How to Convert WooCommerce Custom Attributes into Global Attributes (And Vice Versa)

In this tutorial, we will show you how to easily convert WooCommerce custom attributes into global attributes (and vice-versa).

First, we need to understand the difference between custom attributes and global attributes:

• Global Attributes: These are product attributes that you can create at Products > Attributes. These attributes are shared by your products; for example, product size, product color, product material, etc.
• Custom Attributes: These are product attributes that you can create directly on the individual edit product edit screen. They are unique to that specific product and cannot be used in all your products. If you want to use custom attributes as global attributes, you need to convert them.

Fortunately, you can completely automate the conversion of product attributes using the WP Sheet Editor – WooCommerce Products plugin.

Follow these steps to change custom attributes into global attributes.

Step 1. Install the WP Sheet Editor Plugin

The WP Sheet Editor plugin allows you to view and manage your WooCommerce products in a spreadsheet. In this case, it will allow you to convert custom attributes into global attributes.

You can skip this step if you already have the plugin installed and activated on your WordPress site.

2. Open the WooCommerce Products Spreadsheet

After you install the plugin and activate your license, open the spreadsheet by going to WP Sheet Editor > Edit Products. You will see all your WooCommerce products displayed as rows, with all their fields displayed as columns.

Once you’re in the spreadsheet, scroll to the right to find the column of the custom attribute you want to convert into global. For example, we have the Custom attribute: Ingredient column.

3. Convert Custom Attributes into Global Attributes WooCommerce

Let’s convert the “Ingredient” attribute into a global attribute.

Step 1: Create the Empty Global Attribute

The first thing we need to do is create a global attribute with the same name as the custom attribute we’re going to convert. For example, in this case, we’re going to create an attribute called Ingredient.

Go to Products > Attributes in your WordPress dashboard.

Enter the attribute name and click on the Add Attribute button. We will call it “Ingredient”.

Step 2: Open the “Bulk Edit” tool in WP Sheet Editor

Go back to the products spreadsheet (WP Sheet Editor > Edit Products) and click on the Bulk Edit tool located on the toolbar.

Step 3: Convert custom attributes into global attributes in bulk

In the Bulk Edit popup, select these values:

• Select the rows that you want to update: Edit all the rows from my current search (including non-visible rows).
• What field do you want to edit: Product Ingredient. (This is the global attribute field).
• Select type of edit: Copy from other columns.
• Copy from this column: Custom attribute: Ingredient. (This is the custom attribute field).
• Click Execute Now.

4. How to Copy from Global Attribute into Custom Atribute

If you need to do the opposite, you need to select these values in the Bulk Edit tool:

• Select the rows that you want to update: Edit all the rows from my current search (including non-visible rows).
• What field do you want to edit: Custom attribute: Ingredient. (This is the custom attribute field).
• Select type of edit: Copy from other columns.
• Copy from this column: Product Ingredient. (This is the global attribute field).
• Click Execute Now.

That’s how you can convert WooCommerce custom attributes into global attributes, or convert global attributes into custom attributes.