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Layers can create product sequences automatically from Shopify metafields. You configure which metafields trigger automatic sequence creation in the dashboard at Settings > Sequences.

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Configuration options

Each sequence metafield configuration requires:
  • Namespace: The metafield namespace (e.g., layers, custom)
  • Key: The metafield key (e.g., global_sequence, related_products)
  • Type: Must be list.product_reference in Shopify
  • Includes current product: Whether the metafield value already contains the current product

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Default configuration

By default, Layers recognizes the layers.global_sequence metafield:
When the layers.global_sequence metafield is present on products, Layers creates a global sequence named “Auto: layers.global_sequence” during bulk data synchronization. The metafield value should contain an array of product references that should be grouped together in the sequence. Only active products are added to automatic sequences. Archived, draft, and unlisted products in a metafield list are skipped, and a product that isn’t active doesn’t create or change a sequence from its own metafield. A status change alone doesn’t immediately update an existing sequence; membership is reconciled when a catalog sync processes the configured metafield. A product can belong to only one global sequence, and the first sequence to claim it keeps it. If a metafield list names a product that already belongs to another global sequence, Layers leaves that product where it is and builds the new sequence from the remaining products. A sequence needs at least two products, so a list that doesn’t have two available products creates no sequence. When several active products in the same sequence carry the configured metafield, the one with the lowest Shopify product ID owns the sequence. A lower-ID member that doesn’t carry the configured metafield isn’t an owner. The owner’s list sets the members and their order, and lists on other carriers don’t change the sequence. If the owner is archived, the next eligible carrier can take over when a catalog sync processes the change. To change a sequence, update the owner’s list.

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Custom configurations

You can add more sequence metafield configurations for different use cases. For example, a “related products” metafield:
When “includes current product” is disabled, Layers prepends the current product to the metafield value when creating the sequence. This is useful when the metafield contains only related products, not the product itself. When this setting is enabled, Layers also prepends the current product to any nonempty list that omits it. When disabled, Layers continues to prepend the current product even when the list is empty. Each configured metafield creates sequences named as Auto: {namespace}.{key} (e.g., “Auto: custom.related_products”).
Automatic sequence creation via metafields only processes during bulk operations, not during incremental product updates.

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See also