Merge pull request #8080 from rmehta/item-variants-by-mfg

[feature] ability to have variants based on manufacturer

erpnext/docs/user/manual/en/stock/item/item-variants.md

@@ -1,15 +1,28 @@
+# Item Variants
+
+### What are Variants?
+
 A Item Variant is a version of a Item, such as differing sizes or differing colours (like a _blue_ t-shirt in size _small_ rather then just a t-shirt).
-Without Item variants, you would have to treat the _small, medium_ and _large_ versions of a t-shirt as three separate Items; 
+Without Item variants, you would have to treat the _small, medium_ and _large_ versions of a t-shirt as three separate Items;
 Item variants let you treat the _small, medium_ and _large_ versions of a t-shirt as variations of the one Item 't-shirt'.
 
+### Using Variants
+
+Variants can be based on two things
+
+1. Item Attributes
+1. Manufacturers
+
+### Variants Based on Item Attributes
+
 To use Item Variants in ERPNext, create an Item and check 'Has Variants'.
 
-* The Item shall then be referred to as a so called 'Template'. Such a Template is not identical to a regular 'Item' any longer. For example it (the Template) can not be used directly in any Transactions (Sales Order, Delivery Note, Purchase Invoice) itself. Only the Variants of an Item (_blue_ t-shirt in size _small)_ can be practically used in such. Therefore it would be ideal to decide whether an item 'Has Variants' or not directly when creating it. 
+* The Item shall then be referred to as a so called 'Template'. Such a Template is not identical to a regular 'Item' any longer. For example it (the Template) can not be used directly in any Transactions (Sales Order, Delivery Note, Purchase Invoice) itself. Only the Variants of an Item (_blue_ t-shirt in size _small)_ can be practically used in such. Therefore it would be ideal to decide whether an item 'Has Variants' or not directly when creating it.
 
 <img class="screenshot" alt="Has Variants" src="{{docs_base_url}}/assets/img/stock/item-has-variants.png">
 
 On selecting 'Has Variants' a table shall appear. Specify the variant attributes for the Item in the table.
-In case the attribute has Numeric Values, you can specify the range and increment values here. 
+In case the attribute has Numeric Values, you can specify the range and increment values here.
 
 <img class="screenshot" alt="Valid Attributes" src="{{docs_base_url}}/assets/img/stock/item-attributes.png">
 
@@ -22,3 +35,17 @@ To create 'Item Variants' against a 'Template' select 'Make Variants'
 <img class="screenshot" alt="Make Variants" src="{{docs_base_url}}/assets/img/stock/make-variant-1.png">
 
 To learn more about setting Attributes Master check [Item Attributes]({{docs_base_url}}/user/manual/en/stock/setup/item-attribute.html)
+
+### Variants Based on Manufacturers
+
+To setup variants based on Manufactueres, in your Item template, set "Variants Based On" as "Manufacturers"
+
+<img class='screenshot' alt='Setup Item Variant by Manufacturer'
+	src='{{docs_base_url}}/assets/img/stock/select-mfg-for-variant.png'>
+
+When you make a new Variant, the system will prompt you to select a Manufacturer. You can also optionally put in a Manufacturer Part Number
+
+<img class='screenshot' alt='Setup Item Variant by Manufacturer'
+	src='{{docs_base_url}}/assets/img/stock/set-variant-by-mfg.png'>
+
+The naming of the variant will be the name (ID) of the template Item with a number suffix. e.g. "ITEM000" will have variant "ITEM000-1"