Multiple 'manufacturers' on a single product?

[StaceyKing]

Hi,

 

I'm using osCommerce as a book store. I've found a way to make it do everything I need it to do EXCEPT allow more than one 'manufacturer' for a single product. In the case of anthologies where several authors contributed to a single book, I would really like the ability for that book to be listed on each author's product page when a customer sorts by maufacturer/author.

 

Is there a way to do this?

 

Here's the store: http://www.phazebooks.com/catalog/

 

Thanks much in advance for any helf you can give!

-Stacey

[Guest]

Hi Stacy,

 

I'd use the "Copy to" product feature and assign the duplicate a new manufacturer.

There are two way to do it:

 

Copy Method:

 

Link product

Duplicate product

 

You'd have to try those options and see which one suits you. I'm thinking link product then assign new manufacturer...

 

Hope that helps.

 

TJ

 

Hi,

 

I'm using osCommerce as a book store.  I've found a way to make it do everything I need it to do EXCEPT allow more than one 'manufacturer' for a single product.  In the case of anthologies where several authors contributed to a single book, I would really like the ability for that book to be listed on each author's product page when a customer sorts by maufacturer/author.

 

Is there a way to do this?

 

Here's the store: http://www.phazebooks.com/catalog/

 

Thanks much in advance for any helf you can give!

-Stacey

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest]

Was thinking about this. Maybe this is a simpler way.

 

Alternatively, just create a new Manufacturer called "Smith & Jones" or whoever you need in it.

 

:)

 

 

Hi,

 

I'm using osCommerce as a book store.  I've found a way to make it do everything I need it to do EXCEPT allow more than one 'manufacturer' for a single product.  In the case of anthologies where several authors contributed to a single book, I would really like the ability for that book to be listed on each author's product page when a customer sorts by maufacturer/author.

 

Is there a way to do this?

 

Here's the store: http://www.phazebooks.com/catalog/

 

Thanks much in advance for any helf you can give!

-Stacey

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[iwik]

Hi Stacey,

 

I'm also using oscommerce as a base for my bookstore, and I've done what TJ suggested - created a manufacturer/author such as 'smith and jones' to apply to the product.

 

When it comes tho major anthologies though, when there are quite a few authors involved, I have just created the manufacturer/author name as the names of the editor(s).

 

The only problem I've found with this method is that we have many authors who have published books through us both individually and in conjunction with another. When the individual author is selected from the list, the co-written titles aren't listed along with their individual works.

 

What I have done though, is listed their full names in the product descriptions like

"Editors: Joe Smith and Margaret Jones

Authors: Joe Smith, Margaret Jones, and several other names as well"

so that anyone using the search function to look for an author or contributor will have all titles associated with them, whether solo or in a team, listed in the search results (I have my search box set to automatically search the product descriptions).

 

I was reading another thread when I was looking for a solution for this, which can be found here. Granted, it's for an automotive store, but the general concept is the same. I didn't really want to fiddle with my database too much though - I broke my store enough times getting it to the stage it is now - so I sort of let it be. You may be more adventurous than me though and might find it helpful.

 

Hope this helps you somewhat

 

Jane.

[StaceyKing]

Well, at least I know I wasn't missing something obvious. Thanks for replying!

 

The 'Copy To' feature allows me to put one product in multiple CATEGORIES, and I do utilize that capability, but it doesn't allow for multiple manufacturers. With either the 'Link to' or 'Duplicate' options, if you change something (like the manufacturer) on one copy, it is changed on all copies, so the item would no longer show up on the original author's page. At all. There can only be one manufacturer. Good thought, though. ;) I had to try it again just to make sure.

 

I'm not so adventurous as to modify the database :D , especially since it wouldn't achieve my objective. But the thread was infomative in any case. Thanks!

 

Oh well. I wish I was knowledgeable enough to make a contribution for it! I might have to do a crash course in PHP programming... LOL

 

Thanks again!

-Stacey

[Lalla]

Was wondering if you even had any luck finding a way to deal with your Anthologies? I too have a book store and deal with alot of anthologies. I've made a Category titled Anthologies and then under that will be sub-cats that duplicate the main Cats on the home page (where the Anthologies cat is located). Hard to explain, but you can view my site and see what I mean as soon as I get some anthologies on there. I too am having a problem with the author issues tho. My Manuf. box is First Letter of Author's Last name and if it would work like the Cat box, there wouldn't be a problem....but I'm guessing it won't from what you are posting.

If you found a way to resolve the Author issue, please let me know! I have friends that know the code and can do almost anything, but until I was actually faced with putting a Anthology in the db, I hadn't thought about it.

Feel free to email me and maybe we can figure this out if you haven't already.

Thanks!

Lalla

www.NothingButRomance.com