Allowing customers to type messages

[fancyshmancy]

Hi all- I am trying to add a new product, but I would like customers to be able to type something
for example, once they select the size of the item, they can choose a colour or if the colour they want is not available, they can type something like Yellow etc.
How do I do this? I know its possible because there was something similar with the cart when i got it originally, but i'm so clever, I deleted all the examples. Please help.
Thanks.

[jont]

Against the product under the layout tab there is the "other info question" into which you can type a question such as "enter second colour choice" .. that text appears over the input box with the product. The only issue using this method is it becomes a compulsory field.

A similar solution is found at Normans website www.drillpine.biz under multi other info prompts - this donationaware - but it allows the input field to be optional.

Another option would be to have a second drop down list titled "second choice" with a list of alternative colours - the first option could be just a null value.

HTH

[fancyshmancy]

I've tried creating a new product, and added the question under "Other Info Question", I have left the Product layout as "Use Parent" - There is no box appearing. The text field is actually appearing in the cart, rather than on the actual page with the product image etc.

[fancyshmancy]

How do i get the text field to appear on the product page, rather than the cart?

[jont]

It will appear in the cart so you know what message they require.

In your product template check to see you have NETQUOTEVAR:OTHERINFOPROMPT

[fancyshmancy]

the text field is not appearing on the product page though.
I have opened template mgr, under the section tab, there is "product line" which shows the following. I am not sure if i'm looking at the right template.

<!-- ProductLine HTML begin -->
<!-- Insert HTML for the top of the individual product -->
NETQUOTEVAR:INCLUDE Act_ProductSeparator.html
NETQUOTEVAR:ENDSEPARATOR
NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTFORMBEGIN
  <tr>
    <td rowspan="2" valign="TOP" align="CENTER"> NETQUOTEVAR:TEMPLATEBEGINXML NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTIMAGE </td>
    <td valign="TOP" align="LEFT" colspan="2">  
      <a name="NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTANCHOR"><span class="actregular"><b>NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTNAME</b></span></a>
      <span class="actxsmall">NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTREF <br>
      NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTDESCRIPTION&nbsp;NETQUOTEVAR:EXTINFOLINK</span>NETQUOTEVAR:EXTINFOBUTTON
      <br>
      <span class="actxsmall">NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTBEGINLINKNETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTLINKTEXTNETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTENDLINK
      NETQUOTEVAR:PRICEEXPLANATION </span><br>
      <b>NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTPRICE</b><br>
      <span class="actxsmall">NETQUOTEVAR:DISCOUNTINFO </span>
      <span class="actxsmall">NETQUOTEVAR:OTHERINFOPROMPT </span>
      <span class="actxsmall">NETQUOTEVAR:DATEPROMPT </span>
    </td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td align="LEFT" colspan="2"><span class="actxsmall">
			NETQUOTEVAR:CARTERRORXMLNETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTQUANTITY<br>
			<Actinic:ACTIONS>NETQUOTEVAR:ADDTOCARTBUTTON</Actinic:ACTIONS>
		    </span>
	NETQUOTEVAR:TEMPLATEENDXML
       </td>
  </tr>
NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTFORMEND
NETQUOTEVAR:NEXT
<!-- Insert HTML for the bottom of the individual product -->
<!-- ProductLine HTML end -->

[jont]

Act_productLine is the usual template ... if you are using the "use parent" best to check up the hierachy to see which has been specified at the top

[fancyshmancy]

The main template Act_ProductBody.html is as follows - where do I add the "NETQUOTEVAR:OTHERINFOPROMPT"

<!-- ProductBody HTML begin -->
<!-- Insert HTML for the top of the product body -->

<A NAME="sectiontop">
<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
NETQUOTEVAR:PARENTSECTIONSTOP
</DIV>
<!-- NETQUOTEVAR:TOPLEVELSECTIONSTOP -->
NETQUOTEVAR:SECTIONLISTTOP
NETQUOTEVAR:TOPSECTIONSEPARATOR
NETQUOTEVAR:CARTERRORLISTXML
</A>
NETQUOTEVAR:HIDDENINPUT
NETQUOTEVAR:DISCOUNTINFOBULK
<BR>

<TABLE WIDTH="500" COLS="3" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="0" ALIGN="CENTER">

	NETQUOTEVAR:PRODUCTBULK

</TABLE>


<A NAME="sectionbottom">
<DIV ALIGN="RIGHT">
NETQUOTEVAR:SINGLEADD
</DIV>
NETQUOTEVAR:BOTTOMSECTIONSEPARATOR
NETQUOTEVAR:SECTIONLISTBOTTOM
<!-- NETQUOTEVAR:TOPLEVELSECTIONSBOTTOM -->
<DIV ALIGN="CENTER">
NETQUOTEVAR:PARENTSECTIONSBOTTOM
</DIV>
</A>
<!-- Insert HTML for the bottom of the product body -->
<!-- ProductBody HTML end -->

[NormanRouxel]

The Other Info Prompt should only be used in Product Templates (where it is already present).

You won't see it appear on the Product page unless you choose "Quantity on Product Page" as the Shopping Mode for theat Section. You mentioned that youe are using "Use Parent" as the shopping mode (which is presumably set to something different somewhere higher up the Product Tree or in Design / Options / Shop Defaults) so you'll have to change the mode for the pages you want to see that prompt on.

[fancyshmancy]

Thanks- worked.

[fancyshmancy]

Another question - If I want more than 1 text box to appear on the product page, what do I do? Is this possible?

[NormanRouxel]

Standard Actinic only allows a single line text item per Product.

If you want a free-form text box instead of the single line then this is documented in the Advanced Guide.

If you want multiple text input lines per item (some optional / some mandatory) then you'll need my Multi Other Info patch from www.drillpine.biz/actinicstuff

[fancyshmancy]

Thanks - where is the Advanced Guide?
I can't find anything about the free-form text box in my starter guide / help topics.

[NormanRouxel]

Advanced Guide: http://www.actinic.co.uk/support/downloads.htm

There's also a lot of good stuff in the Knowledge Base (link at top right of this page).

[fancyshmancy]

I have downloaded the guide- cannot find anything on free text box - I am currently having another look. I looked at the Knowledge Base previously, it does say in detail how to add the single line which allows the customer to add additional information - also states how to change the size of this box, although its just the length rather than width.
Can you please tell me the ref # in knowledge base / the page number in the advanced guide.