2.31 Attributes, Categories vs Catalogs, Database questions.

[SnatchTease]

I'm building an online bookstore using osC2.31, and I had a few questions about the functionality of the database, and attributes. I'm looking for the best way to implement the following changes...

 

1) I'd like the products to list under two classifications. One under the Catalog they fall under, but I also want to create Categories that work as subcatalogs under the main Catalogs, which can also list all books under their specific Category under every Catalog. Ex: clicking Catalog A in side menu would list all the books in Categories 1-99 under Catalog A, but clicking the particular Category (example Category 1 in this case) in side menu would list all the books from Category 1 under every Catalog, so it would list all books from Catalog/Catagory A1-Z1. I'm currently using EasyPopulate to interact with DB. I figure I just need to add a field to the DB for each item to specify which Categories they belong in along w/ the Catalogs, to cross search them both. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Also, in the way osC2.31 handles products across multiple Catalogs, would I have to create a seperate entry for each item under each category, or can this all be accomplished by using one entry per product?

 

2) The attributes seem to be price modifiers, not really 'action modifiers'. Say I sell one product in two forms, physical and digital... I'd like to use the same product field in DB between both forms, and use attributes to say 'email customer link to digital product' and another attribute would 'email warehouse for shipping physical item' depending on customer choice. How possible would it be to make the attributes action modifiers, use one product field for multiple versions of product?

 

I've searched and read throughg hundreds of pages of threads/posts in the forums for any discussions regarding these, and I haven't come up with much but crosseyed a few times. I've dropped 1ShoppingCart and Volusion in favor of osCommerce thanks to you, the active osc-forums community and fellow contributors. Simply put, you people are amazing. Thank you all for your replies in advance.

[♥Monika in Germany]

1) you can use catagories for your categories and manufacturers for your catalogs ... just rename the field.

 

2) it's not clear to me what you want to email where. in any case, it's certainly possible to tie actions to certain attributes in your order. it's just a question of customization in your checkout process file.

[SnatchTease]

Hey Monika,

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm actually using the manufacturer field for my author names, so I'd probably have to make a new field. I'm not sure if EasyPopulate is set to upload stuff in additional fields but that'd be easy to test out. I was wondering if it's possible to cross link the Categories under each Catalog, whilst being able to be list accumulativley everything under each Category under all Catalogs. Lastly, is there a way to let the customer choose their version of the product (physical/digital) w/ attributes from the product description page? My thought is that I'll have 2-3 different 'buy now' buttons each attached to a different attribute, which would perform a different actions (send physical orders to warehouse, email digital orders directly to customer).

 

Thanks again, Monika.

[♥Monika in Germany]

you do not need different buttons to achive something like that ... I'd add an extra field in attributes table where you choose in admin from a dropdown your action. you can then run a query for this field during the processing of your order and then do the different things (mail here or there etc).

 

as or easypopulate, it's not difficult to add additional fields. yes, you can crosslink cartegories. but really, I'd just clone the manufacturers field. there is even a contribution for it ... search for manufacturer2 (I think)