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Modifiers and Variations

Cashier Manager Admin

Some products come in multiple variations (like sizes or colors) or allow customization through modifiers (like add-ons or toppings). Brother POS handles both through dedicated selection modals that appear when you tap the product in the grid.

Variations vs. Modifiers​

It is important to understand the difference:

FeatureVariationsModifiers
What they areDistinct versions of a product (each has its own SKU, barcode, stock level)Add-ons or customizations applied to a single product
ExamplesT-shirt in S/M/L/XL, Edible in 5mg/10mg/25mgExtra cheese, no onions, add sauce
InventoryEach variation is tracked separatelyModifiers do not have their own stock
PricingEach variation has its own priceModifiers have price adjustments (+$1.50, -$0.50, or $0.00)
Cart displayShows as the variation nameShows as notes under the main product

Product Variations​

When Variations Appear​

Tapping a product that has variations opens the Variation Picker Modal instead of adding the product directly to the cart.

The Variation Picker​

The variation picker shows:

  1. Product name at the top.
  2. Search field to filter variations by name (only appears when the product has 10 or more variations).
  3. List of all available variations, each showing:
    • Variation name (e.g., "Large - Blue")
    • Price
    • Stock level (with available stock accounting for items already in the cart)
    • Quantity selector (+/- buttons)
  4. Add to Cart button at the bottom.

Selecting Variations​

  1. Tap a product with variations in the product grid.
  2. The variation picker opens.
  3. Use the + button next to the desired variation(s) to set quantities.
  4. You can select multiple variations in a single interaction (e.g., 2x Medium and 1x Large).
  5. Tap Add to Cart to add all selected variations to the cart at once.
tip

When a product has 10 or more variations, a search field appears at the top of the variation picker. For example, if a product has 20 color/size combinations, type "Large" to filter to only large sizes.

Stock Awareness​

The variation picker shows real-time available stock for each variation. If a variation is out of stock, it appears dimmed. Stock is calculated as:

Available = Current Stock - Quantity Already in Cart

This prevents accidentally adding more units than you have in stock.

Keyboard Navigation​

For power users, the variation picker supports keyboard navigation:

  • Arrow keys to move between variations
  • Enter to increment the highlighted variation
  • Typing in the search field filters the list

Offline Behavior​

When the POS is offline, the variation picker falls back to locally cached product data. Variations can still be selected and added to the cart. Stock levels may not reflect the latest changes.

Modifier Groups​

Modifiers let customers customize products with add-ons, removals, or substitutions. They are organized into modifier groups (also called modifier lists).

Modifier Group Properties​

Each modifier group has:

PropertyDescription
NameThe group label (e.g., "Toppings", "Size", "Extras")
Min selectedMinimum number of modifiers the customer must choose (0 = optional)
Max selectedMaximum number of modifiers allowed (e.g., "choose up to 3 toppings")
ModifiersThe individual options within the group

Individual Modifier Properties​

Each modifier within a group has:

PropertyDescription
NameThe modifier label (e.g., "Extra Cheese", "No Onions")
Price adjustmentHow much to add or subtract from the product price ($0.00, +$1.50, etc.)
On by defaultWhether this modifier is pre-selected when the modal opens

Modifier Selection at the POS​

Product Detail

When the Modifier Modal Appears​

The modifier selection modal opens when you tap a product that has one or more modifier groups assigned to it.

Using the Modifier Modal​

  1. The modal displays the product name, base price, and quantity selector at the top.
  2. Each modifier group is listed with its name and selection requirements.
  3. Within each group, individual modifiers appear as checkboxes or buttons.
  4. Default modifiers (marked as "on by default") are pre-selected when the modal opens.
  5. Tap a modifier to select or deselect it.
  6. The total price at the bottom updates in real time to reflect the base price plus all selected modifier price adjustments.

Validation​

The modal enforces modifier group constraints:

  • If a group requires a minimum number of selections (e.g., "Choose at least 1"), the Add to Cart button is disabled until the requirement is met.
  • If a group has a maximum number of selections, additional modifiers cannot be selected once the limit is reached.
  • Validation messages appear below any group that does not meet its requirements.
warning

You cannot add a product to the cart if any required modifier group is unsatisfied. The modal clearly indicates which groups need attention.

Quantity Adjustment​

The modifier modal includes a quantity selector at the top. You can set the quantity before adding to the cart. All selected modifiers apply to each unit.

Item Notes​

If kitchen workflow is enabled, a Notes field appears at the bottom of the modifier modal. Use it for special instructions (e.g., "extra crispy", "allergy: nuts"). These notes appear on kitchen tickets and receipts.

Price Calculation​

The final price for a modified item is:

(Base Price + Sum of Modifier Adjustments) x Quantity

For example:

  • Burger: $12.00
  • Extra Cheese: +$1.50
  • No Onions: $0.00
  • Quantity: 2
  • Total: ($12.00 + $1.50) x 2 = $27.00

Editing Modifiers After Adding​

If you need to change the modifiers on an item that is already in the cart:

  1. Tap the item in the cart pane.
  2. The modifier selection modal reopens in edit mode with the current selections pre-filled.
  3. Change your selections as needed.
  4. Tap Update Item to save the changes.
info

Only products with modifier groups can be edited this way. Standard products, manual items, and freebie items cannot be tapped to edit.

How Modifiers Display in the Cart​

Modified items appear in the cart with:

  • The product name on the first line
  • Selected modifiers listed below in smaller text, each prefixed with a bullet
  • Notes (if any) shown in italics
  • The adjusted line total reflecting all modifier price adjustments

Modifiers on Receipts​

Selected modifiers print on receipts below the product name. Each modifier shows its name and any price adjustment. Notes also appear on the receipt. This helps the customer verify their customizations and aids kitchen staff in preparing the order.

What's Next?​