Solving Default Variant Selection in Shopify’s Dawn Theme

You know those moments when you're so enveloped in celebration at that new store launch, the confetti's flying, and suddenly you realize the display image for your lovely e-commerce site—curated by the sharp eye of Shopify’s Dawn theme—isn’t the one you painstakingly selected? It’s a letdown akin to biting into a promising cookie, only to find it’s filled with raisins instead of chocolate chips. This tale isn’t just mine; it’s a shared exasperation in our entrepreneurial circle, one that often finds its way into the Shopify forums. How do we avoid showcasing the less glamorous variant when a potential buyer lands in our space?

Our Shared Struggle: The Rogue Default Image

Remember when we first tinkered with legos, and one piece—even a tiny one—could bring down the whole castle? Well, that’s this default image conundrum. We want to uphold that beautiful, inviting facade when customers first land on a product page, not redirect them with an image they didn’t click on. It’s a delicate dance, one we must learn to master to ensure every shopper sees the grand centerpiece of our product offerings—the featured image—not just any ol’ variant.

So, let’s usher our focus into the solution jungle, where we stack solutions like building blocks, and emerge victorious over the variant villain.

Hack Into Happiness: Tweaking the Dawn Theme

To tackle this default variant issue in the Dawn theme, we must venture into the code. And let’s be clear—it’s less terrifying than Grandma’s fruitcake recipe. Join us as we walk through the uncharted territories of Shopify's inner workings. I promise, it will only take a few steps…and yes, there will be cake at the end.

Step-by-Step Guide

Access the Theme Editor
First, arm yourself with the necessary creative weapon—Shopify Admin Dashboard. Once there, look for the "Online Store" option and navigate to "Themes". Like an eager explorer, find your current theme (in our case, the Dawn theme) and click "Actions" then "Edit Code". Boom, you're in!
Locate the JavaScript Royale
This crucial snippet is your treasure map. In the left-hand side section, open Assets and lay your sights on main-product.js or a similar file pertaining to the product display JavaScript. This file holds the keys to the kingdom.
The Code Adjustments
Scroll or search for the section that governs variant changes. Here’s our secret technique: tweak it so that upon page load, the first variant doesn’t gain automatic primacy over others.
Locate a line resembling this:
```
this.currentVariant = this.product.variants[0]
```
Modify this to say:
```
const featuredVariant = this.product.variants.find((variant) => variant.featured_image)
this.currentVariant = featuredVariant || this.product.variants[0]
```
What you’re doing here is telling the browser, “Hey, if there’s a variant with a featured image—show that one first. if not, you can show the first one, but only then!”
Save Your Work
Just like you wouldn’t forget to hit save after conquering a mammoth level in a video game, ensure you click ‘Save’ in the editor. You never know when a hungry cat will steal your keyboard!
Test the Norse Waters
Head over to your storefront like a Norse explorer ready to map out the newly remodeled display. Click around, test with different products, and make sure that your glorious featured image now takes its rightful place on the throne.

Charting New Waters Together

There’s something spectacular about overcoming a technical puzzle that bonds us closer. Whether it’s through shared caffeine-powered marathon nights solving code mysteries, or the flood of ‘ah-ha’ moments when our themes dance to our tune—these victories aren’t just personal. They’re collective, forming a tapestry of shared experiences like a quilt from the quirkiest grandma, each patch telling its own story.

While this guide has set you on a course to fixing the vexing issue with the Dawn theme, remember, the journey is yours to navigate—and the treasures you find, yours to cherish. Let’s continue to help each other craft the most engaging, welcoming Shopify stores possible. Let no rogue variants wreck our digital front!