Sync, Channel Sync and Show on Storefront
Three switches decide what happens to a product outside Fulify. They answer three different questions, and they're designed to be used in order:
- Sync: should this product leave Fulify at all?
- Channel Sync: may Fulify update it on my sales channels?
- Show on Storefront: can customers see it?
You'll find all three in the Visibility & Status section of the product editor, near the top of the page.
Sync: the master switch
Sync is the master switch for the product, and everything else depends on it.
- Off: the product stays in Fulify. It reaches no sales channel and no connected app, however its other switches are set.
- On: the product can be sent to the channels and apps it's assigned to.
Because Sync is a separate decision from storefront visibility, a product can be synced while it's still hidden from customers, so it's set up everywhere before marketing is ready to show it.
A product with Sync off shows Sync off - nothing will be sent in the Channel Sync column of the Products list. A product with Sync off is recorded as not synced, not as an error.
Channel Sync
Channel Sync lets Fulify update the product on your sales channels (BigCommerce and Shopify). It's available only when Sync is on. If you turn Sync off, Fulify keeps your Channel Sync choice and restores it when Sync comes back on.
- On: the Sync button, Sync Channel on a channel tab, and bulk sync all push the product to its assigned channels. Your edits are marked as pending until the next sync.
- Off: channel syncs for this product are refused and your edits stay in Fulify. The Products list shows Channel Sync off - Fulify won't update it on your channels.
You can change Channel Sync for many products at once with Sync On and Sync Off in the bulk bar, or from the switch in each product row.
Apps
Below Sync, the Apps area lists each connected app, such as Linnworks, with a Sync to switch for this product. Apps are off by default, and switching one on doesn't affect your sales channels. With Sync off, nothing is sent to any app. See How the Linnworks integration works.
Show on Storefront
Show on Storefront controls whether customers can see the product in your shop. It only matters once Sync is on. The Storefront switch in each Products list row and the Visible and Hidden bulk buttons change the same setting.
Next to it you'll find Featured Product and Sort Order, plus availability and scheduling options.
Assigning products to channels
Switches decide whether a product syncs. Assignments decide where it goes. A product syncs only to the channels it's assigned to.
- In the editor, click Add to Channel at the top of the page.
- On the Products list, select products and click Channel in the bulk bar to open Channel & App Assignments. Each channel shows how many of the selected products are assigned, with a switch to assign or remove them.
Before assigning, Fulify checks whether the channel will accept the products, for example whether their categories and brand exist on that store. If some would be rejected, nothing is assigned and Fulify lists the problems. Choose Assign anyway if you're about to add the missing categories or brand to that store; those products will sync once they exist.
Removing a product from a channel detaches it in Fulify only. It doesn't delete the product from the store.
Common setups
| What you want | Sync | Channel Sync | Show on Storefront |
|---|---|---|---|
| Still being prepared, keep it in Fulify | Off | Any | Any |
| On the store but hidden from customers | On | On | Off |
| Live and visible | On | On | On |