Product Attributes - can't add an attribute "group" to a product?

[rcastagna]

OK, maybe it's just my status as a n00b that's causing this, but I didn't see anything in the docs to suggest I can do what I need to do.

 

I am working on a site for a company that sells monogrammed crap. There are two attributes that will be available for each and every product they sell: Monogram Style and Thread Color. I had hoped that I could reuse these two attribute groups and when I/they create a new product just select these two attribute groups for the newly created product.

 

What I'm finding in reality is that for every product, each item for each attribute has to be added individually. Granted, it builds two dropdownlists for the product detail page, but, really...I have to add each individual option to every product? Really? Please, please, please tell me I'm missing something.

 

If you're wondering why I'm in such disbelief, it's because they have 22 monogram styles and 34 thread colors. I had to add *56* individual line items to a single product. Not to mention the fact that the lists aren't sorted, either. Or the complete and total management nightmare this presents when they add the 200+ products to the catalog. 200 * 56 = 11,200 entries in the product attributes grid.

 

Again, please, please, please...someone tell me I'm missing the "easy" way to do this.

 

Thanks in advance,

Ric

[FIMBLE]

ajax attribute manger from the contributions area, you can save the set as a template and use over again, whats more you can do this from the add a product page

Nic