Product Options/Characteristics Question

I have the scripting installed and everything transfered over from virtual Mart except:

We have 20 different flavors of products available in 2 different sizes for sale. This makes a total of 40 different items. This was easy.

Now the problem. We sell 4 packs of each size with a discount. We have this item listed as "4 Pack 12oz" and "4 pack 6oz" each with it's associated price. What I can not seem to do is create 4 different characteristics that would include all 20 flavors. I have creted this, which up front sounds easy, but i get time outs, or server errors for to much memory.

If a person wants to purchase a 4 pack, I want them to be able to choose 4 flavors out of the 20 available. If I set this up as an "option" rather than a "charaacteristic", I end up with the purchase price of the 4 pack with the added price of each item individually.

What is the best way to make an item with 4 different options with each option consisting of 20 different variables?

nicolas wrote:

Alternatively, you could also create custom fields of the table "item" (business edition only) and add dropdowns on the product page with that. Custom fields do not change the price of the product.

I have created the 4 custom fields in the table "item" with all 20 values. How do I get these dropdowns to appear on the product page?

I think I have it. I need to finish and make sure it all works and shows up in the shopping cart now. thank you!