Article options give you flexibility to extend and configure your articles. They allow both customisation of articles through extras, side dishes or sauces and the definition of recipes for automatic inventory management.
Overview
Article options serve two main purposes in bessa Manager:
Options (type: Option) are used to extend and customise articles directly at the Sales Point. They are visible to staff and on order tickets. Typical use cases are doneness for steaks, pizza toppings, side dishes, sauce selection, drink flavours or menu composition.
Recipes (type: Stock) enable automatic inventory bookings in the background. They are not visible to staff or customers and serve inventory management exclusively. Examples include the composition of a cappuccino from coffee beans and milk, or a soda shandy from beer and soda.
Options and recipes cannot be nested. An article that is itself assigned as an option cannot contain a further option – however, it can have its own recipe for stock posting.
Managing Article Options
Open the overview
Navigate to Manager → Article Management → Article Options.
The overview page shows all existing article options in a table with the following elements:
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Search field: Filter article options by name
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Table: Lists all options with name and optional description
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Actions: Edit (pencil icon) and delete (trash icon) per row
Click directly on the name of an article option to edit it. You don't need to use the pencil icon first.
Create a New Article Option
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Click + New Article Option
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The "Create Article Option" dialog opens with four tabs
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Configure the option in the individual tabs
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Click Save
The Save button remains disabled as long as required fields (such as the name) are not filled in.
Basic Data
In the "Basic Data" tab, you set the basic properties of the article option.
Type
Choose between two option types:
|
Type |
Use |
Visibility |
|---|---|---|
|
Option (default) |
Extras, side dishes, menu composition |
Visible to staff and on order tickets |
|
Stock |
Recipes for inventory management |
Stock posting only, in the background |
Name
Choose a meaningful name for the article option, e.g. "Doneness", "Side Dishes", "Coffee Composition".
Description
You can optionally add a description, which is displayed under the name in the overview.
Input
In the "Input" tab, you configure the selection behaviour and pricing of the option.
Selection
Specify how many articles can be selected from the option:
|
Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Optional selection |
Selection is not mandatory – the article can be posted without selecting an option |
|
Min |
Minimum number of articles to select |
|
Max |
Maximum number of articles selectable |
Activate the checkboxes next to Min/Max to enable the respective input fields.
Examples of selection configurations:
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Steak doneness: Min 1, Max 1 – exactly one selection required
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Pizza toppings: Optional, Max 5 – up to five extras allowed
Price
Determine how the prices of the option articles are calculated:
|
Price option |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Free |
All articles in this option are added free of charge, regardless of their configured price |
|
Normal price (default) |
Articles are added at the price stored in the article master data |
|
Adjusted gross price |
All articles receive the same gross price entered here. The net amount and tax are calculated automatically based on the tax rate of the respective article |
Use "Adjusted gross price", for example, for menus where all side dishes should cost the same regardless of the individual price.
Article Selection
In the "Article Selection" tab you define which articles are available as options.
Add articles
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In the "Article (add with ENTER)" search field, enter the name of the desired article
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Select the article from the suggestions
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Press ENTER or click on the article
Selectable items must first be created as standalone articles in the system before they can be added to an option.
Manage the article list
Articles you add appear in a table with the following columns:
|
Column |
Function |
|---|---|
|
Drag handle (≡) |
Sort articles via drag & drop – the order determines the display at the Sales Point |
|
Preselection |
Checkbox to enable preselection for this article |
|
Article |
Name of the article |
|
Three-dot menu (⋮) |
Actions: Edit (opens article details), Remove (remove from option) |
Configure preselection
Activate the "Preselection" checkbox for articles that should be preselected by default.
Behaviour of preselection:
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If preselection meets the configured Min/Max criteria, no selection dialog appears when posting
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The article is posted directly with the preselected options
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The selection remains editable in the cart
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If preselection does not meet the criteria, the selection dialog appears anyway
Use preselection for the most frequently chosen composition of an article in order to speed up the order process.
Assignment
In the "Assignment" tab you specify which articles this option applies to.
Assign articles
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In the "Article (add with ENTER)" search field, enter the article name
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Select the desired article
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Press ENTER
The assigned articles appear in a list. Use the three-dot menu (⋮) to remove articles.
Example:
The "Doneness" article option is assigned to the articles "Beef Steak", "Lamb Chop" and "Beef Tenderloin". When one of these articles is posted, the doneness selection appears automatically.
Edit an Article Option
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In the overview, click the name of the option or the pencil icon
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The "Edit Article Option" dialog opens
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Make the desired changes in the tabs
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Click Save
Delete an Article Option
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Click the trash icon in the row of the option to be deleted
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A confirmation dialog appears with the name of the option
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Click Delete to confirm or Cancel to abort
Deleting an article option cannot be undone. All assignments to articles are also removed.
Practical Examples
Example 1: Side dish selection for main courses
Goal: Guests can choose a side dish with main courses, included in the price.
Configuration:
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Type: Option
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Name: Side dishes
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Selection: Min 1, Max 1
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Price: Free
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Article selection: Fries, rice, potato gratin, vegetables, salad
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Preselection: Fries (most chosen)
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Assignment: Schnitzel, steak, cordon bleu
Example 2: Pizza extras
Goal: Guests can choose additional toppings for a surcharge.
Configuration:
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Type: Option
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Name: Extra toppings
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Selection: Optional, Max 5
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Price: Adjusted gross price: €1.50
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Article selection: Ham, salami, mushrooms, olives, peperoni, mozzarella
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Assignment: Pizza Margherita, Pizza Funghi, Pizza Prosciutto
Example 3: Lunch menu
Goal: Guests choose from starter, main course and dessert.
Configuration:
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Type: Option
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Name: Menu starter
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Selection: Min 1, Max 1
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Price: Free
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Article selection: Soup, salad, carpaccio
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Assignment: Lunch menu
(Analogously for main course and dessert)
Example 4: Cappuccino recipe
Goal: Automatic stock booking of the ingredients when a cappuccino is sold.
Configuration:
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Type: Stock
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Name: Cappuccino recipe
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Article selection: Coffee beans (8g), milk (120ml)
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Assignment: Cappuccino
Stock options are not visible to staff. The booking is done automatically in the background.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I nest options?
No. Options cannot be nested. An article used as an option article cannot itself contain an option. However, it can have a recipe (stock option) for automatic stock posting.
Why does the selection dialog appear despite preselection?
The selection dialog appears when the number of preselected articles does not meet the Min/Max criteria. Check that enough articles are preselected.
How do I change the order of option articles?
Use the drag handle (≡) in the article selection to sort articles via drag & drop. The order corresponds to the display at the Sales Point.
Are recipes shown on the order ticket?
No. Recipes (type: Stock) are used exclusively for internal stock posting and are neither shown to staff nor printed on order tickets or invoices.
Can I use the same article in multiple options?
Yes – an article can be used as a selectable item in multiple article options.
Related Topics
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Articles – create and manage articles
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Article Types - types of articles
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Inventory for Articles – stock configuration for articles
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Inventory Management - stock levels and merchandise management
Troubleshooting Tips
Article option is not displayed
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Check whether the option is assigned to at least one article ("Assignment" tab)
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Make sure that at least one article is set as a selectable item
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For type "Stock": Recipes are intentionally not shown at the Sales Point
Save button is disabled
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Fill in the mandatory "Name" field in the "Basic Data" tab
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Check that all required fields are filled in correctly
Incorrect price calculation for option articles
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Check the price setting in the "Input" tab
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For "Adjusted gross price": this price applies to all articles in the option
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For "Normal price": the individual prices of the articles are used