My brain hurts.

[GDFB]

Forgive me for being stuck here.
I have searched and read this subjuect on the forum and in the knowlege base and help sections but cannot get my head round it.
I need someone to take my example and talk me through my specific example, sorry but that is what I need.
Her goes.
I have a garment that is available in 2 different colours and 4 different sizes, black and beige and small, medium, large and extra large.
I have set up the choices etc so that works fine.
The problem is that when I run out of stock of the small black one I have to go in and manually remove it. All I can do with the stock levels is to show that I have the total number of garments in all colours and sizes and the stock levels are not adjusted on each of the choices.
So at the moment I have 20 Arming Jacks in stock but these are made up of so many black and so many beige and a variety of sizes so what I want is to be able to apply stock levels to each of the items i.e.
5 black small
1 black medium
2 black large
3 black xl

3 beige small
2 beige medium
1 beige large
4 beige xl
I do not want a seperate line for each item I want to be able to do this through the componants and attributes but I cannot see where to put the stock levels.
I am giving up now and going to have some red wine and hope that someone can sort this out for me.

Thanks
stephen

[TraceyHand]

well, you're 75% there!

In order to stock control your sizes and colours..you need to set up hidden products for each size and colour.

Make a product, giving it a product reference for each colour and size choice (and I appreciate this could be a fair number of products!)
Tick the box "hide on web site"
You only need skeleton details...reference, short description (product name, I'd include the size/colour in this also), price and stock level. No need for a full description, photo etc as the item is hidden

when you have done a hidden product for ALL sizes and colours, go back to your main product (the one with the choices)

Bring up the component details.
Check the box for "component as separate orderline" then go to the "Permutations" tab
Click "Fill list"

This will bring up a list of ALL sizes and colours (I'm assuming you have a single component with 2 attributes..one for size, one for colour. This would be the way to set it up)
For each choice combination, in the "product" column...select the corresponding hidden product (hidden products appear at the top of the dropdown list which does make locating them easier in a large catalogue)

If desired (I would do it this way) in the "pricing" column, select "associated product price" and check the box in the "name from associated product" column.

Then go back to the main product details...and select on the "general" tab..."pricing model" to "Use sum of component prices"

This will set each choice to use the price and product name of the hidden product,

In the cart and on the invoice, it will show the hidden product short description/price and when downloaded it will also tell the catalogue to deplete the stock level for that associated (hidden) product when ordered.

ensure that stock control for each HIDDEN product is enabled and set. Leave stock control for the MAIN product as not monitored.

I really and truly hope that makes sense. If not..post again and I'll clarify (it's been a long day!)

[GDFB]

Tracey
Thats sounds as if i will be able to give it a go tomorrow, heart felt thanks.
I will let you know how I get on.

Thank you

Stephen

[GDFB]

Hi Tracey
I have done it and cannot thank you enough.
You are a star.
I now have a days work to get all the stuff sorted out on the site but at least I now know I can do it.

Thanks again

Stephen

[TraceyHand]

no problem, Stephen.

One thing...what version of V8 are you using? There is a script fix to ensure that the main product uses the maximum quantity of it's associated products to avoid over-ordering of any given choice combination.
If you're using 8.5.1 HFUA, Actinic should be able to provide you with these scripts (I believe the fully working ones are not on the forum yet)
Otherwise, sad to say, it may be possible for a customer to order more than you have in stock, despite this set up (unless your order quantity is always one anyway)

Just thought I should mention it.

[Bruce]

Just to make this thread a bit more useful for anyone coming by. Please find attached the scripts for the workaround as mentioned by Tracey in the thread above.

Note: this is for v8.5.1 HFUA

Kind regards,

[leej]

Hi there,

My client is currently using 8.5.0 and raised this issue regarding being able to over order stock.

Does the 8.5.0 currently have a bug then that allows users to order say 5 items when we only have 3 in stock?

[TraceyHand]

Does this patch for V8.5.1 fix it so that you can only order the total stock of the particular choice and NOT the main product?

Has anyone tried it? does it work?

Yes, yes and a big fat resounding YESS!!!!!
Believe me it's a HUGE weight off my mind!

BUT ...your "max qty orderable" needs to be either the default 0 (which, I believe then uses the qty in stock? could someone confirm this, please?) OR up to date ie NOT higher than the "in stock" figure. Mole End's stock control mole can automatically update the "max qty" figure alongside stock levels when downloading and uploading.

does Actinic now have stock control (as long as you update quickly and often) ?

I guess. Updating quickly enough being key, of course. Still won't prevent 2 people checking out at once with the same items I suppose. But, under the circumstances, it's perhaps the closest we're going to get.

[TraceyHand]

So no really, bearing in mind that uploads are needed (via Mole end) very frequently, say every 5 minutes during busy periods - and uploads take about 6 minutes.
Looks like you need the addition of a Tardes to make it fit!!

kind of, yeh...no, that is LOL
I actually DO download every 10 minutes but it only uploads if an order sends an item out of stock/below the warning level (I have it setup that way) so even then, I guess it's not keeping my max qtys up to date all the time.

I probably should set it to upload after every order but it's confused enough, uploading every time the order falls into the psp pending tab and then again when it receives payment and moves to pending, as it is!

You have to be realistic though, without an online database, it's never going to be 100% right, 100% of the time.

[GDFB]

Well it looks like I have started a useful thread and Tracey has given me more work that I need :-)
Now, what do I do with these scripts for the stock so that customers can only order what is available and what is this automated order download stuff about?
By the way Tracey I am almost finished putting in all the hidden products, a days work, how wrong was I there, but it's the best thing I have done to the site ever, Thanks.

Thanks
Stephen

[TraceyHand]

Instructions for the files are HERE (ignore the reference to V7.0.7..Bruce supplied the 8.5.1HFUA files)

As for the stock control mole..check out MOLE END (Actually, check out everything they do, not just the stock control!)

[GDFB]

Hi all
Just had time to get back to this one.
I am using version 8 multi site, what is 8.5.1 HFUA, I have looked on the Actinic site and cannot find upgrade info.
Can I use the scripts on version 8 or not?
How do I upgrade to this 8.5.1 HFUA

Stephen

[TraceyHand]

if you go into Help>About in Actinic, it'll tell you exactly which version you're using.

You'll need to upgrade to the latest version to use this patch, if you're not using it already.

[Bruce]

How do I upgrade to this 8.5.1 HFUA

You can go to the Actinic website and download the 30 day trial, this is the full version of v8.5.1.

Kind regards,

[BigRedKeith]

You can go to the Actinic website and download the 30 day trial, this is the full version of v8.5.1.

Kind regards,

HI Bruce, that is what i have the latest version, and the problem still exists as per my post 1 in stock 15 in basket.

Keith