Converting a parametric type
It is possible to change the type of an existing parametric — for example from Text to List, or from Decimal to Integer. To convert, open the parametric and go to Tools → Change parametric type. You will see the current type and a dropdown to select the new type. A message reminds you to run a preview before converting — the Convert button stays disabled until you have done so.
The preview shows how many products can be converted and which ones have values that cannot be converted to the new type. The conversion is all-or-nothing: if any product has a value that cannot be converted, the whole conversion is blocked until those values are fixed or cleared.
What can be converted
Any type can be converted to any other type. Whether individual product values survive depends on whether the value can be parsed into the target type. For example, a decimal value of 12.5 cannot be converted to Integer (fractional parts are not truncated — they block conversion), but 12.0 can.
Data loss to be aware of
Some conversions permanently discard data. There is no built-in undo — converting back does not recover what was lost. Always review the preview carefully before confirming.
| Conversion | What is lost |
|---|---|
| Any type → Text | Values longer than 255 characters are truncated |
| Any type → Decimal | Precision beyond 3 decimal places is rounded |
| Multiple list → any | Only the first selected value per product survives; all additional selections are dropped |
| Text or HTML → Integer, Decimal, Boolean, or Date | All localized (translated) values are permanently cleared |
| List → any | The list's option definitions and their translations are deleted after the conversion |
| Multiple list → any | Same as above — option definitions and translations are deleted |
| Any → List or Multiple list | New list options are created from the existing values; original codes, sort order, and any images on the old options are not carried over |
Common conversion examples
Text → Integer or Decimal
Only values that are purely numeric convert successfully. Non-numeric text blocks the entire conversion.
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
"Norce" | Fails |
"fourteen" | Fails |
"14" | → 14 |
"12.5" → Integer | Fails (fractional part not truncated) |
"14" → Decimal | → 14.000 |
All failing values must be removed or corrected before the conversion can proceed.
Text → Boolean
Only the English words true, false, yes, no, and the values 1 and 0 are accepted (case-insensitive). Other words — including Swedish equivalents like sant, ja, nej — are not recognized and will block the conversion.
| Value | Result |
|---|---|
"true" | → 1 |
"1" | → 1 |
"sant" | Fails |
"ok" | Fails |
Boolean or Number → Text
This direction always succeeds. No validation failures are possible.
- Boolean values become the text strings
"True"or"False"(not1/0). - Integer
14becomes"14". - Decimal
14becomes"14.000"(always 3 decimal places).
Text → List
Distinct text values become new list options. If two products have values that differ only in letter case — for example "norce" and "Norce" — they collapse into a single list option (Norce uses a case-insensitive database collation). Which casing is preserved is not guaranteed, so it is worth normalizing case in your data before converting.
Tip: Back up or export your product data before converting a parametric type, especially when converting from Multiple list, or when the parametric has localized values.