Different shipping methods for different categories

**Ajeh** · 20 Oct 2009, 02:13 PM

You could test the cart for how many products are in a given master_categories_id and if there is 1 or more from the aerosols category then it raises the rate being charged in the Flat Rate flat shipping module ...

In the shopping_cart class is this function:

Code:

  /**
   * Method to calculate the number of items in a cart based on an abitrary property
   *
   * $check_what is the fieldname example: 'products_is_free'
   * $check_value is the value being tested for - default is 1
   * Syntax: $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('product_is_free','1');
   *
   * @param string product field to check
   * @param mixed value to check for
   * @return integer number of items matching restraint
   */
  function in_cart_check($check_what, $check_value='1') {

it can be used to test how many products are in the master_categories_id for this category using:
$_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('master_categories_id','27')

where 27 is the master_categories_id for the aerosols ...

**spid3r1987** · 20 Oct 2009, 02:27 PM

ok stupid question from me, how do i find my master category for "aerosols"
manufacturer ambersil

**spid3r1987** · 20 Oct 2009, 02:43 PM

ok so im a bit lost, well alot...

where do i enter that code, and how does it affect the flat.php shipping rate??

im a total noob to this...sorry

**lindasdd** · 22 Oct 2009, 06:19 PM

I have been playing around with this code attempting to turn off free shipping for certain categories, but so far have had no luck. I think because free shpping seems to flow in from multiple places.

Any advice on how to accomplish this? Or am I being an idiot and just need to find hte right file.

The other problem is that when I add the code the admin section gets screwy. No errors, but the right secion of the shipping admin where there are buttons and options dissapears.

-lindasdd

**Ajeh** · 23 Oct 2009, 12:00 AM

Okay ... let's first break down what you are trying to do ...

It sounds like you want a Flat Rate flat shipping module to run for the rate of 6.95 ... unless there is 1 or more Products from the aerosols category ... then the Flat Rate flat shipping module should be, for the whole order, set to 15.00 ...

Now the trick is to test the shopping cart for 1 or more Products from the aerosols category ...

Let's assume the aerosols category is categories_id 27 ... if that is the case, when you edit a Product from there, it should list the Master Category ...
Product Master Category:

this will either tell you the ID and Name of the Category or there will be a dropdown list, if this is a Linked Product ...

The "Master Category" is the "Main Category" of a Product, as in the Category that "owns" the Product and is used for other things like Sales, setting the products_price_sorter, etc. etc. where a Master Category has to be known ...

To control the Flat Rate flat shipping module for the amount to charge, we need to test if 1 or more Products are in the aerosols category, which we are using as categories_id 27 ... which would be set in the products table for the master_categories_id 27 ...

To use this to change the Cost of the Flat Rate flat shipping module, you need to test and adjust the rate based on the results ...

Editing the file:
/includes/modules/shipping/flat.php

There is a section of code that generates the quote or the cost:

Code:

// class methods
    function quote($method = '') {
      global $order;

      $this->quotes = array('id' => $this->code,
                            'module' => MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_TEXT_TITLE,
                            'methods' => array(array('id' => $this->code,
                                                     'title' => MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_TEXT_WAY,
                                                     'cost' => MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_COST)));
      if ($this->tax_class > 0) {
        $this->quotes['tax'] = zen_get_tax_rate($this->tax_class, $order->delivery['country']['id'], $order->delivery['zone_id']);
      }

      if (zen_not_null($this->icon)) $this->quotes['icon'] = zen_image($this->icon, $this->title);

      return $this->quotes;
    }

This needs to be changed ...

Code:

// class methods
    function quote($method = '') {
      global $order;

// check for number of aerosols in cart and change rate if 1 or more are in the cart
  global $cart;
  $cnt_aerosols = $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('master_categories_id','27');
  if ($cnt_aerosols > 0) {
    $flat_aerosols = 15.00;
  } else {
    $flat_aerosols = 0.00;
  }
      $this->quotes = array('id' => $this->code,
                            'module' => MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_TEXT_TITLE,
                            'methods' => array(array('id' => $this->code,
                                                     'title' => MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_TEXT_WAY,
                                                     'cost' => ($flat_aerosols > 0 ? $flat_aerosols : MODULE_SHIPPING_FLAT_COST))));
      if ($this->tax_class > 0) {
        $this->quotes['tax'] = zen_get_tax_rate($this->tax_class, $order->delivery['country']['id'], $order->delivery['zone_id']);
      }

      if (zen_not_null($this->icon)) $this->quotes['icon'] = zen_image($this->icon, $this->title);

      return $this->quotes;
    }

Now when products from categories_id 27, based on master_categories_id 27 in the products table are in the cart the rate will be 15.00 rather than what is set in the Flat Rate flat shipping module ...

Easy Smeazy, eh?

**lindasdd** · 23 Oct 2009, 03:15 AM

Originally Posted by lindasdd

I have been playing around with this code attempting to turn off free shipping for certain categories, but so far have had no luck. I think because free shpping seems to flow in from multiple places.

Any advice on how to accomplish this? Or am I being an idiot and just need to find hte right file.

The other problem is that when I add the code the admin section gets screwy. No errors, but the right secion of the shipping admin where there are buttons and options dissapears.

-lindasdd

Just in case someone stumbles upon this later, I wanted to include my solution for my problem.

1) Go to Admin>Modules>Order Total . Click on ot_shipping. Turn off the " allow free shipping" otherwise this overwrites everything else
2) Install the Free Options Shipping module and configure
3) Open the includes/modules/shipping/freeoptions.php file and adjust using Ajeh's code:

right below this:

Code:

      // disable only when entire cart is free shipping
      if (zen_get_shipping_enabled($this->code)) {
          $this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_FREEOPTIONS_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false);

}

add this:

Code:

    // disable for one master_categories_id
    if ((IS_ADMIN_FLAG == false && $_SESSION['cart']->in_cart_check('master_categories_id','66') > 0)) {
        $this->enabled = false;
    }

But of course change the category id.

Now if only I could get my Admin>Modules>Shipping screen to look normal.

**Ajeh** · 23 Oct 2009, 04:36 AM

What does not look normal on the Admin for the Modules ... Shipping ...

Check that you do not have a bak file in there or extra shipping modules copies as that is a self loading directory and it will load files that it should not ...

**lindasdd** · 24 Oct 2009, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by Ajeh

What does not look normal on the Admin for the Modules ... Shipping ...

Well before the change the Module>Shipping screen had all the shipping methods ont he left and then the options for the highlighted shipping method on the right.

Now the "options" portion on the right is no longer existent.

No bak files and the shipping works, it is just that the Admin is screwy now.

Also I'm using 1.3.7
-lindasdd

**Ajeh** · 24 Oct 2009, 03:20 AM

If you do not have the right screen then there is either an error in one of the shipping modules or there is an extra file in the:
/includes/modules/shipping directory that does not belong or there is a language file in the directory that should be fixed with the proper code file ...

Check the files on the server in:
/includes/modules/shipping

and make sure that they are all the code files and that none are duplicates of one another ...

If you have any new/customized files there could be an error in it that the Admin is detecting that the shop is not ...

**lindasdd** · 24 Oct 2009, 03:56 AM

Awesome!

I had renamed my old shipping file as freeoptions1 instead of freeoptions. I do this when making changes so that I can easily switch back if need be. Normally it doesn't create issues, but I guess in this case it was.

Thanks for all your help.

lindasdd