Title: WC External Variations Author: Impossible Dreams Network Published: 4. Juni 2018 Last modified: 6. November 2025 --- Search plugins ![](https://s.w.org/plugins/geopattern-icon/wc-external-variations.svg) # WC External Variations By [Impossible Dreams Network](https://profiles.wordpress.org/impossibledreams/) [Download](https://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/wc-external-variations.zip) * [Details](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/#description) * [Reviews](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/#reviews) * [Installation](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/#installation) * [Development](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/#developers) [Support](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/) ## Description Adds basic support for external products to WooCommerce variations/variable products. This plugin allows you to define an external URL on any variation and will then open that link when the user clicks on the _Add To Cart_ button. Because the Javascript is used for this, any adding to cart that is done via the backend such as with APIs will not redirect properly. Note that as of 03/2023 this plugin is not longer under active development. #### Shortcode support This plugin provides two shortcodes that you can use within your site: 1. [wcev_product_attr]– allows you to display an product attribute, use the “name” attribute to find the right attribute. 2. [wcev_var_field] – allows you to display a custom field, attribute or data element for a variation, use the “id” attribute to point to the right field. The order of precendence is as follows: custom fields, attributes, then data elements. 3. [wcev_var_postdate] – displays the formatted post date and time for a variation, doesn’t take attributes. #### External SKU and status fields In addition to the external URL field, a second field called “External SKU” is provided for each variation. You can set this field and then use the provided shortcode to display it. The purpose is to track the external SKU separately from the internal one. There is now ability to specify the ‘Add to Button’ text in a specific variation. If the global setting is set, the variation-specific field will override it. #### Settings To change settings, go to WooCommerce Settings -> Products -> External Variations. The following are available: * Ability to change if links open in new or same window* Ability to change if links open when the ‘Add to Cart’ button is clicked or when the variation is selected * Ability to override the ‘Add to Cart’ button text for all external variations #### More Details Please note that this plugin has only been tested in a vanilla WordPress / WooCommerce installation without any other plugins. If you have other plugins that modify the functionality of the _Add to Cart_ button, this plugin may not work or cause unintended consequences. Source code for this plugin can be found at [Github](https://github.com/impossibledreams/wc-external-variations) You can find this plugin at [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/) ### Known Issues When the number of variations exceeds 30, the plugin stops working. This is due to a WooCommerce limit and can be bypassed by using a filter as described here: https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/change-limit-on-number-of-variations-for-dynamic- variable-product-dropdowns/ ## Installation 1. Make sure you are running WooCommerce v4.0 or higher. 2. Either add the plugin via **Plugins > Add New**, place the entire plugin into the ‘/wp-content/plugins/’ directory or upload it via the **Plugins > Upload section**. 3. Activate the plugin through the **‘Plugins’** menu in WordPress 4. Go into any variable product, and specify the external URL in a variation. 5. Save the product, view it, select the variation with the external URL and click on _Add to Cart_. 6. A new window should open with the external URL. 7. To change settings, go to WooCommerce Settings -> Products -> External Variations. ## Reviews ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/177e963dbb1cd9cb679849120c4e0b64b994c8f233f2bd8a36f923117db0dca0? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Wonderful plugin and works great](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/wonderful-plugin-and-works-great/)󠁿 [matheuscano](https://profiles.wordpress.org/matheuscano/) 16. August 2023 Wonderful plugin and works great, too bad they don’t support it anymore. I’m loving the plugin and I use it to create my dream store, thanks to it it’s coming true. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/bb4b54022826448d06bfd37324cc486822bbf735f5828fb83a11825d80fe3998? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Perfect Plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/perfect-plugin-1291/)󠁿 [benanair](https://profiles.wordpress.org/benanair/) 28. Mee 2023 Just what I needed, it works perfectly. I only wish that it continues to be supported. As the project is not under active development, I’d consider donating at some time to ensure compatibility. ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0dcc30d484c43e891b1ec88d6b0166200657180f8ff7f12e6cca593dded6a68e? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Perfect](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/perfect-9354/)󠁿 [stevencavendish](https://profiles.wordpress.org/stevencavendish/) 27. Juni 2022 WooCommerce by default doesn’t allow for multiple external links for product variations, so this plugin fills that void perfectly allowing you to link to different URLs for each product variation. Its a must have if you offer external bookings on a separate platform. Support is excellent as well! ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3ab5b7d3df0b61a11626676aac11bf696ceceb88532a4ff33b47b8b499c6556c? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Works like a carm](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/works-like-a-carm/)󠁿 [johnwasneverhere](https://profiles.wordpress.org/johnwasneverhere/) 27. Abrëll 2021 Everything worked as expected… thanks for a simple and great plugin! ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0e6c10a652f20e366941e7d71593e79c873d0aedb06eae20773b7cb0312a1e61? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[great plugin](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/great-plugin-28734/)󠁿 [nathalie972](https://profiles.wordpress.org/nathalie972/) 26. November 2020 Thanks you !! very good plugin ![](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/b9fa2352e79a019b1d28a4c49a81c070936d7bf9b9dde9a4d04e16454a77d799? s=60&d=retro&r=g) ### 󠀁[Works fine but their is a lot of room for improvement](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/works-fine-but-their-is-a-lot-of-room-for-improvement/)󠁿 [seabed](https://profiles.wordpress.org/seabed/) 27. August 2020 1 reply This plugin worked correctly for my website but there is room for improvement. Like:- 1. The plugin does not work in the product’s quick view, it directly adds the product to the cart instead of taking to the external link. Still, I’m rating this plugin 5 stars because this plugin did what it said. But I always hope that the developers will improve this with time. Thanks for providing us with this awesome plugin. [ Read all 8 reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/) ## Contributors & Developers “WC External Variations” is open source software. The following people have contributed to this plugin. Contributors * [ Impossible Dreams Network ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/impossibledreams/) * [ Yakov Shafranovich ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yakovsh/) [Translate “WC External Variations” into your language.](https://translate.wordpress.org/projects/wp-plugins/wc-external-variations) ### Interested in development? [Browse the code](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/browser/wc-external-variations/), check out the [SVN repository](https://plugins.svn.wordpress.org/wc-external-variations/), or subscribe to the [development log](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/wc-external-variations/) by [RSS](https://plugins.trac.wordpress.org/log/wc-external-variations/?limit=100&mode=stop_on_copy&format=rss). ## Changelog #### 1.0.18 * Updated to confirm testing with latest versions #### 1.0.17 * Updated to confirm testing with latest versions #### 1.0.16 * Re-added HTOS compatibility code #### 1.0.15 * Reverting 1.0.14 changes due to fatal errors #### 1.0.14 * Added support for HPOS * Added note about no more active development #### 1.0.13 * Fix for URLs with escaped characters #### 1.0.12 * Minor bug fixes * Fixed issue with imports and ampresands #### 1.0.11 * Added ability to retrieve variation attributes and data elements within the “[ wcev_var_field]” shortcode. * Added a check to make sure external variations cannot be added to the cart if Javascript fails. * Minor cleanup of internationalization code #### 1.0.10 * Fixed conflict with the Product Bundles extension #### 1.0.9 * Fixed encoding/decoding in the external URL * Added a setting to open external link when the variation is selected #### 1.0.8 * Refactored Javascript code to fix issues with quick view plugins and themes (# 9) * Added donation link #### 1.0.7 * Tested with WordPress v5.5 and WooCommerce v4.4.1 * Added ability to change the ‘Add to Cart’ text on global and variation-specific basis (#3). #### 1.0.6 * Added settings option to control whether links open in the same or new tab (# 4). * Tested with WordPress v5.4.1 and WooCommerce v4.1.1 #### 1.0.5 * Tested with WordPress v5.3.1 and WooCommerce v3.8.1 #### 1.0.4 * Tested with WordPress v5.2, updated copyright dates #### 1.0.3 * Added shortcode for variation external status * Remove the external SKU shortcode #### 1.0.2 * Added shortcodes for variation custom fields and post date #### 1.0.1 * Moved external SKU replacement into a shortcode * Added a shortcode for product attributes #### 1.0.0 * Initial Release ## Meta * Version **1.0.18** * Last updated **5 Méint ago** * Active installations **300+** * WordPress version ** 4.7 or higher ** * Tested up to **6.8.5** * PHP version ** 5.6.0 or higher ** * Language * [English (US)](https://wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/) * Tags * [external](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/external/)[variable](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/variable/) [variations](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/variations/)[woocommerce](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/tags/woocommerce/) * [Advanced View](https://ltz.wordpress.org/plugins/wc-external-variations/advanced/) ## Ratings 5 out of 5 stars. * [ 8 5-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/?filter=5) * [ 0 4-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/?filter=4) * [ 0 3-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/?filter=3) * [ 0 2-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/?filter=2) * [ 0 1-star reviews ](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/?filter=1) [Your review](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/#new-post) [See all reviews](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/reviews/) ## Contributors * [ Impossible Dreams Network ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/impossibledreams/) * [ Yakov Shafranovich ](https://profiles.wordpress.org/yakovsh/) ## Support Got something to say? Need help? [View support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/wc-external-variations/)