SAP Retail recognizes different article categories. When you are assigning articles to a layout area, the system handles each of these article categories differently. The system displays the article category for every article in the product catalog.

When you enter an article, the system displays such information as description, unit of measure, price, and whether document or texts are associated with them. Each article occupies a single line.

Generic articles themselves are not sold, only their variants (for example, the generic article "women’s blouse" may have variants in different size-color combinations). In product catalogs, generic articles serve as a means of grouping variants, as well as texts and documents which are valid for those variants.

When you enter a generic article, you can select which variants you want to include (for example, a red silk blouse in size 32, a blue cotton blouse in size 36). The system displays the variants as a matrix (table format) from which you can make selections. After the variants have been selected, you return to the layout area screen. The generic article has a "+" next to it. The variants are displayed directly beneath the generic article, each on a separate line with a "–" next to it.

If you move the generic article, the variants move with it. You cannot insert another article (for example, an individual article or set) between variants of a generic article; that is, the area where the variants are displayed is protected.

Each variant displays its individual price, which may be different from other variants of the same article.

Normally, a variant has the same unit of measure as the generic article. However, you can also create logistical variants in the article master; this allows a variant to have a unit of measure that is different from that of the generic article or other associated variants. For example, the generic article may have a unit of measure pallet, but one of its logistical variants may have a unit of measure each.

If you enter only a variant (without its associated generic article) on the layout area screen, the system will issue a warning. You can override the warning if you really intended to include only a single variant. However, if you plan to enter several variants, it is easier and faster to enter the generic article first and then select the variants.

If you remove a generic article, all its variants will also be removed. You can remove variants singly by deleting them from the layout area screen or by redisplaying the selection matrix and deselecting individual variants. At any time you can select additional variants to be added to the catalog.

To simplify the display, you can collapse the list so that only the generic articles are shown and not the variants. Clicking again will expand the list to show the variants. (This is for ease of viewing only, and does not affect the contents of the list.)

When you enter a set, the system includes all the components that make up that set. In addition, a new column appears, showing how many of each article make up the set; for example, a 20-piece set of china with 4 each of dinner plates, cups, etc. (Quantities are not relevant for variants of generic articles because they are always sold singly.) You cannot delete a component of a set, since the components and quantities are fixed.

In contrast to generic articles and variants, sets themselves have a price but their components do not.

As with generic articles and variants, you can expand and collapse the list. When you move a set, all its components move with it. Likewise if you delete a set, all components are deleted from the catalog as well.