Extra Fields for Shipping Calculation

[hw4f]

Does anyone have any pointers for adding extra fields to products and using these in the shipping calculation?

 

I have looked at the available shipping modules and it looks like I will need to create my own. I don't really have much idea where to start, don't even know whether it is possible to add extra fields to a product description (I remember seeing a link to the API documentation but I can't find it now).

 

To give you a bit of background, I intend to sell hardwood flooring, which must be shipped on Pallets. The number of pallets required are determined by the length, width, height and weight of the product(s) (at present I can only specify the weight of the product). Additionally the rate per pallet varies depending on postcode (I am in the UK), but I will worry about that later.

[dynamoeffects]

Sounds like you're going to be doing a little custom coding. I just completed a similar sounding project for a customer where the visitor would be asked what dimensions, number of sides, and colors they wanted for their sign, then it would calculate the base price before it went to the normal product_info.php page where they selected additional options that would add to that new base price.

 

Without knowing all the details of your products, it would difficult to say how you would do it, but I can tell you this: You'll need some extra tables containing information such as: height, width, and weight of each product/min quantity, information about the pallets available (h x w and weight capacity), and then you'll need a separate interface either preceding product_info.php, or modify that page for special products, that will ask the customer how much they want, and then the software calculates that mess for them and sends you the info at the end.

 

It's doable, but it ain't easy.

[hw4f]

Brian, sorry I have taken so long to reply, this is a spare time project for a friend and I haven't been checking the forum.

 

Sounds like you're going to be doing a little custom coding. I just completed a similar sounding project for a customer where the visitor would be asked what dimensions, number of sides, and colors they wanted for their sign, then it would calculate the base price before it went to the normal product_info.php page where they selected additional options that would add to that new base price.

 

That does sound quite similar, the main difference being that for this shop, the dimensions will be fixed for each item, the visitor just chooses the quantity (most likely, the number of Sq. Metres).

 

 

Without knowing all the details of your products, it would difficult to say how you would do it, but I can tell you this: You'll need some extra tables containing information such as: height, width, and weight of each product/min quantity, information about the pallets available (h x w and weight capacity), and then you'll need a separate interface either preceding product_info.php, or modify that page for special products, that will ask the customer how much they want, and then the software calculates that mess for them and sends you the info at the end.

 

I am surprised that the attributes system can't take care of this. Ideally, I think I would like to edit 'categories.php' and add an extra product attribute there, so that instead of just weight, I have dimensions too. I would still need to create a custom shipping module after that.

 

 

It's doable, but it ain't easy.

 

I suppose had better roll my sleeves up and get on with it. I will let you know how I get on.