'Multi Variant' vs 'Generic Child Variant' Custom Fields

[Hawker]

Available Custom Field types are described at the VM documentation pages here:

https://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/212-customfields.html

The descriptions make sense in terms of standard database field types, e.g. 'String' (for one word), 'Text area' (for a few words) and 'Editor' (for a full TinyMCE or JCE editor)...

However, I'm getting stuck at the difference between Multi Variant and Generic Child Variant Custom Field types. The VM documentation says that:

• Multi Variant combines children as a variant, for serial or parallel organisation, and
• Generic Child Variant combines children as variant, but for serialized organisation.

What is the difference between serial and parallel organisation here? Are the 'children' the VM documentation refers to: 'Child Products'?

Naturally the contents of one Custom Field might be dependent on another, and that that might constitute a 'parallel' relationship between custom fields assigned to products? Small-sized T-shirt products might only be available in blue and red, while medium-sized T-shirts are available in blue, red and green. Would this scenario apply to Multi Variant or Generic Child Variant?

Thanks in advance your your help VM geniuses! 

[Studio 42]

Generic Child Variant is the simplest way to have option with stock,different images, descriptions ...
Eg. if you have smartphones : grey,white,black
If you have a model having memory+color, then Multi Variant can use multiple lists color+memory and associate child products for each combination
So if you only need 1 option for stock, description, use generic child variant else Multi Variant.
If you have only simple option and stock is same for all, then simply forget the Generic or Multi variants childs and use cart attributes.

If you need to show more information about child products, you can use my plugin https://shop.st42.fr/en/products/product-child-variants.htm, it work similar as Generic child variant, but easier to design and with more options.

[Hawker]

Thanks for the clarification. 

That's an elegant plugin Studio 42.