Set variations default attributes values for a variable product Programmatically

Question

I'm building a site where WooCommerce Variable products (with Products Variations) are inserted programmatically. I have followed this tutorial successfully:
Insert WooCommerce Products & Variations Programmatically

I need just something that is missing:
How to set variations default attributes values for a variable product? Is it possible?

Answer 1

1). You will need to insert in your json data for each variable product this piece of array like:

        "variations_default_attributes":
        [
            {
                "size"  : "Medium",
                 "color" : "Blue"
            }
        ]

Or

    "variations_default_attributes":
    {
        "size"  : "Medium",
        "color" : "Blue"
    }

This array is made with the attribute short slug (without 'pa_') and the default term name values.

2). Then the dedicated function:

function insert_variations_default_attributes( $post_id, $products_data ){
    foreach( $products_data as $attribute => $value )
        $variations_default_attributes['pa_'.$attribute] = get_term_by( 'name', $value, 'pa_'.$attribute )->slug;
    // Save the variation default attributes to variable product meta data
    update_post_meta( $post_id, '_default_attributes', $variations_default_attributes );
}

3). You will need to trigger this function adding one line at the end:

function insert_product ($product_data)  
{
    $post = array( // Set up the basic post data to insert for our product

        'post_author'  => 1,
        'post_content' => $product_data['description'],
        'post_status'  => 'publish',
        'post_title'   => $product_data['name'],
        'post_parent'  => '',
        'post_type'    => 'product'
    );

    $post_id = wp_insert_post($post); // Insert the post returning the new post id

    if (!$post_id) // If there is no post id something has gone wrong so don't proceed
    {
        return false;
    }

    update_post_meta($post_id, '_sku', $product_data['sku']); // Set its SKU
    update_post_meta( $post_id,'_visibility','visible'); // Set the product to visible, if not it won't show on the front end

    wp_set_object_terms($post_id, $product_data['categories'], 'product_cat'); // Set up its categories
    wp_set_object_terms($post_id, 'variable', 'product_type'); // Set it to a variable product type

    insert_product_attributes($post_id, $product_data['available_attributes'], $product_data['variations']); // Add attributes passing the new post id, attributes & variations
    insert_product_variations($post_id, $product_data['variations']); // Insert variations passing the new post id & variations

    ## Insert variations default attributes passing the new post id & variations_default_attributes
    insert_variations_default_attributes( $post_id, $products_data['variations_default_attributes'] );    
}

Code goes in function.php file of your active child theme (or theme) or also in any plugin file.

This code is tested and works.