subtract from stock

I am trying to figure out how your system works with inventory management. I have a product which comes in different lengths. I have put in the options and assigned them with the quantity of each. The product does not show unless you fill out the quantity of the actual base product which seems to be in possible conflict with the actual quantity of the items depending on the option chosen.

In either case, I see nothing either in the documents or in admin which would give me a hint as to how this works. If someone orders an item at 54" length, does it subtract from the options list inventory, the product inventory or both or neither.

Can you please explain this or point me to where I can find it in the documentation? I searched on inventory and stock but found nothing.

JKB

As an update, I zeroed out the options for quantity and they did cease to show on the front end, however the product continues to show stock available. It almost seems like you are keeping two different stock data items that don't interact with each other.

I don't see how this can reliably keep track of stock.

Can you please help here.

Any update on this issue.

I cannot see where products with options ties together with inventory management and can't find anything in the docs.

In case I was not clear, it is the following scenario
I have 5 canoe paddles, 2 are 54" , 2 are 56" and 1 is 58".
I use options for the paddle size and put in the qty, however no product shows up unless I also put 5 in the qty for the product Paddles. If I zero out the options, the paddles still show up as being in inventory, however you cannot purchase them because there are no size options available.

Am I doing something wrong here???

Can you point me in the direction of something that explains how the math works here?

Thank you