A made-to-measure blind asks for a color, a width and a height, a mount type and a lift type. Put all of that on one form and the customer scrolls past half of it.
A multi-step configurator splits the product into short pages. The customer answers one group of questions, clicks Next, and moves on. In Appify Custom Product Options, you turn it on with one setting and choose which options go on each step.
Here's when steps help, how to plan them, and how to set them up.
When does a product need steps?
A mug with a color and a line of text doesn't. Both options fit on one screen, and the customer adds to cart in seconds.
Steps help when a product has a lot of decisions that come in a natural order:
- Measure first. Width and height decide what the rest costs.
- Then the material. Fabric, finish, stock or color.
- Then how it works. Mount, lift, hardware, and add-on products you already stock.
- Design or details last. Artwork, text, notes.
Grouped this way, each page asks about one thing, and a big product stops looking like a big form.
How should you plan the steps?
Follow the order your customer already thinks in. It's usually the order you'd ask the questions on the phone.
| Product | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roller blind | Window name and color | Width and height | Mount type | Lift type |
| Custom desk | Dimensions | Material and finish | Add-ons, like a drawer upgrade | - |
| Business cards | Quantity and paper stock | Finishes, like rounded corners or foil | - | - |
Give each step a short title that says what it's for, like "Choose Material". A one-line description underneath can tell the customer what to have ready, such as a tape measure.
How do you set up a multi-step layout?
The calculator layout setting lives in Calculator Editor → Optional Features → Layout.
- Change Calculator type from Single-Step Calculator to Multi-Step Calculator.
- Click Add step. Give it a title and, if you like, a description.
- Under the step, tick the options that belong on it.
- Add the rest of your steps the same way.
- Use the arrow buttons to change the order, and the delete button to remove a step.
Each step shows as its own page, with Next and Back buttons. Each option sits on one step, so ticking it on a new step moves it there.
Your product changes? Reorder or remove steps without rebuilding the calculator. Want the long form back? Switch Calculator type to Single-Step Calculator and every option shows on one page again.
Steps change the layout, not the price. The same formulas, pricing tables, fees and rules run underneath, whether the customer sees one page or four.
How do you keep each step short?
Steps split the form. Visibility rules make each page shorter still, by showing only what applies to this customer.
- Show if: motor options appear only when the customer picks a motorized lift.
- Hide values: take a choice off the list when it doesn't fit, like a finish that isn't offered on one material.
- Limit: cap a width at what the chosen material comes in.
- Require: make a field required only in the setups that need it.
A hidden option is left out of the price and the cart, so a skipped choice never shows up on the order.
How does the customer keep track of the price?
Show the price summary with the calculator. You can place it above, below, left or right of the calculator block.
Or add it as its own theme block and put it anywhere on the page, such as a sticky sidebar. The customer sees the price change as they go, instead of meeting it on the last page.
Can Chat with AI set up the steps?
Yes. Chat with AI builds options, pricing, rules and steps from a plain description. Try: "Split this into steps: measurements first, then fabric, then mount and lift."
It works on a calculator you already have, too. Ask it to move an option to another step, and check the result in the editor.
The AI Style Assistant styles the step tabs and the Next and Back buttons. Describe the look you want, like "make the step tabs match my red buttons". For more on building by description, read how to build a product calculator faster with Chat with AI.
The pricing underneath
A product that needs four steps usually needs more than a list of prices. A blind like the one above can be priced from a width-by-height grid, with the mount and lift adding to it.
- Pricing tables: your supplier grid, looked up by the customer's width and height. Attach the price sheet and Chat with AI builds the table.
- Formulas: area times a rate, with rounding and conditions.
- Fees: a flat charge, never touched by discounts.
- Minimum price: a floor so small orders still cover the job.
For the full walk-through on one product, read how to sell made-to-measure blinds on Shopify. For the general building blocks, see how to price complex custom products.
See a multi-step configurator running
Open the multi-step blind on our Shopify demo store. Step 1 names the window and picks a color. Step 2 takes the width and height in inches and fractions. Steps 3 and 4 cover the mount and the lift.
FAQ
How many steps can a configurator have?
As many as the product needs. Add a step for each group of decisions, with at least one option on each.
Can customers go back to an earlier step?
Yes. The Back button takes them to the step before, so they can change an earlier answer before adding to cart.
Does a multi-step layout change the price?
No. The layout only decides which options appear on which page. Pricing works the same as on a single page.
Can I switch back to one page later?
Yes. Set Calculator type to Single-Step Calculator, and every option appears on one page again.
Can options still show and hide inside a step?
Yes. Visibility rules work the same inside steps, so each page shows only what applies.
Big products, bought one easy step at a time.
Whatever you sell, however you price it · The last options app you'll shop for