Product Feed Elite extends the Rules Builder with actions that go beyond simple text replacement. The Set Attribute action lets you take the current value from one feed attribute and write it into another for products that match your rule’s conditions. This way, you can align channel fields, reuse data you already map elsewhere, and keep control over what each marketplace receives.
Below, you’ll learn where to find Set Attribute, how it behaves at feed generation time, how it differs from Set Value, and see practical examples for feed optimization.
Prerequisites
- Product Feed Elite for WooCommerce (the action is not available in Product Feed Pro; Pro may show Set Attribute (Elite) as an upgrade prompt).
- A feed using the Rules tab in the new Rules Builder (feeds saved with rules data version 13.4.6 or newer, unless you rely on legacy rules).
If you’re new to conditional rules, start with How to Create Product Feed Rules on the AdTribes knowledge base.
Where to Find “Set Attribute”
- Go to Product Feed → Manage Feeds.
- Open an existing feed or create a new one.
- Open the Rules tab in the feed step navigation.
- In the THEN section of a rule, configure three parts in one row:
- First dropdown – The target attribute (the field whose value you want to set in the feed).
- Middle dropdown – Choose Set Attribute as the action type.
- Third dropdown – The source attribute (the field whose value you want to copy).
After you save, regenerate, or refresh the feed, the rule runs on the next build.
How “Set Attribute” Works
When the IF conditions for a rule are true for a product, the plugin updates the in-memory feed row for that product. First, consider what each column does:
- The target attribute receives the current value of the source attribute from the same product’s feed data at that moment in processing.
- If the source attribute has no value (missing or empty), the target is set to an empty value for that product.
Importantly, this only affects output in the feed file. Your WooCommerce product data in the admin is not modified. Similarly, other feeds on your site are unchanged unless they use the same rule configuration.
Set Attribute vs Set Value
| Action | What you choose in the value column | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Set Value | You type a fixed string (or replacement text) | The target attribute is replaced with that literal text (with the plugin’s usual handling for the field). |
| Set Attribute | You pick another attribute from the dropdown | The target attribute is replaced with the value of the source attribute for that product in the feed pipeline. |
Use Set Value when every matching product should get the same text (for example, a static custom label). Use Set Attribute when the correct output should mirror another field (for example, copy your mapped Brand into a channel-specific field when a rule applies).
Rule order
Rules are evaluated in order. If multiple rules change the same target attribute, a later rule can overwrite the result of an earlier one. If rule A copies field X into Y and rule B later changes X, Y does not automatically update unless another rule runs that sets Y again—plan the sequence accordingly.
Common Use Cases
- Channel-specific alignment – Some channels expect a dedicated column, while your store stores the same idea under another attribute. For example, when a condition matches (such as a category or brand), copy the mapped source into the required target.
- Conditional overrides – Combine IF logic with Set Attribute so only certain products get a field filled from another attribute, while others keep their normal mapping.
- Feed optimization without catalog edits – Adjust how data appears per feed without editing thousands of products in WooCommerce.
- Working around missing dedicated meta – If one field is reliably populated and another should show the same information under specific conditions, Set Attribute avoids duplicate manual data entry in the catalog.
For ideas on filling gaps when a field is empty, see How To Create A “If Field Y Is Empty Than Do X” Rule?. For mapping concepts, the Fields & Mapping category on the knowledge base is a useful companion.
Tips and Troubleshooting
- Both attributes must exist in the feed data – The source must be present in the product’s data when rules run. However, if the source is never populated for that product, the target will receive an empty value after the rule.
- Attribute lists and performance – If your attribute dropdowns are very long, the Show only basic attributes option (under Settings → General) changes which custom attributes appear; ensure any attributes you need for rules are still visible in those lists.
- Test with a preview or small run – After saving rules, generate the feed. Next, spot-check a few SKUs to confirm the target column shows the expected copied values.
- Pro vs Elite – In Product Feed Pro, Set Attribute is an Elite feature; activating Elite enables the action and relabels it to Set Attribute in the UI.
Need Further Assistance?
If you need help with rules or feed configuration, please create a new ticket to reach our support team.
Please note that the ticket support system is exclusive to Product Feed Elite users.
If you’re using only the Product Feed Pro plugin, feel free to open a new topic in the WordPress.org forum.
