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How to Add an Existing Stock Item to a Template Item in Acumatica

12 July 2025

Managing product variations like size, color, or style is a common requirement in inventory systems. In Acumatica, this is typically handled using Template Items—a parent item that defines shared attributes for its matrix items (child stock items). But what happens if a product starts with only one variation, and over time, new options like additional sizes or colors are introduced?

This scenario presents a challenge: you want to preserve the existing stock item (and its history) but also incorporate it into a new or existing template structure. Acumatica doesn't offer a built-in feature to retroactively add a stock item to a template once it has been created, but with a little customization, it’s completely possible.

The Use Case

Let’s say you initially created a product with a single size and color (e.g., a t-shirt in medium blue). A year later, the manufacturer releases the same shirt in multiple sizes and colors. You now want to:

  • Keep the original item (for historical sales and reporting),
  • Create a template item with the new variations, and
  • Associate the original item with this new template so that everything is logically grouped.

The Solution: Custom Action to Update Template

By extending the InventoryItemMaint graph in Acumatica, you can add a custom action that:

  1. Assigns the original stock item to a new template item.
  2. Creates matrix items for the new combinations.
  3. Adds attribute values (e.g., SIZE and COLOR) to each variation.

Here’s how the customization might look:

Things to Keep in Mind

  • This customization doesn't handle inventory migration or transaction updates. If the original item has been used in open sales orders, purchase orders, or other transactions, you’ll need to manage that data carefully.
  • You may want to use Data Import Scenarios or direct SQL updates to reassign references from the original item to the newly created matrix items—depending on your business rules.
  • This method allows you to retain historical data for the original item while organizing all current variations under a centralized template.

Final Thoughts

Acumatica’s flexibility with graph extensions makes it possible to build workflows that evolve with your product lifecycle. While the platform doesn’t natively support retroactive template assignment, you can customize your screens to reclassify items and expand your matrix structure over time.

By doing this, you retain accurate history, improve reporting consistency, and support your business growth—without starting from scratch every time your vendor updates a product line.