A user is struggling with two variant-related issues in their Shopify store using the Trade theme:
Problem 1: Variant ordering
Variants are automatically sorted by availability count (L with 6 variants, S with 4, M with 1) rather than the desired custom order
Changes made in admin revert after saving
Problem 2: Conditional variant display
When selecting specific options (e.g., “Long Sleeve”), the user wants compatible variants (Blue color, M size) to auto-select or filter automatically
Currently managing 50+ variant combinations manually
Solutions offered:
From tim_1:
Trade theme respects admin variant order without additional sorting
Reordering options in admin should fix the display sequence
Conditional variant filtering is possible via Custom Liquid sections (avoids theme update conflicts)
Warning: Editing .liquid files directly (like header.liquid for transparency) will complicate future theme updates
From Easify-Jolie:
Recommended Easify Product Options app as a no-code solution
Demonstrated conditional logic setup with screenshots showing how to auto-filter variants based on selections
Supports custom ordering and complex variant combinations
Status: Ongoing discussion with potential app-based and code-based solutions presented.
Summarized with AI on October 29.
AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
For my products I have 3 types of variants but not all the variants of one type are associated with all the variants of the others.
Example:
COLOR: RED - GREEN - BLUE
SIZE: S - M - L
SLEEVE: LONG - SHORT
However, the long-sleeved shirt is only available in the color BLUE and in size M.
Size L is available in all SHORT-sleeved variants, like S which, however, is only available in the colors BLUE and GREEN.
In the situation described, the sizes are ordered in the following order: L (6 variants) - S (4 variants) - M (1 variant). I would like to order them according to my needs. In fact, I can do it but when I save it goes back to how it was.
I would also like to know if it is possible, and if so how, that by selecting a single variant, the variants that allow you to purchase the desired variant appear automatically. In previous example, if the LONG option was selected, present only in BLUE and in size M, I would like that these two options to be automatically chosen, without having to play with all those present (in my real case I have over 50 different solutions).
However, the theme may sort them in a different order.
Second question – some themes has this functionality – when a visitor makes selection in the first option, values in second and third are amended to only show those which lead to possible value combinations. When they then make selection in the second option, the third option is amended again.
It’s also possible to change your theme code (or sometimes even using “Custom liquid” section, because editing theme code will make it difficult to update theme to a newer version) to both fixes in any theme.
About the order, ok that it depends on Theme (I have TRADE), but is it possible to order in different way? Any idea?
For second thing is it better to open a new topic or do you have something I can try?
And last, you wrote “editing theme code will make it difficult to update theme to a newer version”. I changed a part of code to make header transparent (in header.liquid) but I don’t want that it affects on future update of website. Do you think it will do?
Trade has either usual Variant Pickers or Quick order list – anyway it’s ordered in the same order you’ve put your options in admin, Trade does no additional sorting.
For Quick order list (say you have option1: A/B/C and option2: 1/2/3) it will go A1,A2,A3,B1,B2,B3 and so on.
So if you need a different order – reorder your options and option values in admin.
Say, you reorder your options (option2 is the first now) then it will be 1A, 1B, 1C, 2A, 2B … and so on.
About editing theme code – yes, any edits to any .liquid file and any asset will stop automatic updates and complicate manual updates.
This is why nowadays I only suggest using “Custom CSS” and “Custom liquid” settings/sections to achieve required modifications.
However, this is not the end of the world – just have your edits documented somewhere and when it’s time for update you can re-implement them as “Custom CSS”.
Finally – about not showing option values which do not select available variant.
This can be done, even without theme code edit (just “Custom liquid”), but unfortunately I do not have the code to share yet.
You might want to check out Easify Product Options – it’s great for handling complex combinations like yours with ease. It supports conditional logic, custom option ordering, and more – all without any coding. Here’s how it works:
Then continue using Conditional Logic for Size, so in this image, all 3 sizes will show up when Short Sleeve - Blue or Green color is selected. Do the same with Long Sleeve and other color.
