How can I use subproducts to track stock on another product?

Contents

With subproducts, you can link products in your product database. This is especially useful if you have a product that you sell in different ways (e.g. as individual tablets, in strips, or by the box), or if one product has multiple configurations (for example, different prices, labels, dosages, or reminder settings). By using subproducts and linking them to main products, you only track stock on the main product. Since subproducts are linked, your stock levels remain accurate no matter which form of the product you sell. This article explains how to create and configure subproducts.

Before you start

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You need to have permission to be able to edit products. User permissions can be adjusted by your practice administrator in Settings > General Settings > Role Management.
Both the main product and the subproduct must already exist in Animana. Make sure the products have clear names that indicate their sales unit.

Step-by-step instructions

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Example: In our practice, we sell a product both per tablet and per box. In the product database, we have two products:

Product A: “PAINKILLER 100MG per tablet”
Product B: “PAINKILLER 100MG box of 100 tablets”

We are now going to link these two, where product A “PAINKILLER 100MG per tablet” will become the main product (as this is the smallest sales unit), and product B “PAINKILLER 100MG box of 100 tablets” will be the subproduct.

First determine which of your products is the main product and which is the subproduct. More about this.
Go to Extra > Products > Products.
Click to open the product that will be the main product. More about this.
Check that the units and factors are correctly configured. See the related articles for information on units.
Open the product that will become the subproduct and verify that the units and factors are also correct.
Click the Stock tab on the subproduct.
If there is a quantity entered under “in stock,” note it down (including unit and location).
If no stock is listed, continue to step 14.
Unfortunately, because your subproduct already has a stock, we cannot link it. Therefore, click Tab Product.
Click Copy Product at the bottom.
Edit the name – we suggest adding the word “subproduct” in the name field.
Click Save. You have now created a Product C that will be the (new) subproduct.
From the product list, reopen Product C.
Click the Stock tab.
Scroll down and enter (part of) the name of the main product in the first field after “choose stock product”, then select it from the drop down menu.
Click Save.
You will now see the subproduct name displayed in red at the top, and the main product (which tracks the stock) in blue.
Click the blue product name (the main product).
Click the tab Stock.
Click the “in stock” field and adjust the quantity, taking note of the correct unit. If using the new stock management, this will open in a new window.
Click Save.
If you created a new subproduct C in step 9, that now links to the main product A, you need to deactivate Product B. Open your product B and click Tab Product Info. Set “active” to “no” and click Save.

You will now have a main product A and a subproduct (B or C depending on your situation), linked together. This means you can sell either one, and the stock will be tracked on the main product A.

More about this

Which product is the main product and which is the subproduct?

This choice is determined by the way you have designed your stock management, as stock is tracked on the main product. It’s easier and less error-prone to count whole numbers, so the main product should be the smallest sales unit used in your practice. As we’d rather count 10 tablets than 0.3333333 boxes.

In short: the main product is the product with the smallest sales unit.
This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the smallest packaging unit.

Tips for main and subproducts

Make sure product names clearly show the sales unit.
Check the Subproducts tab on the main product to verify which subproducts are linked and confirm that the list is accurate. One main product can have multiple subproducts.
After saving a subproduct, its name appears in red, and the main product (where stock is tracked) appears in blue. Double check that this blue text appears after saving.

Help, I linked the wrong products!

If the main and subproduct were linked incorrectly, you can remove the link via
Extra > Products > Products > select the main product > Subproducts tab, then click Disconnect. You can then repeat the linking process correctly.

In focus: Stock management
How do I create an internal order? (Also includes an explanation of how to set up units and factors)
How do I set up combi products?

Updated on 17 November 2025

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