Restrictions

The Restrictions tab allows you to create rules that automatically disable certain lens options when specific conditions are met. This prevents customers from selecting combinations that are physically incompatible, unavailable, or technically impossible.

What Are Restrictions?

Restriction rules follow a simple pattern:

When [specific option is selected] → Disables [these other options]

For example:

• When Bifocal lens type is selected → Disable Transitions lenses
• When Ultra-thin High-Index package is selected → Disable Budget tints
• When Driving lens colour is selected → Disable Progressive varifocal type

Each restriction rule includes:

• Reason/Description: A message shown to customers explaining why options are unavailable
• ID: A unique identifier for the rule (auto-generated from the reason)
• Trigger Conditions (When): The options that activate this restriction
• Disabled Options (Disables): The options that become unavailable when triggered

Why Use Restrictions?

Some lens combinations are physically impossible (bifocals with certain tints), some are unavailable from your lab, and others may not make optical sense. Restrictions prevent customers from attempting invalid configurations and reduce order errors.

Creating a Restriction Rule

Step 1: Add a New Rule

1. Navigate to SpecCart > Settings > Restrictions
2. Click the Add Rule button in the top-right corner
3. A modal editor will open

Step 2: Enter Reason and ID

1. Reason / Description (required): Enter a clear, customer-friendly message explaining why options are disabled

   • Good: “Not available with bifocal lenses”
   • Good: “This tint is incompatible with ultra-thin lenses”
   • Bad: “Restriction 1” (too vague)

2. ID (required): Auto-generated from your reason as a URL-friendly slug

   • Example: “Not available with bifocal lenses” becomes not-available-with-bifocal-lenses
   • You can edit this when creating a new rule, but it cannot be changed later
   • Must be unique across all restriction rules

Write Clear Reasons

The reason you enter is shown directly to customers when options are disabled. Write from their perspective, not yours. Explain why something isn’t available, not just that it isn’t.

Step 3: Select Trigger Conditions (When)

Choose at least one option that will trigger this restriction. The restriction applies when any of the selected options are chosen by the customer.

Available condition categories:

• Lens Usage: Distance, Reading, Varifocal
• Varifocal Types: Standard, Premium, Elite, etc.
• Lens Colours: Clear, Tinted, Photochromic options
• Lens Packages: Budget, Standard, Premium bundles

Example:

• If you select Bifocal and Trifocal under Varifocal Types, the restriction triggers when either bifocal or trifocal is selected

Step 4: Select Disabled Options (Disables)

Choose at least one option that will be disabled when the restriction triggers.

Available disabled option categories:

• Lens Usage: Distance, Reading, Varifocal
• Varifocal Types: Standard, Premium, Elite, etc.
• Lens Colours: Clear, Tinted, Photochromic options
• Transition Colours: Specific transition lens colours
• Sunglasses Tints: Specific sunglass tint options
• Lens Packages: Budget, Standard, Premium bundles
• Add-ons: Blue light blocking, scratch resistance, anti-reflection coatings

Example:

• To prevent all transitions lenses with bifocals, select all transition colours under Transition Colours

Step 5: Save the Rule

1. Review your selections
2. Click Add Rule (or Save Changes if editing)
3. The rule appears in the restriction list

Validation Requirements

You must select at least one trigger condition (When) and at least one disabled option (Disables). Both the reason and ID fields are required. The modal will show error messages if any required fields are missing.

Example Use Cases

Example 1: Bifocals Don’t Support Transitions

When: Varifocal Type = Bifocal Disables: All Transition Colours Reason: “Transition lenses are not available with bifocal lenses”

Result: When a customer selects bifocal lenses, all transition colour options become disabled and greyed out, with the reason displayed.

Example 2: Budget Package Excludes Premium Tints

When: Lens Package = Budget Package Disables: Specific high-end Sunglasses Tints Reason: “Premium tints are only available with Standard or Premium packages”

Result: Customers who choose the budget package cannot select premium tint options.

Example 3: Reading Lenses Can’t Be Varifocal

When: Lens Usage = Reading Disables: All Varifocal Types Reason: “Reading lenses use a single prescription and cannot be varifocal”

Result: Selecting reading usage disables all varifocal type options.

Example 4: Certain Colours Incompatible with Packages

When: Lens Colour = Driving Yellow Disables: Lens Package = Budget, Lens Package = Ultra-Thin Premium Reason: “Driving yellow is only available with our Standard and Premium packages”

Result: When the driving yellow colour is selected, certain packages are removed from the available options.

Managing Existing Rules

Viewing Rules

The restriction list displays all active rules with:

• Reason: The customer-facing message
• ID: The unique rule identifier (in a grey badge)
• When: Summary of trigger conditions (e.g., “Varifocal: Bifocal | Lens Usage: Reading”)
• Disables: Count of disabled options (e.g., “3 option(s)“)

Editing a Rule

1. Click the Edit button (pencil icon) next to the rule
2. The restriction editor modal opens with the current values pre-filled
3. Make your changes
4. Click Save Changes

Cannot Change ID

The rule ID cannot be modified when editing an existing rule. If you need to change the ID, delete the rule and create a new one.

Deleting a Rule

1. Click the Delete button (trash icon) next to the rule
2. A confirmation dialog appears: “Are you sure you want to delete the restriction [reason]?”
3. Confirm to permanently delete the rule

Deleted rules are removed immediately. There is no undo. The restriction will no longer apply to customer configurations.

How Restrictions Work in the Configurator

When a customer uses the lens configurator:

1. They select options step by step (lens type, material, coatings, etc.)
2. As they make selections, SpecCart checks all restriction rules
3. If a rule’s When conditions match their selection, the rule activates
4. All options listed in that rule’s Disables section become:
   • Greyed out and unselectable
   • Marked with the restriction reason you provided
5. If the customer changes their selection and the rule no longer applies, the options become available again

This happens in real-time as they configure their lenses, preventing invalid combinations before they add to cart.

Best Practices

Write Customer-Friendly Reasons

Your restriction reasons appear directly in the configurator. Write them for customers, not staff.

• Good: “Bifocal lenses cannot be combined with transition technology”
• Bad: “Lab restriction BF-TR-001”
• Good: “This tint requires the Premium package or higher”
• Bad: “Invalid combination”

Test Your Rules

After creating restrictions:

1. Open a lens product on the frontend
2. Go through the configurator
3. Verify the restriction triggers correctly
4. Confirm the disabled options display properly
5. Check that the reason message is clear

Organize Rules Logically

Use consistent naming patterns for rule IDs and reasons:

• bifocal-no-transitions instead of rule-1
• premium-tints-require-premium-package instead of restriction-new

This makes rules easier to manage as your catalog grows.

Avoid Over-Restricting

Only create restrictions when combinations are truly impossible or unavailable. Over-restricting limits customer choice and may frustrate shoppers. If an option is just less common but still technically possible, consider leaving it available.

Document Internal Reasons

While the “Reason” field is customer-facing, keep internal documentation about why restrictions exist:

• Lab equipment limitations
• Optical physics constraints
• Business decisions (package differentiation)

This helps when onboarding new staff or reviewing rules later.

Troubleshooting

”At least one trigger condition is required”

You didn’t select any options in the When (Trigger Conditions) section. Select at least one option category and check at least one option within it.

”At least one disabled option is required”

You didn’t select any options in the Disables (Affected Options) section. Select at least one option category and check at least one option within it.

Rule Doesn’t Seem to Work on Frontend

1. Verify the rule is saved (check the Restrictions list)
2. Confirm the When conditions match what the customer is selecting
3. Check that the options you’re trying to disable actually exist and are enabled
4. Clear any caching plugins or browser cache
5. Test in an incognito window

Customer Sees “Not Available” But Reason Doesn’t Display

Verify your restriction reason is filled in. Empty reasons may cause display issues. Edit the rule and ensure the reason field contains a customer-friendly message.

Related Settings

• Lens Usage: Configure the lens type options that restrictions can affect
• Packages: Define lens packages that can trigger or be disabled by restrictions
• Colours: Configure colour and tint options that restrictions can apply to

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Need Help?

If you’re unsure which restrictions to create, consult your lens lab’s compatibility chart or contact your supplier. They can provide a list of incompatible combinations specific to their manufacturing capabilities.