Multiple Values (Templates)

The Multiple Values (Templates) tab (formerly called "Value Comparison") contains settings for handling attributes that consist of several distinct values separated by a special character.

Multiple values and comparison settings

Splitter (Separator)

A Splitter is a character or a sequence of characters used to divide a single long text (Template) into separate, independent Values.

Purpose

The splitter allows the module to understand that the entry v1.5.x/2.0.1/2.1.x is not one long string, but three different versions that the filter should process individually.

Splitter Configuration

• Input field: The separator character (e.g., /, ,, ;, |).
• Restrictions: Letters, numbers, quotes, and square brackets are not allowed.
• Compatibility: It is recommended to use the same splitter as the one configured in your filter (Mega Filter Pro, OCFilter, etc.).

Splitter Examples:

Original String	Splitter	Resulting Values
Red, Blue, Green	,	Red, Blue, Green
16GB/32GB/64GB	/	16GB, 32GB, 64GB
Wi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.0	;	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0

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Split Exceptions

Sometimes an attribute value contains a character that matches the splitter, but this value should not be split.

How Exceptions Work

The module uses a combined list of exceptions:

1. User List: You can manually add values to the text field (one value per line).
2. Hardcoded Defaults: The module includes built-in common exceptions (Wi-Fi standards, TCP/IP, S/PDIF, etc.).
3. Automatic (Units of Measurement): All units from your database that contain a slash (e.g., km/h) are automatically added to the exceptions list.

Exception Example:

Suppose your splitter is /.

Value Type	Attribute Text	Without Exceptions (Error)	With Exceptions (Correct)
Simple	Black/White	Black, White	Black, White
Complex	802.11 a/b/g/n	802.11 a, b, g, n	802.11 a/b/g/n

Protection Mechanism

When processing text, the module first identifies all matches from the exceptions list, "masks" them, splits the remaining text by the splitter character, and then restores the exceptions to their original form.

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Units with Slashes

Handling units of measurement is fully automated. If you use the Units module and have added a unit with a slash (e.g., km/h), it automatically becomes an exception.

Automated Processing Example:

Splitter: /. Database value: 60 km/h / 120 km/h.

1. The module detects that km/h is a known unit of measurement.
2. It understands that the slash inside km/h is part of the unit, not a value separator.
3. Result: The module correctly splits the string into two values: 60 km/h and 120 km/h.

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Value Comparison Modes

This setting determines how the module searches for and updates values when they are edited or deleted.

1. By Substring (Substr)

Searches for any occurrence of the text within a string.

Examples (Substr):

• Successful Update: Replacing MP4 with MP3.
  • Before: MP4/AVI, MP4-MPEG4/VOB
  • After: MP3/AVI, MP3-MPEG4/VOB
• Error (False Positive): Replacing 50 with 50g.
  • Before: 50, 500, 50-100
  • After: 50g, 50g0, 50g-100 (The value 500 is corrupted!)

2. Exact Match (Match)

Searches only for an exact match of the value (considering splitters).

Examples (Match):

• Safe Update: Replacing 50 with 50g.
  • Before: 50, 500, 50-100
  • After: 50g, 500, 50-100 (Values 500 and 50-100 remain untouched)

Influence on Features

The selected mode affects:

• Editing: Updating text via the quick editor.
• Deletion: Clearing values from products.
• Selection: Which products appear in the tree when clicking a value. In Match mode, clicking 20 will not show products with values like 120 or 200.

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Comparison and Units of Measurement

All comparison algorithms account for units of measurement by masking them during processing.

Example:

Attribute: Weight. Value: 10 kg. If you perform a merge or search, the module will "hide" the kg during comparison, find the number 10, perform the required action, and then restore the unit. This prevents unit duplication or loss during bulk operations.