How to add a new color to an existing matrix item in NetSuite

The quick answer

Edit the matrix parent and open Accounting > Matrix Items. Hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) and click the new value in the option box, so the values already selected stay selected. Then choose Actions > Add Items, check the one new row on the Add Matrix Items page, and click Submit. Use Add Items for a new option value. Update Matrix applies supported parent field changes to children that already exist. It is not the action for a new value, and older releases answer it with "Use the Add Items button to add Options." In this example, Olive joins Black and Navy and NetSuite creates one new child, Canvas Strap-Olive.

The screenshots show sample data. Person and company names are fictional. Use your own item, option field and values when following the steps.

Before you start

A canvas strap already sells in Black and Navy. Each color is its own child item under one matrix parent, with its own stock and sales history. A third color, Olive, has just arrived. You don't need to rebuild anything. You add the value on the parent and let NetSuite create the missing child.

The account needs the Matrix Items feature, under Setup > Company > Enable Features > Items & Inventory. The color has to exist as a value in the custom list behind the matrix option field, here Color, and the field has to be a matrix option applied to the item type. Once the first child exists, the parent's matrix dimensions are fixed. You can add values to an option the parent already uses, and you have to keep every value that already has a child selected. You can't add a new dimension, like Size on a color-only parent, after children exist. Your role needs permission to edit items. A parent can have up to 2,000 children in total.

01. Find the parent and open it for editing

Type the parent's name in Global Search, here Canvas Strap. In this account the results list the parent and, below it, each child as the parent name, a colon and the child name. You can also find the parent in Lists > Accounting > Items. Open the Inventory Item result for the parent, not one of the children. The parent shows the Matrix tag beside its name. Click Edit.

The Global Search results for Canvas Strap. Inventory Item: Canvas Strap is the first result, with Canvas Strap : Canvas Strap-Black and Canvas Strap : Canvas Strap-Navy below it. An arrow points to the parent result. — Open the parent result, Inventory Item: Canvas Strap, not a child.

02. Select the new value without losing the old ones

Open the Accounting subtab and scroll to Matrix Items. In Color, Black and Navy are selected, and the list under the boxes shows the two children that already exist.

The Matrix Items subtab in edit mode. The Color box has Black and Navy selected. The Matrix Item Name Template reads {itemid}-{custitem_color}. — Before: Black and Navy selected, with the template beside them.

Hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) and click Olive. Black, Navy and Olive are now all selected. A plain click replaces the selection and clears Black and Navy, so keep the modifier held. Before you go on, confirm that Black and Navy are still selected. If the box shows only some of its values, scroll it to see the rest.

The Color box with Black, Navy and Olive all selected. Selected values are filled light blue with a dark underline. — Black, Navy and Olive selected together.

03. Check the name template

The Matrix Item Name Template names the new child. It has to include a tag for every matrix option that has selected values. Here {itemid}-{custitem_color} covers Color, so the new child is named Canvas Strap-Olive. You can confirm the generated name on the next page before anything is created. If a tag is missing or mistyped, NetSuite shows an error and stops before it opens the next page. Fix the template with Insert Matrix Option, then continue. The exact wording of that message varies.

The Matrix Item Name Template reads {itemid}-{custitem_color}, under the empty Insert Item Attribute and Insert Matrix Option lists. — The template covers Color: {itemid}-{custitem_color}.

04. Add the missing child

At the bottom of the form, click Actions and choose Add Items. The menu opens upward when there is little room below it. NetSuite saves the parent's current option selections and opens the Add Matrix Items page. Don't choose Update Matrix here. It applies supported parent field changes to the children you include, and NetSuite points you to Add Items for a new option value.

The bottom Actions menu is open above the Actions button with Update Matrix, Add Items, Remove Matrix Options, View All Transactions and Delete. Add Items is highlighted. — Actions > Add Items.

The page lists only the combination that has no child yet: one row, Canvas Strap-Olive, with Include checked and Color Olive. Black and Navy aren't listed because they already have children. Check the generated name before you submit, and clear Include on a row to skip it. If the parent had a second option, such as Size, the page would list one row for each selected size with Olive. The page also has Back, Mark All and Unmark All.

The Add Matrix Items page with Back, Mark All, Unmark All and Submit buttons. One row: number 1, Include checked, New Item Name/Number Canvas Strap-Olive, Color Olive. — One missing combination: Canvas Strap-Olive.

05. Submit and confirm

Click Submit. The child isn't created until you do. The Mass Update Performed page reports Matrix Item Addition, performed on 1 record. If you click Back instead, NetSuite creates nothing. Reopen the parent and check its selected values before you try again.

The Mass Update Performed page with an OK button. Matrix Item Addition: Your mass update is complete, and has been successfully performed on 1 records. — Matrix Item Addition, performed on 1 record.

Click OK to return to Canvas Strap. Open Accounting and scroll to Matrix Items. Color shows Black, Navy and Olive, and the child list has three items.

The Canvas Strap Matrix Items subtab. The template reads {itemid}-{custitem_color}, Color shows Black, Navy and Olive, and the child list has Canvas Strap-Black, Canvas Strap-Navy and Canvas Strap-Olive, each with Inactive No and Display in Website No. — The parent now lists Canvas Strap-Olive beside the first two children.

Check the result

Add Matrix Items listed one row, Canvas Strap-Olive, and no row for Black or Navy.
Mass Update Performed reports Matrix Item Addition on 1 record.
Color on the parent shows Black, Navy and Olive.
The child list shows Canvas Strap-Black, Canvas Strap-Navy and Canvas Strap-Olive.

Creating the child doesn't receive stock or create a transaction. You transact the child items, not the parent. The child starts from the parent's applicable item settings, so check its pricing, subsidiary and web store settings before you sell it.

Common questions

How do I add a new color to an existing matrix item in NetSuite?

Edit the matrix parent, Ctrl-click (Cmd-click on a Mac) the new value in its option box on Accounting > Matrix Items so the old values stay selected, then choose Actions > Add Items and Submit the Add Matrix Items page. NetSuite creates one new child for the new value.

Why did my selected matrix option values disappear?

A plain click in a multi-select box replaces the whole selection. Hold Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac) while you click the new value. Check that every value you still sell is selected before you choose Actions.

What is the difference between Add Items and Update Matrix?

Add Items creates the child items for combinations that don't have one yet. Update Matrix applies supported parent field changes to the children you include, and it can overwrite those fields on a child. It isn't the action for a new option value.

What does the Matrix Item Name Template error about missing matrix options mean?

Every matrix option with selected values needs a valid tag in the template. The error means a tag is missing or mistyped, or the template is otherwise incomplete. Add the tag with Insert Matrix Option, then choose Add Items again. The exact message varies.

Does Add Items save the parent?

It saves the parent's current option selections as it opens the Add Matrix Items page. It doesn't create the child until you click Submit. After Back, reopen the parent and check the selected values.

How do I add a new size to an item that already has child items?

Select the new size on the parent the same way, with the modifier key held and every existing size and color still selected, then choose Actions > Add Items. NetSuite lists each missing combination of the new size with the other selected options, and you submit the ones you want. A parent can have up to 2,000 children in total, counting all combinations.