” errors. What should I do?

Common causes and solutions:

1. Products without categories:
– Assign categories to all products
– Check for orphaned products
– Use bulk edit to assign categories

2. Duplicate SKUs in database:
– Run duplicate detection in settings
– Manually resolve conflicts
– Use “Overwrite Existing” to regenerate all SKUs

3. Invalid category IDs:
– Ensure category IDs are 1-99 (for 2-digit format)
– Check for deleted categories
– Reassign products to valid categories

4. Database issues:
– Check database permissions
– Verify WooCommerce tables exist
– Enable logging for detailed error information

**Configuration Questions**

Can I customize the prefix for specific categories?

Yes! You can set custom prefixes for any category:

1. Go to WooCommerce → Auto SKU Generator
2. Click “Show Category Prefixes”
3. Enter custom 2-letter prefixes for each category
4. Leave blank to use automatic prefix (first 2 letters of category name)

Examples:
– Electronics category: “EL” (instead of “EL”)
– Clothing category: “CL” (instead of “CL”)
– Books category: “BK” (instead of “BO”)

Is this plugin compatible with my WordPress version?

Compatibility Requirements:
– WordPress: 5.0 or higher
– PHP: 7.4 or higher
– WooCommerce: 4.0 or higher
– MySQL: 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.1+

Tested Compatibility:
– WordPress: 5.0 – 6.8
– WooCommerce: 4.0 – 8.0
– PHP: 7.4 – 8.3
– Major browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge

Does this plugin work with product variations?

Yes! The plugin handles both simple products and variations:

Simple Products:
– Generate unique SKUs automatically
– Follow category-based format
– Support bulk generation

Product Variations:
– Generate SKUs for parent products
– Option to generate for individual variations
– Maintain parent-child relationship
– Prevent SKU conflicts between variations

Variation Settings:
– Configure variation SKU generation in settings
– Choose between parent-only or individual variation SKUs
– Set custom prefixes for variation types

**Performance Questions**

How many products can this plugin handle?

Scalability Limits:

Recommended Limits:
– SKU Length 6: Up to 1,000 products per category
– SKU Length 8: Up to 10,000 products per category
– SKU Length 10: Up to 100,000 products per category
– SKU Length 12: Up to 1,000,000 products per category

Performance Features:
– Background processing for large catalogs
– Batch processing to prevent timeouts
– Memory optimization for low-resource servers
– Progress tracking for long operations

Large Catalog Tips:
– Use longer SKU lengths for scalability
– Enable background processing
– Process in smaller batches if needed
– Monitor server resources during generation

Will this plugin slow down my website?

No, the plugin is optimized for performance:

Performance Features:
– Background processing prevents frontend slowdowns
– Minimal database queries during normal operation
– Caching of frequently accessed data
– Optimized algorithms for SKU generation

Resource Usage:
– Memory: Minimal impact (typically < 5MB)
– Database: Efficient queries with proper indexing
– CPU: Background processing spreads load
– Frontend: No impact on customer-facing pages

Best Practices:
– Run bulk generation during low-traffic periods
– Use background processing for large catalogs
– Monitor server resources during initial setup
– Enable logging only when troubleshooting

Can I import/export my SKU settings?

Yes! The plugin includes comprehensive import/export functionality:

Export Features:
– Export all SKU generation settings
– Include category-specific prefixes
– Backup configuration before changes
– JSON format for easy sharing

Import Features:
– Import settings from backup files
– Validate imported data
– Merge with existing settings
– Rollback to previous configurations

Backup Management:
– Automatic backup before major changes
– Manual backup creation
– Restore from any backup point
– Export backups for safekeeping

**Technical Questions**

Does this plugin work with WooCommerce HPOS?

Yes! The plugin is fully compatible with WooCommerce High-Performance Order Storage:

HPOS Compatibility:
– Declared compatibility with HPOS
– Tested with latest WooCommerce versions
– No conflicts with order storage systems
– Maintains performance with HPOS enabled

Cart & Checkout Blocks:
– Compatible with WooCommerce blocks
– Works with modern checkout experiences
– No interference with block functionality
– Maintains SKU generation during checkout

Can I customize the SKU generation algorithm?

Advanced customization options:

Hooks and Filters:
– smart_auto_sku_generator_sku_format – Customize SKU format
– smart_auto_sku_generator_prefix – Modify prefix generation
– smart_auto_sku_generator_increment – Customize numbering
– smart_auto_sku_generator_validation – Add custom validation

Code Examples:
`php
// Custom SKU format
add_filter(‘smart_auto_sku_generator_sku_format’, function($format, $product) {
return ‘CUSTOM-‘ . $product->get_category_ids()[0] . ‘-‘ . $product->get_id();
}, 10, 2);

// Custom prefix generation
add_filter(‘smart_auto_sku_generator_prefix’, function($prefix, $category) {
return strtoupper(substr($category->name, 0, 3));
}, 10, 2);
`

How do I troubleshoot SKU generation issues?

Step-by-step troubleshooting:

1. Enable Logging:
– Go to plugin settings
– Enable “Log SKU Generation Activities”
– Check WordPress debug log for errors

2. Check Prerequisites:
– Verify WooCommerce is active
– Ensure products have categories
– Check PHP version compatibility
– Verify database permissions

3. Common Issues:
– No SKUs generated: Check category assignments
– Duplicate errors: Run duplicate detection
– Timeout errors: Use background processing
– Permission errors: Check file/database permissions

4. Advanced Debugging:
– Enable WordPress debug mode
– Check error logs for detailed information
– Use browser developer tools for AJAX errors
– Contact support with error details