Backpack Specification Table Setup Guide

A backpack specification table should show capacity, external dimensions, usable laptop compartment dimensions, and empty weight. These fields answer different fit and carrying questions. This TableFlow tutorial places size-dependent facts on variants so each bag option can show its own measurements.

Setup tutorial · TableFlow · Updated 2026-09-07 · By Activory

Try the storefront example

Select the three sample products. The first shows all six rows. The second has two empty fields, so those rows disappear. The third has no values, so the whole table disappears. You can also choose Missing variant values inside the example to hide only the selected variant’s missing rows.

Storefront example

Choose a sample product

The first product option shows all six specification rows.

Hide empty fields in your store

In the theme editor, open the TableFlow app embed and leave Empty value placeholder blank. These are sample products.

This example uses TableFlow storefront code with sample data and the settings below. Your theme’s fonts and available width can change the result. Example links show their destination; purchase controls use a sample cart. Use the checks below to confirm the finished setup in your store.

Build it in TableFlow

The images below show the TableFlow form code with local sample data, captured on 2026-09-07. Shopify navigation and action bars are outside the cropped area.

1. Prepare the metafields

In Shopify, open Settings → Custom data. Create the six definitions in Sample data and content as Single line text. Use Variants for Capacity, Bag height, Bag width, Bag depth, Laptop compartment, and Empty weight. Reuse an existing definition if it stores the same information.

Open your test product and enter the sample values in the variant metafields. Add the product tag backpack-specifications to this test product, then save. We will use this tag to control where the table appears. For images of these Shopify controls, see the product metafield guide and variant metafield guide.

2. Name the specification table

In TableFlow, create a specification table. Enter Backpack Specification Table in Table name. This name is for your admin. Leave Table ranking at 1st. Set Status to Published when you are ready to save the finished setup.

TableFlow Table name set to Backpack Specification Table, Table ranking set to 1st, and Status set to Published — Table name identifies the table in TableFlow. The section title in the next step is the heading that shoppers see. Select the image to view it at full size.

3. Add the first row

Under Table content, enter Specifications in Section title. In the first row, enter Capacity in Label and select Advance in Source. Then select Search metafields, above the Advance value field.

TableFlow Table content with Specifications as the section title, Capacity as the label, and the Search metafields control above Advance value — Select Search metafields to connect this row to its variant value. Select the image to view it at full size.

4. Select the value and complete the six rows

In Search metafields, enter custom.bag_capacity. Select Capacity with the Variant - single_line_text_field description. Select Insert in the selection window. The Advance value field will contain ::custom.bag_capacity.

Search metafields with custom.bag_capacity entered and the Capacity variant metafield selected — This image shows the search field and selected result. The Insert button is in the Shopify action bar outside this crop. Select the image to view it at full size.

Select Add row and repeat this process for the other five rows in Sample data and content. Keep Source set to Advance. Match the result to the Scope column for each row. A Product result supplies a value shared by the product. A Variant result supplies a value for the selected option. The stored product or variant value supplies the storefront text; do not type the sample measurement into Advance value.

Show the completed six-row setup

Completed Backpack Specification Table with six labels and their custom metafield references — Check the row order and metafield keys against this completed example. Select the image to view it at full size.

5. Choose which products show the table

Under Display condition, set Attribute to Tagged with and Condition to Match any. In Values, enter backpack-specifications and select the matching option to add the tag. Only apply this tag to products that should use this specification table. Use your test product first.

TableFlow Display condition with Tagged with, Match any, and the backpack-specifications tag selected — The tag must also be present on the Shopify product. This keeps the table limited to the intended products. Select the image to view it at full size.

6. Select the table location and save

Under Table locations, select Location 1. Leave the other locations clear for this example. Check the six rows, display condition, and Published status, then select Save in TableFlow.

TableFlow Table locations with only Location 1 selected — Use the same location number in the TableFlow app block in the next step. Select the image to view it at full size.

7. Add the table to the product template

Open the product template in the Shopify theme editor. Enable the TableFlow app embed. Clear Empty value placeholder so it is blank. This makes TableFlow hide rows with missing values and hide the whole table if every row is empty.

Add the TableFlow - Specification app block and select table location 1. Match the example settings, then save the theme. Open the tagged test product in your storefront and change its variant. Check the specification values, then clear one test value to confirm that its row disappears.

Example settings

This example uses 18 px title text, 14 px row text, 40% label width, row borders, and 5 px cell padding. Empty value placeholder is blank. Hiding starts after the storefront script loads; entering a dash in this setting keeps missing rows visible instead.
The custom-data definitions, scopes, and values below produce the example. The second sample variant has no variant metafield values.
City backpack: all six fields use the sample values below.
Daypack: leave Laptop compartment and Empty weight empty. Other changes: Capacity = 16 L.
Travel backpack: leave all six mapped metafields empty. The table and its heading are hidden.

Sample data and content

Use these values for a test. Replace them with checked product data, published destinations, and offers that your store can supply.

Detail	Suggested metafield key	Scope	Metafield type	Example value
Capacity	custom.bag_capacity	Variant	Single line text	20 L
Bag height	custom.bag_height	Variant	Single line text	44 cm
Bag width	custom.bag_width	Variant	Single line text	29 cm
Bag depth	custom.bag_depth	Variant	Single line text	16 cm
Laptop compartment	custom.laptop_compartment	Variant	Single line text	33 x 23 x 2 cm usable space
Empty weight	custom.empty_weight	Variant	Single line text	720 g

Does a laptop screen size prove it fits in a backpack?

A laptop screen size does not define the outside dimensions of the computer. Publish the usable compartment measurement when you have it, and tell customers to compare their device dimensions. Keep empty bag weight separate from packed shipping weight. Capacity and external dimensions answer different questions.

Measure the usable device compartment with its closure in the normal position. Record the measuring method in your source notes.
Store size-dependent capacity, dimensions, and weight on variants. Keep common fabric facts on the product.
Put the device compartment beside the external dimensions in TableFlow so the two measurements are easy to distinguish.
Inspect the table for the smallest and largest bag. Check any size label printed in the product images.

Read the TableFlow setup guide for the full app controls and placement options. Use the variant metafield guide for rows that change with an option.

Check the finished setup

Try a device with known outside dimensions before making a device-fit claim.
Confirm that the empty weight excludes removable extras unless the label says they are included.
Read the table on mobile and make sure the three compartment dimensions stay together.

Common mistakes

Do not treat a litre capacity as a promise that a particular laptop will fit.
Do not present external bag dimensions as usable internal space.

Supported use

TableFlow displays the values you supply. It does not measure products or verify supplier claims. Use product fields for shared facts and variant fields for facts that change with the selected option. Confirm the app embed and table placement in your theme.

TableFlow features, current app plans, and Shopify metafield types and accepted values explain the supported setup.

Browse all TableFlow tutorials. Read how the examples are made or report a correction.