Core Commerce eCommerce Challenge / Help Request
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Using Core Commerce (so on 5.6.33)...
What I'm looking into doing is this. On a product page, as part of the "Add to Cart" area, to show Related Accessory Products. So they are "Accessories" for a given product (but may also be for other products too).
I want to Show the Price, maybe a short description, and ideally, I'd like select boxes so the user could check which ones they want, and (ideally) add them ALL to the cart with a single Add to Cart button (This could perhaps be a single separate button from the main products add- to cart button, or perhaps combined.
See attached screenshot for an example.
Possible? I know I can sort of achieve this by doing it in Customer Choices (with each having a price modifier to be added), but that's sort of a kludge, because the choices aren't products in and of themselves. That's not ideal for a number of reasons, such as some accessories are applicable to different products (so creating them would have to be repeated for each applicable main product), not to mention it's very limited in terms of the description, styling limitations, and loss of other back-end product features, etc..
I know I could create sets, and then with a Product List block use "Search>>Get Products from s stored Search Query>> Filter by set
This seems like a better direction, but the problem is every different accessory product has a different Add to Cart button.
Going back to the Customer Choices direction, I thought about creating "dummy" products for essentially grouping different sets of accessories, with a $0 price for the product and then all the accessories listed as customer choices (with the allow multiple selections option, etc). Then I could add whichever accessory group I need (again they are now grouped by the dummy product, so I'd just add an additional product block but I'd select the applicable dummy product/accessory group, and I'd now have all the Customer Choices as select options. (not sure if a zero price will even work???)
How else? Attributes? There is a related products add-on, but it doesn't look to be to total solution (and the demo site is down, and the developer is SLOW to NO response.
Feedback and/or suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
What I'm looking into doing is this. On a product page, as part of the "Add to Cart" area, to show Related Accessory Products. So they are "Accessories" for a given product (but may also be for other products too).
I want to Show the Price, maybe a short description, and ideally, I'd like select boxes so the user could check which ones they want, and (ideally) add them ALL to the cart with a single Add to Cart button (This could perhaps be a single separate button from the main products add- to cart button, or perhaps combined.
See attached screenshot for an example.
Possible? I know I can sort of achieve this by doing it in Customer Choices (with each having a price modifier to be added), but that's sort of a kludge, because the choices aren't products in and of themselves. That's not ideal for a number of reasons, such as some accessories are applicable to different products (so creating them would have to be repeated for each applicable main product), not to mention it's very limited in terms of the description, styling limitations, and loss of other back-end product features, etc..
I know I could create sets, and then with a Product List block use "Search>>Get Products from s stored Search Query>> Filter by set
This seems like a better direction, but the problem is every different accessory product has a different Add to Cart button.
Going back to the Customer Choices direction, I thought about creating "dummy" products for essentially grouping different sets of accessories, with a $0 price for the product and then all the accessories listed as customer choices (with the allow multiple selections option, etc). Then I could add whichever accessory group I need (again they are now grouped by the dummy product, so I'd just add an additional product block but I'd select the applicable dummy product/accessory group, and I'd now have all the Customer Choices as select options. (not sure if a zero price will even work???)
How else? Attributes? There is a related products add-on, but it doesn't look to be to total solution (and the demo site is down, and the developer is SLOW to NO response.
Feedback and/or suggestions, etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Nour,
Since Customer Choices are actually attributes, when you say "I would go with the attribute solution which seems simpler and more flexible", is that what you're suggesting? Because later I said "How else? Attributes?" (meaning I'm wondering if maybe there's another direction using other attributes that are not part of the "Customer Choices" functionality, although I'm not sure exactly how I could accomplish this). Using Customer Choices (if that's what you're suggesting) do you think grouping them with dummy products is a reasonable approach?
Per your suggestion I just tried PMing the developer of Related Products even though I actually have Sébastien's Skype and had also messaged him there (but no response to either). I do tend to agree it looks like the related products add-on only allows one selection (and it also changes the product photo, and I don't know if that's optional)
Since Customer Choices are actually attributes, when you say "I would go with the attribute solution which seems simpler and more flexible", is that what you're suggesting? Because later I said "How else? Attributes?" (meaning I'm wondering if maybe there's another direction using other attributes that are not part of the "Customer Choices" functionality, although I'm not sure exactly how I could accomplish this). Using Customer Choices (if that's what you're suggesting) do you think grouping them with dummy products is a reasonable approach?
Per your suggestion I just tried PMing the developer of Related Products even though I actually have Sébastien's Skype and had also messaged him there (but no response to either). I do tend to agree it looks like the related products add-on only allows one selection (and it also changes the product photo, and I don't know if that's optional)
I don't think having to use dummy products is a good idea. It might end up being a management nightmare.
What I meant is an attribute just like the related product attribute that would allow you to select more than one product.
Did you look at this one?https://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/similar-and-recently-pu...
What I meant is an attribute just like the related product attribute that would allow you to select more than one product.
Did you look at this one?https://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/similar-and-recently-pu...
Hmm. Looking again at "Similar & Recently Purchased Products" now, maybe.
In the screenshots it only shows the products, but not any ability to add to cart without actually leaving the current page and going to the "similar product" page. If I could set it up to allow a purchase right there on the current page (again ideally with a select check box if possible, but at least an add to cart button), then maybe I could use this for "Accessory Products" as apposed to its stated purpose.
Another thing going for it is it's Magic Data Enabled. I'm already using it with Magic Data Commerce for this site. I actually forgot I did inquire about this with the developer. He said the following (but never did respond again when I mentioned Magic Data)
Jero: "Assuming you can identify which products are accessories, then you should be able to create a custom template or override the existing one and make it show the add-to-cart button. The template knows which products it's dealing with, so you would need to splice in similar code to that found in the product list block. Good luck!"
I think with Magic Data and the symbols PRODUCTS_IN_ALL_SAME_SETS &
PRODUCTS_IN_ANY_SAME_SETS maybe it will be possible.
Though I still don't see how I could do what my screenshot shows with select boxes and adding everything selected (multiple accessories) all to the cart with one button.
In the screenshots it only shows the products, but not any ability to add to cart without actually leaving the current page and going to the "similar product" page. If I could set it up to allow a purchase right there on the current page (again ideally with a select check box if possible, but at least an add to cart button), then maybe I could use this for "Accessory Products" as apposed to its stated purpose.
Another thing going for it is it's Magic Data Enabled. I'm already using it with Magic Data Commerce for this site. I actually forgot I did inquire about this with the developer. He said the following (but never did respond again when I mentioned Magic Data)
Jero: "Assuming you can identify which products are accessories, then you should be able to create a custom template or override the existing one and make it show the add-to-cart button. The template knows which products it's dealing with, so you would need to splice in similar code to that found in the product list block. Good luck!"
I think with Magic Data and the symbols PRODUCTS_IN_ALL_SAME_SETS &
PRODUCTS_IN_ANY_SAME_SETS maybe it will be possible.
Though I still don't see how I could do what my screenshot shows with select boxes and adding everything selected (multiple accessories) all to the cart with one button.
If you want exactly what you have in mind, you will need some custom coding. I don't see any way around it.
Check out the attached video I did, demonstrating my idea of using Customer Choices and grouping them by dummy products.
It's SO CLOSE!
As you can see in the video, management isn't the issue.
1- I simply created a set just for these "container" products called "Simple Accessories".
2- Each has a price of zero, and no page. It's named Accessories: WhateverGroupOfAccessories.
3- By setting up Customer Choices, and added each accessory product with "Allow multiple options to be chosen", I created the Accessory Products with select boxes.
4- On any "real" product page where I want to offer any group of these accessories, I simply add a Product Block with the appropriate "Simple Accessories" dummy product, and...
BINGO! I have what I was looking to achieve...
almost...
The PROBLEM is only the shopping cart and it's user experience is a bit of a kludge.
Two issues.
The first is acceptable. There is one ADD to CART button for the main product, and a separate one for the accessories.
The second is more serious. There is no QUANTITY adjustment for the individual accessory items. Rather, they are totaled and grouped. So if more than one accessory was selected and then the user wants to change the quantity of any individual accessories, they can't and it becomes a User Experience nightmare. They would have to delete the entire group, and add each individually so they can adjust any one individually (which they probably wouldn't figure out in too many cases).
Arrgh.
Suggestions anyone???
It's SO CLOSE!
As you can see in the video, management isn't the issue.
1- I simply created a set just for these "container" products called "Simple Accessories".
2- Each has a price of zero, and no page. It's named Accessories: WhateverGroupOfAccessories.
3- By setting up Customer Choices, and added each accessory product with "Allow multiple options to be chosen", I created the Accessory Products with select boxes.
4- On any "real" product page where I want to offer any group of these accessories, I simply add a Product Block with the appropriate "Simple Accessories" dummy product, and...
BINGO! I have what I was looking to achieve...
almost...
The PROBLEM is only the shopping cart and it's user experience is a bit of a kludge.
Two issues.
The first is acceptable. There is one ADD to CART button for the main product, and a separate one for the accessories.
The second is more serious. There is no QUANTITY adjustment for the individual accessory items. Rather, they are totaled and grouped. So if more than one accessory was selected and then the user wants to change the quantity of any individual accessories, they can't and it becomes a User Experience nightmare. They would have to delete the entire group, and add each individually so they can adjust any one individually (which they probably wouldn't figure out in too many cases).
Arrgh.
Suggestions anyone???
Check out the attached video I did, demonstrating my idea of using Customer Choices and grouping them by dummy products.
It's SO CLOSE!
As you can see in the video, management isn't the issue.
1- I simply created a set just for these "container" products called "Simple Accessories".
2- Each has a price of zero, and no page. It's named Accessories: WhateverGroupOfAccessories.
3- By setting up Customer Choices, and added each accessory product with "Allow multiple options to be chosen", I created the Accessory Products with select boxes.
4- On any "real" product page where I want to offer any group of these accessories, I simply add a Product Block with the appropriate "Simple Accessories" dummy product, and...
BINGO! I have what I was looking to achieve...
almost...
The PROBLEM is only the shopping cart and it's user experience is a bit of a kludge.
Two issues.
The first is acceptable. There is one ADD to CART button for the main product, and a separate one for the accessories.
The second is more serious. There is no QUANTITY adjustment for the individual accessory items. Rather, they are totaled and grouped. So id more than one accessory was selected and then the user wants to change the quantity of any individual accessories, they can't and it becomes a User Experience nightmare. They would have to delete the entire group, and add each individually so they can adjust any one individually (which they probably wouldn't figure out in too many cases).
Arrgh.
Suggestions anyone???
It's SO CLOSE!
As you can see in the video, management isn't the issue.
1- I simply created a set just for these "container" products called "Simple Accessories".
2- Each has a price of zero, and no page. It's named Accessories: WhateverGroupOfAccessories.
3- By setting up Customer Choices, and added each accessory product with "Allow multiple options to be chosen", I created the Accessory Products with select boxes.
4- On any "real" product page where I want to offer any group of these accessories, I simply add a Product Block with the appropriate "Simple Accessories" dummy product, and...
BINGO! I have what I was looking to achieve...
almost...
The PROBLEM is only the shopping cart and it's user experience is a bit of a kludge.
Two issues.
The first is acceptable. There is one ADD to CART button for the main product, and a separate one for the accessories.
The second is more serious. There is no QUANTITY adjustment for the individual accessory items. Rather, they are totaled and grouped. So id more than one accessory was selected and then the user wants to change the quantity of any individual accessories, they can't and it becomes a User Experience nightmare. They would have to delete the entire group, and add each individually so they can adjust any one individually (which they probably wouldn't figure out in too many cases).
Arrgh.
Suggestions anyone???
Again, you are going to need some custom coding
Are you thinking a custom block, or perhaps over-riding some of the core product block functionality (or maybe the Customer Choices functionality)?
No need for a totally custom block if you feel you're almost there. I suppose some rewrite of what already exists should do the trick
Just got a connection good enough to write a response.
As @mnakalay advises, I don't think there is any way to solve it without custom code.
This is actually a series of separate (but related) problems.
1. Identifying which products are accessories for the listed product.
Use product sets or a multi-product selecting attribute (if there is such an attribute available), or even a simple naming convention, or some combination of these.
2. Listing them.
Most obviously a product list block, modified to get its list criteria from the product associated with a page and whatever solution to 1 that is adopted. It may also be possible to do that with an Uber List and Magic Data. I don't have enough info in front of me at the moment to give a definitive answer on that.
3. Adding all of them to the cart in one go.
This will need custom code. It could be a custom add to cart button, or if using Magic Data and Uber List a custom symbol. It may be possible to do some of this with a combination of Blocks by Ajax and Black Magic Data, but I suspect that would be more complex than simply writing the php.
As @mnakalay advises, I don't think there is any way to solve it without custom code.
This is actually a series of separate (but related) problems.
1. Identifying which products are accessories for the listed product.
Use product sets or a multi-product selecting attribute (if there is such an attribute available), or even a simple naming convention, or some combination of these.
2. Listing them.
Most obviously a product list block, modified to get its list criteria from the product associated with a page and whatever solution to 1 that is adopted. It may also be possible to do that with an Uber List and Magic Data. I don't have enough info in front of me at the moment to give a definitive answer on that.
3. Adding all of them to the cart in one go.
This will need custom code. It could be a custom add to cart button, or if using Magic Data and Uber List a custom symbol. It may be possible to do some of this with a combination of Blocks by Ajax and Black Magic Data, but I suspect that would be more complex than simply writing the php.
Hi John,
Yeah, after evaluating the pitfalls of trying to do it with customer choices, I went the #1 route, using product sets, and then #2 the product list block.
For the time being, I'm using multiple Add to cart buttons, but all styled nicely so that it's a very workable solution until perhaps I can implement one of the more custom solutions (a custom add to cart button, or maybe using Magic Data and Uber List a custom symbol?).
-----Original Message-----
From: concrete5 Community [mailto:discussions@concretecms.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 10:34 PM
To: owen@okdnet.com
Subject: Core Commerce eCommerce Challenge / Help Request : Building with concrete5
Yeah, after evaluating the pitfalls of trying to do it with customer choices, I went the #1 route, using product sets, and then #2 the product list block.
For the time being, I'm using multiple Add to cart buttons, but all styled nicely so that it's a very workable solution until perhaps I can implement one of the more custom solutions (a custom add to cart button, or maybe using Magic Data and Uber List a custom symbol?).
-----Original Message-----
From: concrete5 Community [mailto:discussions@concretecms.com]
Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2015 10:34 PM
To: owen@okdnet.com
Subject: Core Commerce eCommerce Challenge / Help Request : Building with concrete5
On #3 in addition to the single add to cart button we obviously need the select field for each individual product. The only place I have even seen anything like this in core (to use as a code starting point perhaps) is with product choices.
duplicate deleted
Personally, I would go with the attribute solution which seems simpler and more flexible. With the related products add-on the only problem seems to be that you can only select 1 related product, at least from the description. From the screenshot, it looks as if you could probably select several products.
Concerning the dev, I suggest you also try PMing him as sometimes support requests don't go through.