Attributes - How do I make dropdowns start with "Please Select"

In a dropdown, you can start with an attribute value:

or you can start with a prompt like “Please Choose” or “Select a Value”:

The former requires no special steps; just add options to products as described in Attributes - adding to products.

The latter requires setting a default option value for each Option Name that will have this behavior.

• Go to Admin > Catalog > Option Value Manager
• Select the Option Name that will have this option value. In the second image, it would be “Size.”
• Create an value option value with the prompt you wish to use (e.g. “Please Select”).
• Go to Attributes Controller, and select the product you want to operate on.
• Select the option name (e.g. “Size”) and option value (e.g. “Please Select”).
• Click “Used For Display Purposes Only” = “Yes.
• Click “Default Attribute to be Marked Selected” = “Yes.
• Click the Insert button.

Note: To make this option show at the top of the list, give it a sort order less than all the other sort orders when adding it in Attributes Controller. You may use a negative number if needed.