Associate an alternative item to an item

.For an item, you can set up an alternative item so that you have the option of selecting an item that is very similar to the original as an alternative. When a customer places an order for the original item and the original item is not in stock, then the customer is provided an option to select an alternative item and place an order.

1. Navigate to the Item Associations screen. To navigate to the Item Association screen, perform the following steps:
   1. Log in to Sterling Business Center as an Item Administrator.
   2. The application home page is displayed. Click the Products tab.
   3. From the Products home page, click Find Item in the Catalog dashlet.
   4. From the Item Search screen that is displayed, enter the search criteria, and then click Search to view a list of all the available items. Alternatively, use either the Basic Search or the Advanced Search option to narrow down the list of items displayed.
   5. In the Items panel that is displayed, click the Item ID hyperlink. Alternatively, double-click the row containing the Item ID.
   6. The Primary Information screen is displayed. In the Related Tasks panel, click Manage Alternative.

      The Items Associations screen is displayed.

2. In the Items area that is displayed, click Add.
3. The Add Association Item dialog box is displayed. Perform the following steps:
   1. In the Item ID* box, click the Search icon to search for an Item ID. The Basic Item Search dialog box is displayed. Enter the search criteria, and click Search to view the list of available items. You can use either the Basic Search or Advanced Search option to narrow down the list of items displayed. In the search results list that is displayed, select the item that you want to associate as an alternative item, and click Select.
      Note: A bundle item cannot be associated to any other item.
   2. Select an Effective Start Date*. Click the Calendar icon to view the calendar, and select a date. The effective start date is the date from which the association becomes active.
   3. Select an Effective End Date*. Click the Calendar icon to view the calendar, and select a date. The effective end date is the date until which the association remains active.
   4. In the Associated Quantity* text box, enter the quantity of the associated item that is relevant to this association.
   5. In the Priority field, enter the priority of the associated item. An association with the highest priority is displayed first in the list of associations displayed in the Web channel application.
   6. Click Save to save the details, and close the dialog box.
      Note: * indicates that the field is mandatory.

      The alternative item is associated to the item.