Hi Zam_wolf,
Couple of things:-
a) SKU number
In theory you can export product variants (Admin -> import / export) and then change the SKU number in MS Excel, to exactly what you want (yes, they must be unique and can not be repeated) save it and then csv import it back into x-cart. So you do not have to use the x-cart default SKUs (in theory this works - it used to
)....
b) Same SKU in two categories
The only option is to have the same "group of variants" i.e. same product (plus same variants) appearing in an additional category(s) - to do this open a product and choose from the drop down box what additional category or additional categories you want it to appear in (use <cnrl> key to select more than on additional category).
With the way standard X-Cart works you can not have just ONE of the product variants only, for a product, show up in an additional category
e.g.
- this is possible
Category A - SKU 123-1 student, SKU 123-2 teacher
Category D - SKU 123-1 student, SKU 123-2 teacher
- this is not possible
Category A - SKU 123-1 student, SKU 123-2 teacher
Category D - SKU 123-2 teacher
- this is also not possible
Category A - SKU 123-1 student, SKU 123-2 teacher
Category D - SKU 123-2 teacher, SKU 128-1 student
Hope comments help - cheers, Asiaplay