How To Add Additional Columns In Products Woocommerce

How to Add Additional Columns to Your WooCommerce Products Table (The Easy Way!)

Want to supercharge your WooCommerce product management and make your store more efficient? Adding extra columns to your product table in the backend can be a game-changer. Imagine being able to quickly see crucial information, like product weight, stock location, or custom attributes, without having to open each product individually. That’s the power of custom columns!

This guide is designed for WooCommerce beginners. We’ll break down how to add these helpful columns using simple, straightforward methods. No coding wizardry required!

Why Add Extra Columns to Your WooCommerce Product Table?

Think of your WooCommerce product list as a spreadsheet. The default columns (like Product Name, SKU, Price, Stock Status) are a good start, but they might not tell the whole story. Adding custom columns can dramatically improve your workflow and help you:

• Save Time: Quickly access important product information at a glance.
• Improve Accuracy: Reduce errors by having all relevant data readily available.
• Streamline Management: Easily sort, filter, and manage your products more efficiently.
• Enhance Decision-Making: Make informed decisions about pricing, inventory, and marketing based on readily available data.

Real-life example: Imagine you sell handmade jewelry. You might want to add a column for “Material” (e.g., silver, gold, beads) Read more about How To Make Categories And Subcategories With Woocommerce or “Production Time” to quickly assess which items are easy to fulfill and prioritize.

Methods for Adding Additional Columns

There are a few ways to add custom columns to your WooCommerce product table. We’ll focus on the easiest, most beginner-friendly option: using a plugin.

Why a Plugin? While coding solutions exist, plugins offer a user-friendly interface and require no programming knowledge. This is perfect for beginners who want to add functionality without getting bogged down in code.

Recommended Plugin: Admin Columns

Admin Columns is a powerful and versatile plugin (available in free and pro versions) that lets you customize the WordPress admin area, including the WooCommerce product table. The free version often provides enough functionality for basic column additions.

Here’s how to use it:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin:

• Go to Plugins > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
• Search for “Admin Columns.”
• Install and activate the “Admin Columns” plugin.

2. Access the Admin Columns Settings:

• After activation, a new “Admin Columns” menu item will appear in your dashboard. Click on it.

3. Select the “Products” Table:

• You’ll see a list of different admin tables. Choose “Products” (this is your WooCommerce product table).

4. Add a New Column:

• Click the “Add Column” button.
• A dropdown menu will appear with a list of available column types.

5. Choose Your Column Type:

• This is where the magic happens! Admin Columns offers various column types, including:
• Custom Field: For displaying values from custom fields you’ve already created for your products (using plugins like Advanced Custom Fields). This is a common scenario.
• Taxonomy: For displaying categories, tags, or custom taxonomies assigned to your products.
• Product Attributes: Displays product attributes such as color or size.
• Product Weight: Displays the weight of your products.
• Product Dimensions: Displays the product dimensions.

6. Configure the Column:

• After selecting a column type, you’ll need to configure it. For example, if you choose “Custom Field,” you’ll need to specify the name of the custom field you want to display.

7. Save Your Changes:

• Once you’ve configured the column, click “Update.”

8. View Your New Column:

• Go back to your Products page in WooCommerce. You should now see your newly added column!

Example: Adding a “Material” Column (using a Custom Field)

Let’s say you use the Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin to add a custom field called “material” to your products, allowing you to specify the material each product is made from.

• Using Admin Columns, select the “Custom Field” column type.
• In the “Field” dropdown, select your “material” custom field.
• Update the settings.

Now, your product table will have a “Material” column, showing the material for each product.

Important Considerations

• Custom Fields are Key: Adding custom fields to your products is often a prerequisite for displaying custom data in the product table. Plugins like Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) are essential for this.
• Plugin Compatibility: Ensure the plugin you choose is compatible with the latest version of WooCommerce and WordPress.
• Performance: Adding too many columns can potentially slow down your admin area. Only add the columns you truly need.
• Sorting and Filtering: Some plugins allow you to sort and filter your products based on the data in your custom columns. This can be incredibly useful for managing your inventory.

Conclusion

Adding custom columns to your WooCommerce product table is a simple yet powerful way to improve your store’s efficiency and streamline your product management. By using a plugin like Admin Columns, even beginners can easily customize their product table and gain valuable insights into their inventory. Start experimenting and see how custom columns can transform your WooCommerce workflow!