Most-needed nonexistent contributions

[Velveeta]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

[Guest]

the contribution development, features & suggestions and Free Software / Open Source Discussions forums have countless requests by people for various features. I would start from there.

[Iggy]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

 

You could redo Imprint Text Options as it's a great idea implemented, well, poorly (the tracking of the attributes just doesn't work so well with more than one item, take a look and you'll see why).

 

You could add the ability to track letters and assign a monetary value to each.

 

You could build in whether the field was required for purchase or not.

 

You could also add it's input to the order confirmation email.

 

Lots of folks seem to need this and, although Option Type is very good, it's also not very friendly to heavily modified stores and a bit of overkill in a lot of situations.

 

I've been meaning to come back to Imprint Text Options for a while now since it really needs a rewrite but if you've got the time and inclination and skill that would be, well, nifty :D

 

Imprint Text Option

 

Iggy

[dnl07]

You could build me a contribution that would display

 

you have $1.00 in you cart

you need $3.00 more to receive

a Free Hotel Voucher....

 

 

As an example...

 

Useally this is used for free shipping but I really want something that would offer a Free Hotel Voucher and have it display on the right under the basket box.....

 

If you need more info e-mail me...

[email protected]

 

-Doug

:thumbsup:

[Velveeta]

You could build me a contribution that would display

 

you have $1.00 in you cart

you need $3.00 more to receive

a Free Hotel Voucher....

As an example...

 

Useally this is used for free shipping but I really want something that would offer a Free Hotel Voucher and have it display on the right under the basket box.....

 

If you need more info e-mail me...

[email protected]

 

-Doug

:thumbsup:

There's a contribution for this already called Dangling Carrot, where you can specify free items for the customer to receive after they've spent X amount of dollars so far in your store, and if you have multiple tiers of free items, you can display a message like "Spend $20 more and receive <whatever>"... I'll take a look at Imprint Text Options, and at some of the forums you mentioned Enigma...

 

Richard.

[Velveeta]

You could redo Imprint Text Options as it's a great idea implemented, well, poorly (the tracking of the attributes just doesn't work so well with more than one item, take a look and you'll see why).

 

You could add the ability to track letters and assign a monetary value to each.

 

You could build in whether the field was required for purchase or not.

 

You could also add it's input to the order confirmation email.

 

Lots of folks seem to need this and, although Option Type is very good, it's also not very friendly to heavily modified stores and a bit of overkill in a lot of situations.

 

I've been meaning to come back to Imprint Text Options for a while now since it really needs a rewrite but if you've got the time and inclination and skill that would be, well, nifty :D

 

Imprint Text Option

 

Iggy

Ok, I just had a look at this contribution, and from what I can see, it just looks like a modified version of the Option Types contribution, but without the extra option types, just the text fields, and an addition to the product's editing page to show those text fields as checkboxes, rather than having to manually add the attributes from the Products Attributes page... I'm gonna go check out the forums Enigma recommended and see if I can't dig up something good :)

 

Richard.

[bkellum]

There's a contribution for this already called Dangling Carrot, where you can specify free items for the customer to receive after they've spent X amount of dollars so far in your store, and if you have multiple tiers of free items, you can display a message like "Spend $20 more and receive <whatever>"...

Richard.

Wow Richard...you work fast! :lol: What you need is more of a challenge like a contribution that would drive the customers to my store and force them to spend at least $100. Then they would tell their friends and they would come and purchase twice that amount, and then they would tell their friends and.... :lol:

On a more serious note...good luck and I hope you come up with something great! :thumbsup:

[Iggy]

Ok, I just had a look at this contribution, and from what I can see, it just looks like a modified version of the Option Types contribution, but without the extra option types, just the text fields, and an addition to the product's editing page to show those text fields as checkboxes, rather than having to manually add the attributes from the Products Attributes page... I'm gonna go check out the forums Enigma recommended and see if I can't dig up something good :)

 

Richard.

 

Actually it's not (text options are stored in their very own tables which is most of the problem) :)

 

This being the most onerous

customers_basket_text_attributes;

 

Iggy

[pynchon]

Velveeta: Richard

 

I hope I can explain this coherently.

 

I have built a glasses website ... each pair uses exactly the same array of attributes and options (frame options, lens options, and prescription information). However, oSC seems to need to have these attributes assigned to each product. 1500 products using the same attribute = 1500 attributes added to the product_attributes table.

 

Now this isn't too much of a problem if there are only a few attributes ... but I have a store that requires the assigning of almost 400 attributes to each pair of frames. The issue that I have is that these attributes are the same .. so why isn't there some kind of global option .. so I can make one 'array' of attributes that can be assigned to all products .. I would then have a product-attributes table with 400 lines rather than the monstrous 450,000 lines that I have at present.

 

Incidentally ... I applied the attributes to one product ... looked at the generated code in product_options.php in the live store and took all the generated field values and hard-coded them into the product_options.php file so I could present the drop-down, textfields and radio buttons in a particular format .. one that I couldn't acheive if I allowed oSc to generate it all for me.

 

does this make sense ? I hope so

 

John K

[pynchon]

I'm on a roll now.

 

I used a cart recently, that when a product was chosen a wee floating layer appeared wit the name of the product in it with its price .... when an attribute was then clicked on .. it would update the info in the floating layer to give a a cost subtotal (without shipping) .. it was a nifty wee thing.

 

Just a thought .. is it possible?

 

JK

[djmonkey1]

Velveeta: Richard

 

I hope I can explain this coherently.

 

I have built a glasses website ... each pair uses exactly the same array of attributes and options (frame options, lens options, and prescription information). However, oSC seems to need to have these attributes assigned to each product. 1500 products using the same attribute = 1500 attributes added to the product_attributes table.

 

Now this isn't too much of a problem if there are only a few attributes ... but I have a store that requires the assigning of almost 400 attributes to each pair of frames. The issue that I have is that these attributes are the same .. so why isn't there some kind of global option .. so I can make one 'array' of attributes that can be assigned to all products .. I would then have a product-attributes table with 400 lines rather than the monstrous 450,000 lines that I have at present.

 

Incidentally ... I applied the attributes to one product ... looked at the generated code in product_options.php in the live store and took all the generated field values and hard-coded them into the product_options.php file so I could present the drop-down, textfields and radio buttons in a particular format .. one that I couldn't acheive if I allowed oSc to generate it all for me.

 

does this make sense ? I hope so

 

John K

 

Try Attribute Sets http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contri...,attribute+sets

or

Attribute Sets Plus http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contri...,attribute+sets

[pynchon]

Try Attribute Sets http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contri...,attribute+sets

or

Attribute Sets Plus http://www.oscommerce.com/community/contri...,attribute+sets

 

 

I already use attributes set plus in conjunction with option type .... it still adds individual instances of the attribute to each product

 

cheers

 

JK

[djmonkey1]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

 

You could take over one of the many hugely popular but largely rudderless contributions that are out there already and clean it up. That wouldn't necessarily be fast but it would definitely fill up your spare time. I started working on Order Editor over a year ago and have learned a ton about PHP, MySQL, and osCommerce, but I don't think I'll ever be done... :)

[Velveeta]

Well just to quell the masses, I've currently taken up a project to work on that I found in the Features & Suggestions forum, and when I finish it up, I'll post it up... It's for adding customer-uploaded images (with admin approval, of course) to review entries... Shouldn't take more than an hour or 2 I think, so I'll check back in here in a little while :)

 

Richard.

[Velveeta]

Ok, Customer Review Images is now finished and uploaded... I'll be getting to other ideas tomorrow, it's time for a What-a-burger run and bed :D

 

Richard.

[Guest]

You know I have a great idea for a contribution.

 

All the time in the forums people are asking how do I change the design of the website I am newbee bla bla bla... What if you developed a contribution that allowed for design control from the admin

 

Like to change the header.php with a wysiwyg editor with a logo upload. ect... Kindof a admin based store designer. Not the crapy STS that is not easy for most people but that would be great.

 

Also allowing people to mod the footer the same way and other information pages all in one place.

 

Also making a good catagory rss feed system would be nice as well.

 

If these are already available just kick me. lol

[Iggy]

Hey here's one for you!

 

A payment module using Authorize.net new recurring billing features. That'd probably get jumped on by quite a few people.

 

In fact it's kind of strange someone hasn't... hrrrm. Hello pot... meet kettle. :lol:

 

Iggy

[Guest]

i require a discontinued contribution

 

so whens there is a item that goes discontinued, the customer can only see the product, and NOT go through the checkout,

also a opion in the product editing, to make it 'discontinued'

 

cheers,

[mtnrocker]

Hi Richard,

 

Thanks for all your contributions....YOU ROCK!!!

 

Here's my idea for a needed new contribution: A system where a customer can upload their artwork or files to an FTP server or even to an email, for custom printing services. This link can be a stand alone page, linkable from the product page or as an option during check-out.

 

Thanks for your consideration!!!

Dale

[MSP]

how about modifying mvs to:

each product will have a check box for availability per vendor.

next to that will have an individual vendor per product fee added to shipping

when a customer logs in and enters, the shipping is calculated from the cheapest shipping (inc fee).

 

For example, I have a product I stock in WA which weighs 40# and costs $40. I have 1 drop shipper in NY who supplies this exact same item for $50. I have a third drop shipper in FL who supplies this item for $42. I have another drop shipper in MD who does not stock this item.

 

Additional Product Listing info in Admin would look

 

Checkbox/Vendor/Fee added to shipping

O WA 0.00

O NY 10.00

O FL 2.00

X MD

 

A person in MD want to purchase this item.

 

To ship from WA: $40 cost + $30 shipping = $70

To ship from NY: $50 cost + $10 shipping = $60 (although it would be calculated and displayed to the customer as $40 plus $20 shipping)

To ship from FL: $42 cost + $14 shipping = $56 (although it would be calculated and displayed to the customer as $40 plus $16 shipping)

 

As you can see mvs would then compare all 3 costs and select the lowest and display it for the customer to purchase. Even though MD is closer to NY the item would ship from FL because it works out cheaper overall for the customer.

 

That would keep you busy for a while :P

[Guest]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

I have a good one that I would love to see. They use it on the ezcart system. It's an attributes addon. Take a look at the following page and see how each attribute has a "what's this" you can click for more info. The backend of that shopping cart gives you the ability to enable, disable and you can add images. Check it out here and scroll down: http://wwww.bostonlobsterfeast.com/store/s...mp;criteria=110

[Guest]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

I have a good one that I would love to see. They use it on the ezcart system. It's an attributes addon. Take a look at the following page and see how each attribute has a "what's this" you can click for more info. The backend of that shopping cart gives you the ability to enable, disable and you can add images. Check it out here and scroll down: http://wwww.bostonlobsterfeast.com/store/s...mp;criteria=110

[Guest]

Hi everyone... I've been looking to fill some spare time, keep up on my oscommerce skills, and maybe build up a bit more of a portfolio for when I go job-hunting for web developing positions... I've got a nice, blank oscommerce store set up on my server, but am having a hard time thinking up useful contributions that don't already exist... Soooooo with that being said, does anyone have any ideas for features that are really needed, but not currently available in a contribution? Also, the smaller the better, so I could crank them out faster for you guys, rather than say, 1 big honkin contribution that may take me a month of single-handed development :)

 

Richard.

I have a good one that I would love to see. They use it on the ezcart system. It's an attributes addon. Take a look at the following page and see how each attribute has a "what's this" you can click for more info. The backend of that shopping cart gives you the ability to enable, disable and you can add images. Check it out here and scroll down: http://wwww.bostonlobsterfeast.com/store/s...mp;criteria=110

[bkellum]

You know I have a great idea for a contribution.

 

All the time in the forums people are asking how do I change the design of the website I am newbee bla bla bla... What if you developed a contribution that allowed for design control from the admin

 

Like to change the header.php with a wysiwyg editor with a logo upload. ect... Kindof a admin based store designer. Not the crapy STS that is not easy for most people but that would be great.

 

Also allowing people to mod the footer the same way and other information pages all in one place.

If these are already available just kick me. lol

Kevin, maybe you could do it yourself instead of waiting for someone else to contribute a "crapy" contribution for you.

If STS is not easy enough for you, maybe the PayPal Shopping Cart would better suit you rather than a full blown robust shopping cart like osCommerce.

 

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but I took offense to the way you described STS. I don't know how long it has been since you tried STS but it has become quite user friendly over the last year (since version 4). Besides, it was developed for "free" and it is there available for you whether you choose to use it or not. At least give some respect to the authors who put alot of time into making it what it is today. That goes for all of the contribution authors out there like Richard in this thread who is willing to contribute their time free of charge for the benefit of all. Sounds like a pretty good group to me. I appreciate their effort! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Velveeta]

Kevin, maybe you could do it yourself instead of waiting for someone else to contribute a "crapy" contribution for you.

If STS is not easy enough for you, maybe the PayPal Shopping Cart would better suit you rather than a full blown robust shopping cart like osCommerce.

 

I'm sorry if this seems harsh but I took offense to the way you described STS. I don't know how long it has been since you tried STS but it has become quite user friendly over the last year (since version 4). Besides, it was developed for "free" and it is there available for you whether you choose to use it or not. At least give some respect to the authors who put alot of time into making it what it is today. That goes for all of the contribution authors out there like Richard in this thread who is willing to contribute their time free of charge for the benefit of all. Sounds like a pretty good group to me. I appreciate their effort! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

It's been a long time since I used STS, but I'd like to add that the problem with making a totally WYSIWYG editor for things like the header and footer (and wherever else they might be wanted) is, where does the code join the markup? If they make a header and paste in images, edit the text, etc, what if they decide they want to put a "Welcome, Richard!" or something in the header as part of their design changes? How do they handle the code insertion via an editor like that? Or for the footer, how would it know to insert the number of page views, or the dynamic banners that are usually down there... The problem is that you can't really completely separate the design from the code, it's all intermixed, which is why STS has variables like $cart and whatnot that you can just plugin to your templates wherever you want them to appear...

 

Richard.