Product note
What it does
Section titled “What it does”Product note adds one optional text field to the product purchase form and quick view. The note belongs to the purchased item, rather than the entire order. Use Custom option for required personalization, several fields, choices, or file uploads.
Choose between the two shopper note methods
Section titled “Choose between the two shopper note methods”| Your need | Which method to use | Scope and limits |
|---|---|---|
| The same optional note across products, such as extra item instructions | Theme settings → Product note | One shared label and input configuration, with per-product visibility controls. The product page and quick view use the same configuration. |
| One optional note entered inside the quick-view dialog | Theme settings → Product note | Applies to ordinary products that can still be purchased in the dialog. Products redirected to the full product page collect their inputs there. |
| Engraving, gift messages, required instructions, or several distinct fields on a particular product template | Product → Custom option | Use Single-line text or Multi-line text for written input. Each field can have its own name, position, and required setting. Choices, dates, files, and other input types are also available. See Custom option. |
Product note is not a “quick view only” switch. Enabling it for a product also displays it above the purchase buttons on the product page. These settings cannot hide it on the product page while keeping it in quick view. To add a specific text field to certain product detail pages, use Custom option and follow that guide to configure the product template and quick-purchase entries.
Do not confuse it with Product notes. Product content → Product notes is information written by the merchant for shoppers to read; it does not collect shopper input. The cart’s order note applies to the whole order.
Where shoppers can enter a note
Section titled “Where shoppers can enter a note”| Purchase entry | Product note behavior |
|---|---|
| Full product page | Appears above the purchase buttons according to the main switch, scope, and product value. The template must retain its Buy buttons content block. |
| Quick-view dialog | Ordinary products show one note under the same visibility rules. The dialog does not read Custom option fields from the product template. |
| Personalized products with custom.pawly_customization set to True, or gift cards | Quick-purchase entries lead to the full product page. Shoppers do not complete these inputs inside the quick-view dialog. |
| Direct quick-add from product cards, Featured product, or shop-the-scene entries | These entries have no note input and can add directly. Enabling Product note does not require them to collect a note. |
If information is essential for making or fulfilling the item, such as an engraving name, use a required Custom option and set custom.pawly_customization. Do not rely on optional Product note to ensure it is collected. custom.product_note controls only global note visibility; it does not replace the quick-purchase flag.
Add it to a page
Section titled “Add it to a page”- In Shopify admin, open Online Store → Themes and open the theme editor for the theme you want to change.
- Open Theme settings → Product note.
- Turn on Show product note and choose its scope.
- Save and open a product purchase form to check it.
This is a theme-wide setting, not an extra section or Product content block. The Product content block named Product notes is merchant-written information, not this shopper input.
Set it up: quick start
Section titled “Set it up: quick start”- Turn on Show product note.
- Choose All products for Show the note field on.
- Set Note label to “Item note” and Note maximum characters to 200.
- Save, enter a sample note on a product page, and add the product to the cart.
- Check that the note appears under that item, then remove the test item.
- Find the same product in a product listing and open Quick view (this product-card entry must be enabled). An ordinary product should show the same label and input limits in the dialog. Enter a different test note, add it, check its cart line, and remove the test item. Personalized products and gift cards are expected to lead to the full product page.
- Check any direct quick-add buttons your store uses. They do not require this optional note. If your business cannot allow shoppers to skip it, use Custom option and its product-level quick-purchase setup.
Settings
Section titled “Settings”| Setting | Default | Options | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show product note | Off | On / Off | Enable the optional note feature. Off hides it regardless of any product-level value. |
| Show the note field on | All products | All products; Selected products (metafield) | All products shows the field unless a product explicitly disables it. Selected products (metafield) shows it only for products explicitly enabled. |
| Note label | Empty | Text | The field label is also the name attached to the cart item. Empty uses Note. Square brackets are changed to parentheses. |
| Note placeholder | Empty | Text | Add a short hint. It is not a default note and is not submitted as an answer. |
| Note maximum characters | 200 | 50–500; step 10 | Set the maximum number of characters a shopper can enter. |
| Use a multi-line note field | Off | On / Off | Use a taller text field for more than one line. |
Images and content tips
Section titled “Images and content tips”For per-product control, create a product metafield definition with namespace and key custom.product_note, type True or false, then set its value on the relevant products. Use Shopify’s definition instructions.
| Main switch | Scope | Product value | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off | Either | Any value | Hidden |
| On | All products | Not set or True | Shown |
| On | All products | False | Hidden |
| On | Selected products (metafield) | True | Shown |
| On | Selected products (metafield) | Not set or False | Hidden |
Good to know
Section titled “Good to know”- This field is optional. For required information, follow the Custom option guide and its product-level quick-purchase setup.
- A cart-level order note is separate. It describes the whole order, while Product note stays with one line item.
- Both methods can be enabled when they collect different information. For example, use “Item note” as the Product note label and “Pet name” as the engraving Custom option name. If both collect the same message, keep one input. Limit global notes with Selected products (metafield), or set custom.product_note to False on personalized products when using All products.
- Do not duplicate a Custom option’s Option name in Note label on the same product. If Option name is empty, also check the Option label used as its fallback. Matching names trigger a field conflict and block adding from the product page. If the global Note label is empty, check the default Note label in the actual storefront language.
- Product cards and other direct quick-add paths may not offer a place to enter this optional note. Check the purchase entries used by your store if collecting it matters.
- A quantity greater than one on a cart line shares the same note. Add items separately for different notes.
- A note does not change pricing or shipping rules. Check the final order and notification templates before relying on the note for fulfillment.
Example setups
Section titled “Example setups”Optional note for the whole catalog: choose All products, use Note label “Item note,” leave Use a multi-line note field off, and keep the limit at 200.
Notes on selected gift products: choose Selected products (metafield), set custom.product_note to True on those products, and enable Use a multi-line note field. Keep all other products unset to hide the field there.
Common questions
Section titled “Common questions”Why is the field missing on one product? Check the main switch, scope, and that product’s True or false value. Also check that you are viewing the intended theme.
Why do I see Product notes but no input? Product notes is an information block in Product content. Configure this input under Theme settings → Product note.
Can this require a shopper’s instructions? No. Use a required Custom option and configure the product-level quick-purchase flag instead.
Can I keep the note only in quick view and hide it on the product page? Not currently. Product note shares its switch and product scope across both entries. If the product page already has a Custom option for the same message, avoid enabling a second global input for that purpose. The two inputs do not merge automatically.
Why does quick view open the product page instead of showing a note? First check whether the product is a gift card or has custom.pawly_customization set to True. These products are expected to lead to the full product page. Do not clear the flag just to restore the dialog while the product still needs personalization.