If you can't see the variant display on your product pages, here are the most common causes and solutions:

1. App block not added to your theme

This is the most frequent issue. The Variant Robot app block needs to be manually added to your product page template:

1. Go to your Shopify admin → Online Store → Themes
2. Click "Customize" on your active theme
3. Navigate to a product page
4. In the theme editor, look for "Add block" or "+" button
5. Find "Variant Robot feed" in the apps section and add it
6. Position the block where you want the variant display to appear
7. Save your changes

2. Incorrect settings configuration

If the app block is installed but variants still don't appear, your Search Mode or Split Symbol settings might not match your product data structure. Review the following FAQ sections:

• Search Modes: See "What are Search Modes and why are they important?"
• Split Symbols: See "How do I select the correct Split Symbol for my store?"
• Spacing issues: See "How does Variant Robot handle spaces around the Split Symbol?"

Make sure your settings match your actual product data format and re-sync if you make any changes.

Search Modes in Variant Robot determine how the system identifies and links related product variants in your store. Each mode uses different product attributes to find connections:

• Product Title: Links variants based on product names
• Product SKU: Uses SKU patterns to group variants
• Product Metafield: Connects variants through custom metafield values
• Product Tag: Groups variants using shared tags

Choosing the right Search Mode is crucial because it directly affects how accurately and efficiently your product variants are linked, ensuring a cohesive product display in your store.

The Split Symbol is the character that separates the common product name from the variant identifier in your product data. To choose the right one:

1. Examine your product structure: Look at your product titles, SKUs, metafields, or tags
2. Find the pattern: Identify the recurring character that divides the general product name from specific variant details
3. Common examples:

Choose the symbol that consistently appears across your product data.

Before activating sync, follow these essential steps:

1. Understand the system: Read about Search Modes and Split Symbols to understand which configuration matches your store's structure
2. Analyze your data: Review your product titles, SKUs, metafields, or tags to identify patterns
3. Choose your settings: Select the correct Search Mode and Split Symbol based on your analysis
4. Check spacing: Verify whether your Split Symbol has spaces around it (e.g., " - " vs "-")

Taking time to configure these settings correctly will prevent issues and ensure smooth variant linking.

Yes, you can change these settings after activation, but there are important considerations:

• Changes are possible: Both Search Mode and Split Symbol can be modified at any time
• Re-sync required: Any changes will require a complete re-sync of your product data to take effect
• Temporary disruption: Your variant linking may be temporarily affected during the re-sync process
• Best practice: Review and test your settings carefully before initial activation to minimize disruptions

If you need to make changes, plan for a brief period where variant linking may be inconsistent while the system re-processes your data.

Inconsistent Split Symbols can cause significant issues with variant linking:

Problems you might encounter:

• Variants may not be properly grouped together
• Some products might appear as separate items instead of variants
• The system may miss connections between related products

Solutions:

1. Standardize your data: Update product titles, SKUs, metafields, or tags to use a consistent Split Symbol
2. Choose the most common pattern: If complete standardization isn't possible, configure for the most frequently used symbol
3. Use bulk editing tools: Shopify's bulk editor or third-party apps can help standardize your data efficiently

Investing time in data standardization will significantly improve Variant Robot's performance.

Variant Robot provides a specific setting to handle spaces around your Split Symbol correctly:

The spacing setting:

• With spaces: "Product Name - Variant" (spaces before and after the hyphen)
• Without spaces: "ProductName-Variant" (no spaces around the hyphen)

How to configure:

1. Check the box "My split symbol DOES NOT have spaces around it" if your data looks like: "Item-Red" or "SKU_Large"
2. Leave the box unchecked if your data includes spaces like: "Item - Red"

This setting is crucial for accurate variant identification. Incorrect spacing configuration is a common cause of linking failures.