The short answer to this question is no, you cannot convert a standard item to a matrix item.  However, it is possible to add existing standard items into a matrix item.

This option is useful if you have standard items in the database which you have determined would be better suited grouped together within a matrix.

In the example below, we have three standard items which we have decided should be grouped within a matrix:

The first step is to create the matrix parent to which we will add our existing child items.  If you already have an existing matrix to which you would like to add the items, you can skip to the Adding the existing items to the Matrix section.

Creating a Matrix Parent

1) From the main menu in the Back Office, expand the Items heading, then click on Items.

2) Click on New in the top left, then select Matrix Parent at the top:

3) Here, you will create the Matrix Parent.  This is the 'umbrella' item that groups the child items together.

For ease of identification, the description and item lookup code of the matrix parent should use terms that are applicable to all of the items within the matrix. In our example, the item lookup code of each of our standard items begins 'SPKPURSCK', so this would be a suitable lookup code to give to our matrix parent, and 'Sparkly Purple Sock' would serve well as the description. 

Ensure you complete the remaining details on this page to match those of your existing standard items (Department and Category, Brand, etc.)

4)  Click Create once you have completed all the details on this page.

Adding the existing items to the Matrix

1)  Once the matrix parent exists, click on the Child Items tab.  You now need to create the appropriate dimension for the matrix.  In our example, this will be as below:

2) Click on Add Attribute(s) and a side panel will pop out, suggesting that it generates some new child items to match those attributes – you DON'T want to do this. Click on Cancel instead.

3) You now need to click on the Add Existing Items button in order to search for the items you want to add to the matrix:

4) As in the screenshot above, tick the box on the left hand side of each search result you wish to add to the matrix, then click Add Item(s).

5) You'll now be prompted to set the correct dimensions against the products. Select the appropriate dimension option from the dropdown menus, then click Set Attributes once complete.

6) The standard items will now be grouped together under the matrix parent you created at the start of the process.