Product choice linking

[Confused Sally]

I am sure this has been covered befiore, but I cannot find the posts and I am also sure there is a simple answer, so apologies.

I am trying to offer a simple choice to a the customer, but want the individual items to be linked with products for stock control.

What I have done so far

I have created components within a product (which is really just a description) which are linked to the hidden products, but I want to force the customer to chose one of the options (products), and currently they could leave all the tick boxes blank, if I untick 'is optional' in the component then there are no boxes for them to tick at all.

Also when one of the boxes is ticked then in checkout there are 2 lines of text, one with the descriptive product and the real product underneath. How do I just show the product the customer has ordered?

Sure this is easy, just being dense.

Thanks
Sally

[leehack]

If you want to provide a selection of choices and one of them must be chosen, you are better to use a drop down list or a list of radio buttons for the choices. This way means it's impossible to buy the product without choosing one option and if they do not choose one, then the default top option is auto selected. Read up on 'permutations' in the help and also have a look at the computer in the example store.

As for the display in the cart, there are many posts regarding this and i believe there to be some articles in the AUG.

[Confused Sally]

OK I have hit a problem because I don't seem to have everything appearing as it should I don't think

When I create a component, which is almost all I need except it does not force the customer to choose it, I should be able to create an attribute within it, but when i right click on the component the only option i get is to create anothe component. Is this right? Or have i got a problem?

[leehack]

I expect you are doing something wrong. Have a go at creating your attribute/choices first and seeing if you get the 'cut' message when you try to create a component. I've never seen an error in this area personally, likely to be something you are doing i expect. Try it on a fresh product to eliminate if you are experiencing a bug of some sort.

[Confused Sally]

Also i have tried creating attributeson another product and then dragging and dropping to the existing component - does not take it
have tried cutting but when I get to component no paste option is offered.

Is this all wrong too- it seems to be as none of the instructions in help are working for me!

[leehack]

You may have an issue your end, hard to say, on the surface it sounds like you have jumped in head first and not really grasping what you are doing.

Create a brand new product
Add an attribute
Add some choices
Add a component

See if it lets you do that.

If so you are onto the permutations tab of the component and need to click on 'fill' and then associate the products.

[Confused Sally]

Have a go at creating your attribute/choices first and seeing if you get the 'cut' message when you try to create a component. . Try it on a fresh product to eliminate if you are experiencing a bug of some sort.

OK Fresh Product but in same section
created attribute - no problem
created choice - no problem
try to create component - get message 'to add a Component directly to a product which has attributes cut drag/drop to another product. create component and drag/drop the attributes to new component'

OK New fresh Product - different section
Created attribute - no problem
Attempt to create component - same error message
Attempt to drag component from elsewhere - no joy
Attempt to cut and paste component - no joy

grrrrrr

any ideas?

[leehack]

You cut the attribute, create the new component, and then past the attribute onto that new component. There is no need to move away from the product on which you are working.

[Confused Sally]

OK Lee,
thanks for your patience, but I tried that and get no option to paste the attribute back it has just vanished into the ether

Whenever I cut one of these things the option to paste is not there.

[leehack]

If your snapshot is less than 10MB, email it me and i will try. I think it's you to be honest, but i might be wrong, your bloody forum name doesn't help when i'm trying to work out what's wrong.

[leehack]

Can you just add a component to a product and then add an attribute to that component (not the product)?

[Confused Sally]

Hi Lee,
no my site is much bigger, and I have just realised that this problem is global, I have used loads of permuations etc before but never tried to link to specific products. I have just thought about borrowing an existing one fom a product and playing with that, went to grab and ALL my permutations have gone! I sell all my fabric by drop down boxes, 1 metre, half metre, quarter etc, all gone! - products till there. just no options, no wonder haven't been selling much, customers can't order. Must be since last week when did a design change.


sorry you don't like my name, i'm not techy but I am prepared towork at stuff to get it right.
Looks like i have a long day ahead, esp if I can't recreate the choices, don't know whether to cry or get drunk

[leehack]

Have you got a snapshot from before? That should get it all back.

You have the same name as my Sister, i like that part, it's the confused part that throws you as it auto makes us think you are muddled up, when in fact it could be a problem you are experiencing .

[Confused Sally]

Honestly you have no idea the amount of changes / work I have put in since I did the design change, I don't know what to do next. but i guess I shall have to put it all back if the choices / permutations won't work with this layout.
am stumped, going to make tea and think

[leehack]

Im wondering if your layout has just been trashed and the info is there its just not showing, possibly try a standard unchanged product layout just to see? Take 10 mins and read the snapshot tutorial on my site, trust me you need to.