[Old] Royal Mail Modules

Evening,

Based on previous works and ports I have created a really big royal mail module for those in the UK. Currently it deals consists of separate modules for the following services:

Royal Mail 1st Class
Royal Mail 1st Class Large Letter
Royal Mail 1st Class Packet
Royal Mail specialdelivery Next Day service
Royal Mail specialdelivery 9am service
Royal Mail Airmail
Royal Mail Airmail International Signed For
Royal Mail Airsure (limited to the 24 countries as defined by the Royal mail).

So that you can choose exactly which to offer to which customer, plus the most recent thread I read was very useful in that it used the Zone system, but now that the royal mail has changed to size limits, this should prove more useful. Also by splitting out the services it the benefit of being able to offer more than one such as "1st Class" and "special delivery" whereas the Zone system and the previous royalmail.php were one service only.

it can be downloaded here

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail.zip

I shall be adding the cheaper 1st class signed for services at a later date.

Thank you

This was graciously approved by "the team" last night and can be downloaded from the downloads > shipping modules section or by following this link:

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=294

Hey! This is great - thanks. I spent most of last night looking at the default "table" shipping module and finding the information in this very forum about how to duplicate it to create additional modules for the various Royal Mail services.

However I am stuck at a certain point - I want to be able to limit the postage services offered by the VALUE of the total order. For example it would be unwise to send valuable product via 1st class post, but no problem to send it via, say, Special Delivery.

I assume there is a variable available to the shipping modules which gives the total order value and they could then turn themselves off where not appropriate (for example I notice the default table rate module does this where the order weight is zero).

So for example - if the limit for first class was set at 50UKP, the module would calculated and display postage based on its weight table ONLY where the total money value of the order was <50UKP.

Perhaps someone has already done this? I'd be interested to know!

Regards,
David Spink

Evening,

Today I've put in the second prices for everything and will be working on the "signed for" first class services tonight.

I would suggest that I by default do a limit of 32 GBP for first class because that's the maximum that is insured by, by the post office if you get a "proof of postage". I'll look at that once I've finished the set, so probably over the next 3 days.

Thank you Philip.

Hi Philip,
Fantastic effort - thank you so much! This is going to save me alot of figuring out that I wasn't looking forward to!

Regards,
David

This has now been updated to version 1.1 with the addition 1st calls signed for pricing added, plus the 2nd class tariffs.

Royal Mail 1st Class
Royal Mail 1st Class Large Letter
Royal Mail 1st Class Packet
Royal Mail 1st Class "signed for"
Royal Mail 1st Class Large Letter "signed for"
Royal Mail 1st Class Packet "signed for"
Royal Mail 2nd Class
Royal Mail 2nd Class Large Letter
Royal Mail 2nd Class Packet
Royal Mail specialdelivery Next Day service
Royal Mail specialdelivery 9am service
Royal Mail Airmail
Royal Mail Airmail International Signed For
Royal Mail Airsure (limited to the 24 countries as defined by the Royal mail).


It is available for direct download from

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail.zip

and has been submitted to the downloads area here as well

The next step in development will be setting minimum and maximum order values for royal mail service offered as suggested above,

Thank you

Thanks - this looks like an excellent mod and just what we've been needing in the UK :)

Could I add a further request to what's already been mentioned above?

At present, all of the options appear on the shopping cart/on checkout no matter what country the customer is from.

Could options that don't apply be set not to show? - eg. if you're a UK customer you don't need to see the airmail options, and if you're a customer from the EEC you don't need to see the Royal Mail (UK) First Class etc. options.

This would make the checkout and shopping cart screens much neater and easier for the customer to understand.

Evening,

I agree with you entirely, it will require work on the checkout_shipping template though so will require a backup of your own personal custom templates. I'd say that that should be ready by the end of the week,

Thanks

Philip.

Thanks and Great work, this is just what i needed.

Is there any chance of a future Parcelforce service for our heavy items?

:cheers:

That would be really useful - thank you :smile:

Just had another thought, following on from the point zigzak raised above in respect of first class value limits.

Looking at Royal Mail's website, airmail is also only covered up to £32, after that you need to use 'Airsure' (extra insurance, but no signature) or 'International Signed For' (extra insurance plus signature).

Would it be possible to also make standard airmail disappear for orders over £32?

Pixxi : yes I think I can work removing shipping costs if the maximum or minimum order value is breached (currently as I am putting the facility on, I have at least 18 options visible), but it will be left until after I've put zigzag's function on because that template re-write will probably mean doing a double probe into the shipping modules to check if a price has come back before display, and it's something I'm a bit wary of from the speed point of view.

tonyrobbo: I could do parcelforce and standard parcels, but am currently working through a lot of options so it would be at the very very end of the week, it would be helpful if you could message me the URL's of the from the websites to speed things up.

Thank you

Philip.

BUG Notification:

Up to 1.2 there is a bug from the work that this module was based upon, it is possbile for someone to select something like a 2nd Class letter rate of £0.00, when "The shipping rate cannot be determined at this time" and still proceed to the checkout, this is being fixed as I go through to add the modifications for version 1.2

Thank you.

Afternoon,

version 1.2 with minimum and maximum order values is here

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v1.2.zip

also it fixes the bug whereby people could order things with shipping set to £0.00. The default values are 0 for the minimum and £32 for most services with the exception of specialdelivery services, so you will have to tailor it to your own website as to at which price break, you want to offere which service.

As with most shipping modules, this WILL remove your old settings, BUT for version 1.3 I will be adding a new feature requested by Pixxi, i.e. that if a service is not available it will not be displayed on the the checkout_shipping page. For version 1.3 I will release a patch if possible as well as the full version for new installers, so that any minimum and maximum order values will not be removed.

I had a working version of 1.3 working on one service last night, but as mentioned it is a template job so may require a bit work if you have customised your templates.

I'll add parcelforce rates at some point in the near future.

Thank you

Hi,
I copied the upgraded modules over my existing 1.1 install from yesterday and everything worked great - thanks again.

One very minor point I noticed is that if you already have some of the previous shipping methods enabled the new features don't appear correctly (ie. the min and max order value settings explanation text is missing) unless you first "REMOVE" and then "INSTALL" the module again from the Admin/Shipping page.

This module is fantastic work - UK Zenners need to get it NOW!!!

David

Good Morning,

version 1.3 is now available for download here:

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v1.3.zip

it covers the majority of royal mail services, and a template to remove shipping services from the checkout screen e.g. to not display Airmail services for someone in the UK, or to not display a service if the weight is too great/ little

with regards to zigzags comments about the upgrade and some options not appearing until "REMOVE"/ "INSTALL" is used, there is now a sql patch included that solves this issue.

Thank you

Philip.

Hi there,

this is a great module! Just wondering, not sure if it is exclusive to my setup, but are the rates supposed to show on the shopping cart? The rates for each service display when you login and get to that checkout page. I have 1.35 ZC, and have the shopping cart shipping estimator embedded, not the one where you have to open a popup.

Many thanks.

Afternoon HeathenMagic,

I haven't got around to removing rates from the shopping cart "available shipping methods", I too have that bit installed on my server (1.3.5 ZC) too looks like some kind of really ugly table layout that I've been meaning to remove or fix, I'd turn off the box at the moment because it doesn't look like it matches the rest of the CSS, when I fix the module I'll try and fix the layout too unless everyone says "oh we'd really like an ugly table box!"

Thanks

Philip.

okay there is an easy fix for this but you have to find which template your system is currently using this will be a file called:

tpl_modules_shipping_estimator.php

and could be located under template_default, template_custom or wherever you've put your custom template folder, i recommend putting "hello" on line 12 temporarily one file at a time until you find the right one to modify.


under line 89 which should look like this:
for ($i=0, $n=sizeof($quotes); $i<$n; $i++) {

add
if (!isset($quotes[$i]['hidenoshippingservice'])) {

and then around line 144 put a closing curly bracket

} // end of big_royalmail_v1.3 if

in amongst the wealth of other curly brackets there (but label it with a comment so you know which one to take out).

This will remove the invalid shipping services from the estimator in both pop up and under the shopping basket form.

While you are at it, you should probably modify that template file to remove the ugly border, because it's just plain yuk, i'm going for a left sidebox theme myself.

Thank you

Philip

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HeathenMagic

Hi there,

this is a great module! Just wondering, not sure if it is exclusive to my setup, but are the rates supposed to show on the shopping cart? The rates for each service display when you login and get to that checkout page. I have 1.35 ZC, and have the shopping cart shipping estimator embedded, not the one where you have to open a popup.

Many thanks.

---

Now this is the question, do I submit a prettier version of

tpl_modules_shipping_estimator.php

for the bug fix, or leave it as standard for others to pretty up ?

... Submit a new version, of course ... :D

By the way, could you be a tad slightly more specific about where that closing curly bracket goes? ... there's 5 of them there, and wherever it's put it removes all shipping options from the shipping estimator :blink:

This mod is getting more excellent all the time, thanks! :smile:

It goes second from bottom, but if it's removing all options one of us has done something wrong ? it doesn't on mine, just removes the airmail options on my test data for a british shopper, you err, umm, have got some test data that gives a valid shipping service in your checkout haven't you ? The estimator is the same structure as the checkout except terribly ugly (sorry to keep on going on about this but is upsets me seeing a table like that, it reminds me of those first experiments with the web and the <blink> tag) and everytime some asks something I have to revert to it to have a look. I should set up a test site, but I'm working on my own, in the words of Henry Royce

Take the best that exists and make it better. When it does not exist, design it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pixxi

By the way, could you be a tad slightly more specific about where that closing curly bracket goes? ... there's 5 of them there, and wherever it's put it removes all shipping options from the shipping estimator :blink:

---

works on mine ;-)

before modifying tpl_modules_shipping_estimator.php

http://bouncing.org/before.jpg

after

http://bouncing.org/after.jpg

note the airmal options just disappear ? answers/ apologies/ general comments on a blank cheque made payable to the address above. An automatic Ferrari 456 wouldn't go amiss either, since I'm disabled and have children.

thank you.

That's it - working now :D

Reason it wasn't ... I wasn't logged in.

So it's now not showing any options on the shipping estimator until you've logged in/created an account.

Before it was showing the options whether logged in or not.

Getting there though ... :smile:

Right when can I expect the car then ? Next Thursday's good for me, before half past 1 though, got to put the baby to bed. :smartass:

Philip,

I seemed to have narrowed down the problem..I can only install some of the options of the Royal Mail file.

If I load more than 9 options in Shipping Modules, then I get the errors appearing again.

I do not know how to over come this, Can you help? Please.

I get this as well as prevous advised eror notice!!!!


1064 You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT limit MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUCT' at line 9
in:
[select p.products_id, pd.products_name, products_date_available as date_expected from zen_products p, zen_products_description pd, zen_products_to_categories p2c, zen_categories c where p.products_id = p2c.products_id and p2c.categories_id = c.categories_id and c.parent_id = '15' and p.products_date_available >=20060921 and p.products_id = pd.products_id and p.products_status = 1 and pd.language_id = '1' order by EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_FIELD EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT limit MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUCTS]

SilverKop, you might have some constants missing in the configuration table of your database.

EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT
EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_FIELD
MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUCTS

Those values are constants that you set in admin->configuration->My Store:

Expected Sort Order desc Info
Expected Sort Field date_expected

and in admin->configuration->Maximum Values:

Upcoming Products 10

They're stored in the configuration table in the database.

Take a look at those pages in admin and see if they appear as above. Then check the configuration table in your database.

Philip

Expected sort order set to desc
Expected sort field set to date_expected
Upcoming products set to 10

all as default

Don't know how to check database configuration table:dontgetit

Philip,


Site all works as it should do until I load more options into shipping!!

per unit set

8 Royal Mails options set

Zones set


all sort order set to 0


If I load another RM option then all hell breaks out. Not added the template yet, then that should not matter.

Is it just me with problems:blush:

SilverKop,

I've just turned on all 14 of the Royal Mail modules, plus zones and Per Unit, and I'm not getting your error.

What page are you on, and what are you doing when it happens?

Evening Silverkop,

That wasn't me, that was Pixxi doing an excellent job of describing what to do

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by SilverKop

EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT limit MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUCT' at line 9

---

I too have loaded all shipping modules, now above is what is important. Change your configuration options in Admin from what you see. What happens with zencart is that there are constant defined in the database and these get assigned values when a page is loaded, so EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT is a constant which should have been converted to the word "desc" when your pages load. Change your assigned values in the admin section and see what happens. If nothing changes you have a more major problem with how your configuration is loading.

Hi,
This mod just keeps getting better! Thank you!

I'm not sure whether this problem is new to 1.3 or not but I'm finding that the Shipping Estimator doesn't work if it's used before the customer has logged in.

If I do this:
1. Visit the site, without logging in
2. Add any item to my basket
3. Click on "Estimate Shipping"

...all the shipping options I want appear, but they all say "Only available for orders over £0" and can't be selected.

If I then Log In and repeat it comes up perfectly.

I upgraded from 1.2 to 1.3 by following your supplied instructions and running the SQL patch if this is of any significance.

David

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zigzak

Hi,
I'm not sure whether this problem is new to 1.3 or not but I'm finding that the Shipping Estimator doesn't work if it's used before the customer has logged in.

David

---

And therein lies the problem, this was mentioned before. Now it's a philosphical issue, the system cannot estimate shipping or rather the module that I've based this upon, for a "guest" because it don't know where the guest is located e.g. the guest's country and frankly, at the moment I have no idea what to do.

When logged-in as a guest, the shipping estimator has a drop-down menu for selecting the country (state, zip, etc) and an update button for refreshing the shipping modules based on the new country/state/zip selected.

Could the country/state not be used as the basis for the shipping modules to calculate rates?

Hi,
Perhaps we're moving outside of the realms of the Royal Mail module - but my store is only going to be shipping to the UK, so it'd be safe for the shipping module to default to UK based shipping and thus avoid this problem.



Cheers,
David

Ahh but my shop's not only UK based, I am having a look at the problem at the moment, but two things stand in my way. The original royalmail.php that I'm basing this upon was written in 2004, and b) as mentioned I'm disabled. I'm not on benefits so have to run my own business and look after the children, during these times I don't take my medication because it would be unsafe to do so with the children, but physically I'm suffering and I really need to take my "happy tabs" for a couple of days to calm my disability down otherwise (not being dramatic here) I will die. I have scar tissue in my spinal cord and my disability is called Chronic Pain Syndrome, and though pain can't kill you, too much adrenalin can, so until I can get that under control (as my wife is back to look after the children), I may not be able to work as quickly as possible, or I may produce junk. Sorry this is why I can't hold down a permanent job. I will be looking at it but any variable I name, may be called "mr fluffy" so please be patient.

On another point, I will be creating a "courier" module for the royal mail. This will serve two purposes, the UK is split into zones for the larger orders, by using an old module I hope to split out the counties into the correct zones for courier based services, so that not only parcelfore etc... can then be quoted, but so that people can use the courier of their choice correctly, as in my own business I once quoted someone £20 for delivery and ended up having to pay £40 because the delivery address was fractionally inside another zone. I sell plastic lenscaps for photographic equipment, it's not very profitable, it's not exciting compared to previous jobs, but I was proud and self-employed when I became disabled and didn't declare bankruptcy and so don't get benefits.

Please excuse the wittering, I will be back shortly and may even be shorter if the inflammation of my spinal cord decreases.

Hi Phillip,

Of course - just take it easy :smile:

It's normal for people to give feedback and add requests when a new mod is released.

You've already produced an excellent mod. Any more that you might feel able to do in the future would, I'm sure, be just as good. But please don't feel pressured.

And your ideas for the ParcelForce/Courier module(s) sound really good. :smile:

Phillip,
I'd like to echo the comments by Pixxi - I am deeply greatful for the excellent work you have done with the modules.

My own suggestions for modifications are just that - suggestions.

I wouldn't want you to feel that you're being pressed to make modifications at the whim of those who appreciate your work - that's certinally not the case!

Thank you again,
David

Okay

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v1.4.zip

but I am not submitting this to the download area yet. It covers the estimator problem and should be a straight copy over the includes files. if you wish to see my template for the shipping estimator, it is in there too. I think this works but I would appreciate testing, I just had a crash and my "journalled" filesystem didn't quite journal correctly so some of the files reverted back to older versions, I think I have got them but if an error about line 170 comes up, then I probably didn't and I'll need to know which module is throwing a fit. The estimator now works for guests, the shipping options do re-appear if they are set to in the admin section, but that's as far as I have checked for tonight.

I cannot remember how I have done this, so do not ask me, I do know that in the future someone will ask something about tax zones and subtotals, or someone should be investigating whether the £32 limit on first class is inclusive or exclusive of tax, and I think this should be version 1.31 or something. The courier module sounds good to me too. My brain works now but my short term memory is not that good

bye

thanks

Philip.

Hi Philip,

Well, I haven't looked at this yet (and won't be able to tonight ... 1.50am) but well done nevertheless and anyway / and in any case (regardless of whether it works) - but, even if it doesn't work completely, I'm sure it will be pretty damn well where it should be. :D

Ps. I turned journalling off as soon as was introduced ... silly idea ... :huh:

Goodnight, and well done again - now go and get some rest! :smile:

Hi,
I'll try the module later tonight Phillip and let you know what happens - thanks yet again!

Re the £32 compensation limit - it's all a bit vague really - especially if you're sending goods - do you claim your cost price, or the selling price? And do you claim VAT or not?

If your customer is buying somerthing for £100, you may have paid £80 for it? And it's even more complcated if you're VAT Registered and VAT is involved!

Personally I'm going to set the limit a little higher than £32 - based on the risk I see of items up to my determined value going missing while at the same time striking a balance between a resonable postage rate and the charge for that postage!

David

According to my post office the amount of compensation paid is for the value paid by the customer for the goods. But they only pay up to £32 for most services unless you take out extra insurance including the really expensive airmail services. Special delivery is about £250, and you can pay more for signed for insurance, but I set things at the maximum that the post office would pay out so that new shop owners would be aware of the situation.

I appreciate all of the suggestions made so far, which is why I have incorporated them. I still have no idea what I did last night, I remember finishing and then the crash that seemed to mangle the 2nd class packet rate with the 1st class signed for service so there may be a mix up somewhere else, I couldn't find one last night but I may (when I work out what I did) go back to v1.3 and redo it to make the official v1.4

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zigzak

Hi,
Re the £32 compensation limit - it's all a bit vague really - especially if you're sending goods - do you claim your cost price, or the selling price? And do you claim VAT or not?
David

---

The thing to bear in mind is the obvious (although it somehow doesn't seem obvious until you think about it :smile: ) ie. the package is lost *and* you have to replace the goods. So if you've bought an item for £80 and sold it for £100 (invoice value) and claim for the invoice value, then you will be £60 down after you've replaced the item for the customer (2 lots of goods @ £80 = £160, less £100 compensation).

In addition, Royal Mail does not refund the postage on the item lost - which is really silly, since they're admitting it wasn't delivered, and thus they've not fulfilled their contract - so you will also be down by one lot of postage (assuming the customer paid for delivery).

I'm not sure about the VAT situation - they may pay you the value less VAT since you haven't really lost that. I think it says on the claim form - or you could ring them of course.

I can't imagine how anyone can use Royal Mail if their margin is less than 50%. Maybe a courier service might be the best solution in those circumstances. :smile:

Philip,

Thanks again, excellent work. - the shipping estimator works fine now when not logged in :smile:

Haven't yet looked at Second Class Packet vs. First Class Signed-for rates to see if there's any mix-up - but will take a look tomorrow.

Now ... if you're up to a further suggestion, I have one: :smile: (if not, don't worry) :smile:

Would it be possible to put a sort on the shipping options so they display (in the shipping estimator, and on checkout) in ascending order of cost - either just on the Royal Mail ones, or (preferably) on all the options displayed? At present they appear to be sorted by module name.

That would make it a lot easier for the customer to choose the level of delivery/cost they wanted to pay for.

Thanks again :smile:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pixxi

The thing to bear in mind is the obvious (although it somehow doesn't seem obvious until you think about it :smile: ) ie. the package is lost

---

Ahh but it could be nicked, half inched, stolen, fraud etc.... so you just give the shopper all the money that you get from the post office, and don't send them any more goods, then you've only lost what you paid for the item in the first place, you raise a credit note against your bad invoice and claim the VAT back. All perfectly legal too, you have the right to refund and refuse to sell an item especially if you suspect that the goose may go missing again, and let's face it, I mean you're sending your goods into what previously became a black hole.

It wouldn't matter what limit you set really, it's up to the individual seller as to at which limit they want a signature and extra insurance.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pixxi

Philip,

Now ... if you're up to a further suggestion, I have one: :smile: (if not, don't worry) :smile:

Would it be possible to put a sort on the shipping options so they display (in the shipping estimator, and on checkout) in ascending order of cost - either just on the Royal Mail ones, or (preferably) on all the options displayed? At present they appear to be sorted by module name.

---

Not easily from my end but very easily from yours, my end would require going through all of the modules, filling an array or object, sorting it on cost (easy with array, bugger on an object) and thee spewing it out. Alternatively, you could just work out that 2nd class is cheaper than first class etc.... and use the "sort order" number in the module admin which may or may not work since I haven't tested it. :D

Hi folks I am very sorry for asking such a silly question but I am unable to get this module to work. I am certain its something that I am do/not doing thats the problem.

I notice on the admin screen for the various options it states: You must enable Zone shipping for this module to work.

I accept the defaults that are provided, but its not working - do i have to enable/configure something else?

By the way this looks like a GREAT MODULE - WELL DONE :) I just need to get it working now.

It's probably not you

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by guzzer

I notice on the admin screen for the various options it states: You must enable Zone shipping for this module to work.

---

Actually the "enable the zone method" is very misleading in that as far as am I aware one can completely and totally bugger up the whole zones section of admin (which I recently did) and as long as the "True" button is checked, then the module appears to work. Now firstly the modules have maximum order values and maximum weight values, is your test purchase under £32.00 and under about 2 Kilos ? and thinking about it do you have weight for your shop items set ? and does your test user have a country ? that would be pretty important too.

Also when you say it doesn't work, does that mean that no postal options are ever displayed on the screen, or that it charged someone £4000, hmm think that covers most of the options of what could go wrong, oh yes, what version of zen cart are you using ?

I wrote/ modified the software, don't mean that I knows nothing though !

Philip.

JollyJim was working on a similar project and has kindly submitted his work to me, he's done some very good things especially on the disabling of invalid shipping services either by price or by weight, so I will be incorporating parts of his work into the next release. It especially means no template replacement which is genius, he saw something I hadn't so all the credit goes to him.

Philip,
V1.4 looks pretty good - I also used your replacement Shipping Estimator file and that is much nicer also.

I too am getting shipping prices now regardless of whether logged in or not.

However I do seem to have a problem - in the admin I have enabled "First class packet", "First class recorded signed for packet", and "SpecialDelivery next day".

When I do a test order with a weight of 1.44KG the estimator gives me choices of "1st Class Recorded signed for packet" @ £6.27, and "2nd class large letter" @ £8.30.

Aside from the fact that I didn't have the second class large letter option enabled at all I think the weight limit for this would be 1KG anyway. And it's also quoting the cost for this at higher than the cost of sending 1st class recorded. I think it's maybe getting the prices correct but the titles of the services wrong!

Regards,
David

@Philip: D'oh - of course - especially since there's only likely to be RM modules installed :smile:

@ZigZak: Confirmed - maybe this was related to the 'mangling' of files that happened a day or two ago (see Philip's post above).

I have just installed v1.4 on a fresh install and all seems to work fine, except i cannot add the special delivery next day module in admin.

I get this error:

1136 Column count doesn't match value count at row 1
in:
[insert into configuration (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_ofiguration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Enable Zones Method', 'MODULE_SHIPPING_SPECIALDELIVERY_STATUS', 'True', 'You must enable Zone shipping for this module to work', '6', '0', 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(\'True\', \'False\'), ', now())]
If you were entering information, press the BACK button in your browser and re-check the information you had entered to be sure you left no blank fields.

Ii is the latest verion of Zen, but have also installed the beta UK template by MutalAdvantage.

Hi tonyrobbo,
That's interesting - because it's that service which seems to be causing me the problems I detiled eariler.

At the moment I would suggest version 1.3 is the most "stable" - and perhaps you should use that one instead.

I think Philip might produce an update for us if/when he can.

Regards,
David

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by zigzak

Philip,
"First class packet", "First class recorded signed for packet", and "SpecialDelivery next day".

When I do a test order with a weight of 1.44KG the estimator gives me choices of "1st Class Recorded signed for packet" @ £6.27, and "2nd class large letter" @ £8.30.

---

Pretty sure that's from the crash where it transposed second and first class signed for or something. But it should be an easy fix when I'm up to it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tonyrobbo

I have just installed v1.4 on a fresh install and all seems to work fine, except i cannot add the special delivery next day module in admin.

I get this error:

1136 Column count doesn't match value count at row 1
in:
[insert into configuration (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_ofiguration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Enable Zones Method', 'MODULE_SHIPPING_SPECIALDELIVERY_STATUS', 'True', 'You must enable Zone shipping for this module to work', '6', '0', 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(\'True\', \'False\'), ', now())]
If you were entering information, press the BACK button in your browser and re-check the information you had entered to be sure you left no blank fields.

Ii is the latest verion of Zen, but have also installed the beta UK template by MutalAdvantage.

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Yep that looks like it's probably another one of those crash problems I experienced. I think that version 1.4 should be declared 1.4-beta, 1.4 may not be fixed anyway since Jim Barrington came up with a great way of solving the way of not displaying the invalid shipping services without needing to modify the templates, so I may skip back to 1.3 and work from there.

TonyRobbo,

There's a bit of unexpected code (ie. mangle-ness) in the database insert in includes/modules/shipping/specialdelivery.php.

Remove the section on line 169:

PHP Code:

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sort_ofiguration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, 


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So that line 169 looks like:

PHP Code:

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     $db->Execute("insert into " . TABLE_CONFIGURATION . " (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Enable Zones Method', 'MODULE_SHIPPING_SPECIALDELIVERY_STATUS', 'True', 'You must enable Zone shipping for this module to work', '6', '0', 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(\'True\', \'False\'), ', now())"); 


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Yes, '2nd class large letter' does seem to be displaying instead of 'special delivery, next day'. No worries, I'm sure it'll be perfect when it's done :D

Well spotted Pixxi, that fixed it. :D

I must say i was very dissapointed with the shipping side of Zen until this mod.

Thanks bouncingltd

There's another bug throughout the entirety of my module to do with shipping things in numbers of boxes, this is constant throughout every shipping option.

basically it don't work, I've fixed it on one version, and when I am "recovered" I will fix it for the next 14 services.

Philip.

Back again. Here's the beta:

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v1.5-beta.zip

no longer should one have to alter the ZC files tpl_checkout_shipping_default.php and tpl_modules_shipping_estimator.php although a prettier estimator is included if you want to install it. It should now be non-corrupted and thanks to JollyJim who was responsible for pointing me in the direction of a method of removing shipping options without the need to alter templates.

The boxes problem that I introduced has now been solved, although there is still a problem stemming from the way zencart is set up, e.g. you have an item that weighs 2.2 kilos, you have a 2 kilo weight limit on and so zen cart puts one object in two packages. Strange but true, I have 5 lens caps in 7 boxes apparently.

Ignore the version numbers of the files and pretty much all of the instructions as I reverted back to 1.3 and for the beta version, have yet to change things around.

Thank you

Philip.

Thank you Philip, - good to see you back again :smile:

Will take a look tomorrow and see if I can break it ...

Quote:

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Strange but true, I have 5 lens caps in 7 boxes apparently

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... things like this happen sometimes ... it's the 'Universe' (allegedly) :unsure:

:smile:

I probably should have mentioned, this does not require a remove and install of each shipping service, just a write over the existing files. And yes I'm back but with a hell of a drug hangover, it's a bugger having to go through withdrawal every couple of weeks.

There's going to have to eventually be a lot of changes to the modules because it has moved so far away from the original, there's some defunct pieces and some things that probably need the order swapping around. I think before this, we'll be addressing the courier zone/ region issue, there will have to be three courier modules to choose from because if one lives in Zone 2, one charges Zone 1 prices for Zone 2, making things a little complex.

Philip,
Thanks once again for the update. I'll install it straight away and report back any issues!

Regards,
David

Version 1.5 is now available to download directly here

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v1.5.zip

and will shortly be in the downloads section of this site. Couple of bug fixes including the number of boxes error, improved method of removing invalid shipping options from the shipping estimator, e.g. hiding Airmail values from British residents. Documentation now in the Docs folders. Changes from the beta include a couple of upgrade scripts that should be run by all users. If upgrading from v1.3 this is normally just a straight overwrite as no variables have been added to the database, but some text has been changed in the admin section which does require a sql patch. If upgrading DO NOT remove and install unless you realise that you will loose all of your setting for handling fees etc... unless you follow the upgrade instructions.

Philip

I just wanted to let you know I have had chance to look over the latest version of the contribution and you have done a splendid job of integrating all the changes.

Well done that man. :)

JJ

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zigzak

Philip,
Thanks once again for the update. I'll install it straight away and report back any issues!

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Yes, thank you, this looks really good - and no one's replied (I guess) because no one's found any issues yet :smile:

Hi There

Been reading this thread with interest today as setting store to ship worldwide. Can you tell me does this module allow you to switch off certain postage options for certain goods. I don't mean Airmail for UK as you have already coded that in. (What a star!)

I only want to offer 2nd class options not 1st class in UK.

Note on insurance:
I would advise write something into Shipping/Returns and T & C. State clearly what insurance is on all types of shipping. I offer a 30 day money back including actual cost return post, but only up to the maximum of insurance on shipping option chosen. That way customer has choice to take risk or not. If you use paypal you may want to insist on tracking though for seller protection.

Probably advise putting remeinder to read t & c & shipping policy on top of basket as well together with line that if complete transaction deemed to have read, understood and accepted.

Installing 1.5:

Quick question as bit of newbie. Where do I find shopping cart directory? Do I install as an overide rather than overwrite?

Cheers

Oh yes, every shipping can be turned off or just not installed and it won't display on the user's screen.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by faulkns

Been reading this thread with interest today as setting store to ship worldwide. Can you tell me does this module allow you to switch off certain postage options for certain goods. I don't mean Airmail for UK as you have already coded that in. (What a star!)

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by faulkns

I only want to offer 2nd class options not 1st class in UK.

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Would you like me to add 2nd class signed for services just for you ? in the next release. won't be a problem

Quote:

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Originally Posted by faulkns

Installing 1.5:

Quick question as bit of newbie. Where do I find shopping cart directory? Do I install as an overide rather than overwrite?

Cheers

---

ow that's not a newbie question ! and the answer depends on what you are doing. Are you currently overriding anything ? if you are then the chances are that you will have to overwrite you tpl_shipping_estimar.... page in your custom template folder. If not though you could in theory use it as an an override, but I would overwrite the default (after backing up). If you upgrade and they pretty up the estimator, then it would rewrite over my version which would be a good thing, because I cannot obviously guarantee that a v1.3.5 ZC estimator would work with an upgraded zencart. To find the file you need to upgrade, I personally look for all versions in includes templates and then right a html comment <!-- this one number 1 --> for each one, then look in the html until I find it, I know there's a whole variety of ways e.g. looking at admin and which template is set and then going to that folder, but I've always found it quicker this way.

Thanks
Philip.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

Yes, thank you, this looks really good - and no one's replied (I guess) because no one's found any issues yet :smile:

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I was wondering about that myself, although there was a double episode of Lost on this week.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bouncingltd

Oh yes, every shipping can be turned off or just not installed and it won't display on the user's screen.


Would you like me to add 2nd class signed for services just for you ? in the next release. won't be a problem.

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That would be outstanding!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bouncingltd

ow that's not a newbie question ! and the answer depends on what you are doing. Are you currently overriding anything ? if you are then the chances are that you will have to overwrite you tpl_shipping_estimar.... page in your custom template folder. If not though you could in theory use it as an an override, but I would overwrite the default (after backing up). .

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Currently developing offline and have my own template set up, together with appropriate overide folders in other directories. So do I put the images in template (images) or as I suspect is it a different path where I would need an overide folder. If so what is the pathway I need to follow.


Sorry to be a pain

Stewart

2nd class signed for, no problem at all, now that things seem stable I am working on a UK 3 zone based courier service module for people to customise themselves for version 2.0

Ahhh, no you won't have a problem the images should not overwrite anything at all and should just pop into the icons folder. The includes shouldn't overwrite either, its only the tpl_shipping.... file that you may want to overwrite if you are going to show people estimates for shipping, because the one that is in the ZC distribution is a table based layout with borders and cellpadding visible which doesn't match anything else.

Right all gone a bit weird now although it's probably the old ID 10 T error.

This is what I did:
images - in admin/images/icons
php files in - includes/languages/english/modules/shipping & & includes/modules/shipping


Went back to admin & shipping modules. Screen was filled with script (screenshot attached) pressed install and got error messages and screen full of script again
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h1...creenshots.gif
Help!

Okay firstly images go in /images/icons but that's pretty irrelevant, what's the php error on the top of the page ? because it looks like it is reading the contents of the php files from includes/languages/english/modules/shipping and displaying them at the top of the page.

What OS are you using ? and it took me ages to work out ID 10 T, I recently saw a car number plate K 15 SES on a older BMW 7 series this is irrelevant, but no one donated me a ferrari 456 yesterday.

This is the list of files that are provided in the include section from big_royalmail_v1.5.zip so you should check that these are in the right place

includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm2ndletter.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/specialdelivery9am.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stpacketsf.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm2ndlargeletter.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm2ndpacket.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/specialdelivery.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stlettersf.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stletter.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stpacket.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stlargelettersf.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rmamisfsmallpacket.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stlargeletter.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rmamassmallpacket.php
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rmamsmallpacket.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm2ndletter.php
includes/modules/shipping/specialdelivery9am.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stpacketsf.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm2ndlargeletter.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm2ndpacket.php
includes/modules/shipping/specialdelivery.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stlettersf.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stletter.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stpacket.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stlargelettersf.php
includes/modules/shipping/rmamisfsmallpacket.php
includes/modules/shipping/rm1stlargeletter.php
includes/modules/shipping/rmamassmallpacket.php
includes/modules/shipping/rmamsmallpacket.php

I'm going to talk aloud and to myself as I find it helps sometimes to record my intentions especially with my short term memory problems. I have been asked to create a courier module based upon postal zones defined by the royal mail, but there is a hitch which is you lot. The module must be "zone based" as in Zenccart zones not postal zones. Some of you will have installed the UK biased zencart directly, some people will have downloaded one of the two all UK counties sql scripts. This means two things,

a) with the UK zencart script some of the counties will be found in England and the United Kingdom zones, therefore duplicating the zones needed to be assigned to postal zones.

b) zones are inserted with an autoincrement, so I can't lock onto one number and say, "right that's inverness-shire or invernesshire" assign that to postal zone 3

so here is the plan. I will create a shipping module based upon 3 zone definitions in the admin section. I will right a script to be run that will go through your system and try and assign the correct counties to the correct zones, but you will have to check it through after installation. It may also be the case that you have no UK counties on your system anyway ! in which case I shall try and insert them into the zone tables as well as the postal zones.

This is naturally quite a lot of work as I have to write the module (well rewrite something it's based upon), I shall assign parcelforce48 pricing to it as a starting point, then write the script, trying to guess what is on everyone's systems. It would be easier to drop everyone's UK counties but then any existing sales you had made and your invoices etc.. would loose the county and your existing users may find that that their address books have been fouled up, especially as I am going to have to insist that the shoppers from now on, choose their county from a drop down list (which is the default on the US version anyway).

People may "fear" having to do a little bit of work checking through that their counties are in the correct postal zone, but it is a good starting point, since the only other option would be to install the mzmt module (which this is based upon) and then modify constants in the database and probably some sql and php, so it should save hours of work anyway.

Thank you.

Hi Philip,

That sounds good - don't mind going through the counties at all, they could do with a sort-out anyway. :smile:

Just need to find a way now to stop central and local goverment messing around with the county names/boundaries every few months and we'd be set :D

Thanks for the list of pathways. I am going to check them all out to be correct.

I will get back to you soon

Stewart

WOW. This mod is the mutz.

I've just had the time to actually read this thread from start to finish and I'd like to say, Philip, you are cookin' mate - what a trooper! Sorry I haven't had any spare time to chip in since you emailed me.

Just reading your thoughts back there and I'm trying to grasp the problems you are having. (it is late) The UK template sql can always be changed or change existing entires to suit.

There is no way I want you to have to work around it. Time is precious and by the sound of it, yours is more than most.

What you've done is brilliant so tell me, what would you need changed or improved in the UK template so that everyone gets the best of both worlds and your task is made easier?

It could be that those using the counties.sql files can have them manipulated or vice versa. I'm no whizz with the sql but I'm sure there is a way to do whatever you need.

And like wise all you other Brits. What are your thoughts.

To me the Post Office is one of our UK institutions, we use it's services every day.

At the moment the UK template is still only a 1.3.5 Beta. It works, but it hasn't really gone anywhere yet.

I'd be more than happy to start changing bits or creating an update sql plugin. Adding anything that makes life easier for UK businesses should be as simple as possible. Your mod adds real value to those who use it. Big time!

Some thoughts I just had are:

We know there are other couriers who will be touting for business from Royal Mail. Do we know if they all use counties?

Would it be better to move the emphasis of the UK template to Post Codes or Post Towns?

Off the top of my head (it's even later now) my only real concern would be, the way we use zones for VAT?

Thanks again for your efforts. Stunning.

Kev

Quote:

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We know there are other couriers who will be touting for business from Royal Mail. Do we know if they all use counties?

Would it be better to move the emphasis of the UK template to Post Codes or Post Towns?

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All the couriers I've encountered over the last several years have all used postcodes - they often don't even bother to print the post town/city on the label. GPS systems in the cab, no doubt :smile:

I think Philip's original idea of concentrating on Royal Mail (ie. ParcelForce) zones for parcels is the best solution for a basic (and reliable) parcels module that everyone in the UK can use.

Attempting a courier/postcode-based module may well prove problematic. A courier-based module would involve a fair bit of research into what method(s) most couriers use, and where to obtain that postcode data from. Plus the categorisation of that postcode data into (maybe different) zones/rates for each of the courier services, which would, of course, have to be kept up to date in the future.

Also - much easier to change ParcelForce rates once every now and again than several courier companies :smile:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by profitshock

What you've done is brilliant so tell me, what would you need changed or improved in the UK template so that everyone gets the best of both worlds and your task is made easier?

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I put a couple of bug fixes into your forum yesterday or the day before about the way Ireland and Scotland were split out. But they are not that important.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by profitshock

Would it be better to move the emphasis of the UK template to Post Codes or Post Towns?

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Yes it would but I don't have a list and the royal mail publish a map like layout for the zones. I know of one case where an inverness-shire postcode costs £20 extra than the county it's in. I think counties are as good a starting place as any. Basingstoke is in Hampshire, yet has a Reading (Berkshire) postcode

Quote:

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Originally Posted by profitshock

Off the top of my head (it's even later now) my only real concern would be, the way we use zones for VAT?

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Ahh, but I'm cunning you see and I'm not using already established zones, well it's not me that's cunning, it's Dreamscape's original mzmt module that I am modifying. The installation will try and guess which counties are installed an put the right counties in the right zones, because there's your template and 2 other UK counties on the download page (which appear to miss out Ireland) and then there's another one that is floating around the forum. If someone doesn't have any UK counties installed because they are installing this first, I think I may hit a brick wall.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

All the couriers I've encountered over the last several years have all used postcodes - they often don't even bother to print the post town/city on the label. GPS systems in the cab, no doubt :smile:

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I have a GPS, I have no idea where I am going most of the time, I've had one system or another since an RS2 I once owned five years ago, so I pretty much don't know where I've been either.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

I think Philip's original idea of concentrating on Royal Mail (ie. ParcelForce) zones for parcels is the best solution for a basic (and reliable) parcels module that everyone in the UK can use.

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So do I, in fact that's such a good idea I shall pretend it was my own. It was actually TonyRobbo's

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

Attempting a courier/postcode-based module may well prove problematic.

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I agree, specially as it would be my problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

Also - much easier to change ParcelForce rates once every now and again than several courier companies :smile:

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Ahh well what I thought was, was to supply Parcelforce as an example, and a "blank" for other people to customize for their own couriers, because I don't actually use parcelforce myself. I am still working on this, I'm just working on some other things too. After I've done this, I am going to actually launch my shop which should have been done before I got into this malarky, maybe have a bath and then I shall be downloading the Japanese Zencart that apparently is set up for parcel dimensions as well as weight, which sounds exciting.

Phil

No luck on stopping the code appearing. Using 1.3.5 and Win XP on wamp local server.

Re: the other comments.

I don't see the problem over zones or postcode (unless I'm being a complete numpty). Doing some research, postal towns and counties are irrelevant to the Post office and most couriers, they only work on the postcode, which relates to the main sorting depot (e.g. RG for Reading also relates to places outside Berks.)

I think what is important is that UK is picked up, if this is how the module functions (Correct me if I'm wrong). Distance across UK is irrelevant to charge for delivery with the Royal Mail. It's only the size and weight that count.

What may be needed (if not in already- as I am struggling with install) is ability to define your classification (large letter etc) and recalculate where multiple items bought. Tricky one that. Do 2 large letters make a packet by size, if not by weight? Maybe even to restrict type of postal service by item as stock catalog?

Anyway lets see if I can get it working.

See ya

Quote:

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Distance across UK is irrelevant to charge for delivery with the Royal Mail. It's only the size and weight that count.

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That's true for 'Standard Parcels' (3 to 5 days). For other ParcelForce services (such as 9am, 10am, 12am, ParcelForce 24 and ParcelForce 48) the UK is split into 3 zones:

Zone 1: Most of mainland UK
Zone 2: Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Zone 3: Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Isles of Scilly

(the Channel Islands are in Zone 4, and the Republic of Ireland in Zone 5, then the rest of the world in subsequent zones)

It might be rare to receive an order from a customer in Zone 2 or Zone 3 who wanted next day or 48 hour delivery, but if you did, you wouldn't want to pay the extra zone rate for the carriage yourself :smile:

What problems are you having installing? Your screenshot is a bit too small to read, but it looks like either your language files aren't being found or you haven't run the SQL.

I haven't run any sql query, can you expand on that as I am very limited on sql stuff.

Agree on Special delivery that is relevant if you are going to use it, which many UK zenners might.

Philip's mod includes an SQL insert (called: upgrade_1.2_to1.3.sql) which you will need to run to have the necessary parameters installed into the configuration table of your database.

Go into PHPMyAdmin on your server, select your database, click on the 'SQL tab, paste the contents of the SQL file in the box and click 'Go'.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

Philip's mod includes an SQL insert (called: upgrade_1.2_to1.3.sql) which you will need to run to have the necessary parameters installed into the configuration table of your database.

Go into PHPMyAdmin on your server, select your database, click on the 'SQL tab, paste the contents of the SQL file in the box and click 'Go'.

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NO NO, He should be okay, he was doing a fresh install so he should not need to updgrade. I agree that the screen shots are too small though. But what I'm wondering is whether its a window's/ Unix line ending thing since I'm only using Linux. Can you cut and paste the first few lines of text from the errors ?

Thank you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bouncingltd

NO NO, He should be okay, he was doing a fresh install so he should not need to updgrade. I agree that the screen shots are too small though. But what I'm wondering is whether its a window's/ Unix line ending thing since I'm only using Linux. Can you cut and paste the first few lines of text from the errors ?

Thank you

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I am using on local Wamp server at the moment. here are the first bits of text (Yellow warning message fixed now)

Shipping Modules
code = 'rm1stlargeletter'; $this->title = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TEXT_TITLE; $this->description = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TEXT_DESCRIPTION; $this->sort_order = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_SORT_ORDER; $this->icon = (( defined('DIR_WS_ICONS') ? DIR_WS_ICONS : 'images/icons/' ) . 'shipping_ukrm.jpg'); $this->tax_class = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TAX_CLASS; $this->enabled = ((MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_STATUS == 'True') ? true : false); // CUSTOMIZE THIS SETTING FOR THE NUMBER OF ZONES NEEDED $this->num_zones = 1; // inspired by Jim Barrington (JollyJim) if( isset($order) && MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_HIDE_SHIPPING_ERRORS == 'True' ){ switch(isset($order->info['subtotal'])){ case true: if( $order->info['subtotal'] < MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MIN_ORDERVALUE){ $this->enabled = false; return ; }else if(MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MAX_ORDERVALUE != -1 && $order->info['subtotal'] > MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MAX_ORDERVALUE){ $this->enabled = false; return ; } break; case false: if($order->info['total'] < MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MIN_ORDERVALUE){ $this->enabled = false; return ; }else if(MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MAX_ORDERVALUE != -1 && $order->info['total'] > MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_MAX_ORDERVALUE){ $this->enabled = false; return ; } break; } // end of switch on subtotal // check that it is a valid country being shipped to. $dest_country = $order->delivery['country']['iso_code_2']; $dest_zone = 0; for ($i=1; $i<=$this->num_zones; $i++) { $countries_table = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COUNTRIES_' . $i); $country_zones = preg_split("/,/", preg_replace('/\s*/','',$countries_table) ); if (in_array($dest_country, $country_zones)) { $dest_zone = $i; break; } } // ship to country is invalid for this service if ($dest_zone == 0) { $this->enabled = false; return ; }else{ $this->enabled = false; // enabled set to true if valid shipping weight found $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST0_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST1_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST2_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST3_' . $dest_zone); $zones_table = preg_split("/[:,]/" , preg_replace('/\s*/','',$zones_cost) ); $size = sizeof($zones_table); for ($i=0; $i<$size; $i+=2) { if ($total_weight <= $zones_table[$i]) { $this->enabled = true; break; } } // end of looping through return ; } // end of valid country } // end of if hide invalid shipping methods is set } // class methods function quote($method = '') { global $order, $shipping_weight, $shipping_num_boxes, $currency; $currencies = new currencies(); $dest_country = $order->delivery['country']['iso_code_2']; $dest_zone = 0; $error = false; for ($i=1; $i<=$this->num_zones; $i++) { $countries_table = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COUNTRIES_' . $i); $country_zones = preg_split("/,/", preg_replace('/\s*/','',$countries_table) ); if (in_array($dest_country, $country_zones)) { $dest_zone = $i; break; } } //12 FEB 04 MBeedell NO specified country (or *) then use this zone for all shipping rates if ($dest_zone == 0) { for ($i=1; $i<=$this->num_zones; $i++) { $countries_table = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COUNTRIES_' . $i); if ($countries_table == '' or $countries_table == '*') { $dest_zone = $i; break; } } } if ($dest_zone == 0) { $error = true; } else { $shipping = -1; //12 FEB 04 MBeedell 'glue' together the rates from the 10 cost data entry boxes $zones_cost = constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST0_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST1_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST2_' . $dest_zone) . ',' . constant('MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST3_' . $dest_zone); $zones_table = preg_split("/[:,]/" , preg_replace('/\s*/', '', $zones_cost) ); $size = sizeof($zones_table); for ($i=0; $i<$size; $i+=2) { if ($shipping_weight <= $zones_table[$i]) { $shipping = $zones_table[$i+1]; //12 Feb 04 MBeedell - correctly format the total weight... if the weight exceeds the max // weight, then it is divided down over a number of separate packages - so the weight could end // up being a long fraction. $sw_text = number_format($shipping_weight, 3, $currencies->currencies[DEFAULT_CURRENCY]['decimal_point'], $currencies->currencies[DEFAULT_CURRENCY]['thousands_point']); $shipping_method = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TEXT_WAY . ' ' . $dest_country . ' : ' . $sw_text . ' ' . MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TEXT_UNITS; $shipping_method = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM1STLARGELETTER_TEXT_WAY . ' :

If no luck I will load everything up to my remote server and see if it works

Stewart

Okay now that is certainly my code, it's from

includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/rm1stlargeletter.php

what happens if you remove the file ? it is truly weird I don't actually know what a "wamp" is as I'm a linux/ php/ mysql person myself. could you private message me with your email, I'll try and provide you with a version with different line endings or charcater encoding, to see what happens.

Thank you for your patience

Philip.

Hi Philip,

Just noticed a small duplication in the code of the modules:

PHP Code:

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$shipping_method = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM2NDLARGELETTER_TEXT_WAY . ' ' . $dest_country . ' : ' . $sw_text . ' ' . MODULE_SHIPPING_RM2NDLARGELETTER_TEXT_UNITS;
$shipping_method = MODULE_SHIPPING_RM2NDLARGELETTER_TEXT_WAY . ' : ' . $sw_text . ' ' . MODULE_SHIPPING_RM2NDLARGELETTER_TEXT_UNITS; 


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$shipping_method is being defined twice - first with the destination country, and secondly with the ... _text-way from the language file. Works even better if the second line is commented out :smile:

Evening,

That probably came out of something or other that I was doing somewhere, the code in the modules isn't very clean, as something just weren't working at all. I'll have to check it through but one thing that did pop up was that there is a difference between the session information stored as a guest and as someone logged in so the $dest_country may very well disappear, on the other hand I could be talking rot.

I should have version 2.0-beta ready tomorrow with the UK zone systems as discussed in this thread, it's going to involve work for the installation as mentioned before, because of all of the various zones people will have installed over the years and the way mysql has handled sql patches. There's no easy way around this unfortunately, the installer will have to decide for example, if MZMT was ever installed on a 3.23 mysql server then "Belgium" may turn up as a county of England as the SQL used LAST_INSERT_ID() in onesql statement 48 times, in version 4, this is the insert id of the first sql statement processed, unfortunately in 3.23 it is the preceeding SQL argument, so Belgium gets inserted with a geographical_zone for Austria, but Austria hasn't been defined as it's one shipping zone, and so it pops up in the next shipping zone to be installed, which would be the UK.

Also if the zones available from the download sections here have been installed, then they are lacking some counties in Northern Ireland like "Antrim", someone may have noticed this on their own machine and then added it, but in that case they may have added "County Antrim". The maximum I have done is set up a set of Postal Zones (that can be expanded), Rates based on Parcel force (that can be changed), added Zones to correspond to these Postal Zones, and tried to place United Kingdom, Wales (if defined), Scotland (if defined), England (if Defined) and Northern Ireland (in the correct places).

Learning about what people could have installed, and the testing processes involved have taken more time than coding, but the documentation is taking the most time, since I've got to explain what to do in most scenarios, because it's not as simple as deleting the current zones, as that would probably cause havoc in existing customer's addresses, reports, shipping details etc....

I will report back when ready.

Thank you

Philip

Quote:

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... so the $dest_country may very well disappear ...

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Doesn't seem to - logged in or not, it still appears :smile:

Will the version 2.0 beta be just the ParcelForce modules, or have you also updated/changed the Royal Mail ones?

Just checking before I go through all the Royal Mail ones to (finally) edit the titles/text. :wink2:

Great! - sounds like you've been working hard again Philip, well done and thanks :smile:

Not sure if I've made any modifications to the individual modules before I started up, but you zip the things you change up and I'll do a diff, also don't forget to take credit for your work.

As for the "parcelforce modules", there is only 1, for parcel force 48, there are instructions for how to add more services/ different couriers based on the module.

Oh and there are more second class services that faulkns has been modifying/ adding

Who wants to do "standard parcels " then ?

Thanks

Philip.

Quote:

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Not sure if I've made any modifications to the individual modules before I started up

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Ok. No problem, I'll just do a diff then. :smile:

Quote:

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Who wants to do "standard parcels " then ?

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Errm ... most UK customers? :smile:

Eg. Weight up to 2kg:

ParcelForce Standard £5.31
1st Class small packet £7.29
ParcelForce 48 (up to 10kg) £14.25

Ie. there isn't a band below 10kg for PF48, plus you can send up to 20kg on ParcelForce Standard for £12.46, compared to £22.25 on PF 48.

Maybe if you have a lot of business customers they might want to save the extra 2/3 days (and pay more) if the order is urgent, but I'm thinking most non-business UK customers would rather wait a bit longer and save themselves a few pounds (or shop somewhere else). And perhaps that does depend to some extent on what you're selling.

But in any case, those of us who want one could probably create a Standard PF module based on the PF48 (as you said), so no problem. :smile:

OH bother and damnation about the parcelforce, I might change it to the 24 rates or the standard rates or something, doesn't matter really as long as the basis for the rates are there, in fact I could probably come up with a cunning set of sql for whichever rates people choose, but I've honestly not been looking at the prices because I never use parcel force. I could have launched my own site a month ago. I think I may be doing this because it's more intellectually taxing than lens caps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pixxi

ParcelForce Standard for £12.46

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Do you have a parcelforce standard tarriff ? because I was donated the spreadsheets for retail pricing and the cheapest showing up on there is parcelforce 48 ?

Hi Philip,

PF's website is down for maintenance at present, so I can't give you the link, but these are the current rates from the August 2006 leaflet:

Weight:
Up to: - Cost:
1kg - £3.85
1.5kg - £4.95
2kg - £5.31
4kg - £7.70
6kg - £8.74
8kg - £9.97
10kg - £10.70
20kg - £12.46

Compensation:
Up to: - Cost:

£100 - £1
£250 - £2.25
£500 - £3.50

But please don't spend time on this if you have other things more pressing - from what you've said it should be simple for people to adapt the PF48 module.

It's just so useful to have the set of RM modules you've already completed in any case. :smile:

Hi, it seems there is some confusion about the Parcelforce rates, the rates that Pixxi quoted above are for Royal Mail standard parcels not Parcelforce!

These will not be delivered via Parcelforce so are not going to be affected by the Parcelforce zones.

I have an account with Parcelforce and the cheapest service is the 48 hour within the UK and i get a fixed rate for parcels upto 30kg

Hope this helps Philip

The I shall at some point create a standard parcels module, though I believe that standard parcels is not trackable ? My computer went beeep-biiiip-beeeip just now, odd that since I don't have any sound drivers installed. I shall be releasing version 2.0 beta very shortly hopefully before things start crashing. Maybe those security updates were important after all....

Yea thats correct Philip, Standard Parcels are not trackable and work just the same way as 1st & 2nd class.

Quote:

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... are for Royal Mail standard parcels not Parcelforce

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Yes, you're absolutely right - my mistake for not noticing the difference. I'm obviously returning to the days when ParcelForce used to be part of Royal Mail :smile:

No, standard parcels is not trackable (no signature or tracking number).

It would still be a very useful module to have in the UK series though for people who only send bigger parcels occasionally and so don't have/need a ParcelForce account for the cheaper volumes/rates. Thinking about it, it would be pretty easy to adapt one of the other RM modules into a 'Standard Parcels' module since standard parcels doesn't use zones - I'll have a go at that tomorrow maybe.

It's available from here :

http://bouncing.org/big_royalmail_v2.0-beta.zip

I haven't updated anything from 1.5 including installation instructions but it should be vaild, e.g. copy big_royalmail_v2.0-beta/images/* to your images folder and the same with includes. The instructions are in the top level of big_royalmail_v2.0-beta for the module called ukzr, short for UK Zone Records, the rates are parcelforce 48, and the instructions are in pdf format. Sorry about that I know it's breaking with tradition but there are a lot of going into admin > tool > install sql patches and I need my italics.

Now here's a thing, faulkn submitted a rm2ndlargelettersf.php module for second class recorded, I am logged out of zen cart (v 1.3.5 on linux) as a shopper, at the moment and even though the module appears completely correct, I see a little orange status gif to the side of the sort order, and I have no idea why. Strange thing is, is that two weeks ago I fixed this on something else and I have no memory of it (medication again, sometimes things just go) it was a bugger of a thing to track down too.

Pixxi - by all means have a go at standard parcels, should be a case sensitive search and replace I think, so pick a module with not many weights and then redfine them. I personally think you are going to be spending a lot of time trying to work out how to get the 2.0 Beta working, but I will take anyone's recommendations as to bits missing from the instructions etc....

Thank you

Philip.

Bug number 1

Warning: constant(): Couldn't find constant MODULE_SHIPPING_RM2NDLARGELETTER_ZONES_COST0_1 in /var/www/html/lenscaps/zen-cart-v1.3.5-full-fileset/includes/modules/shipping/rm2ndlargelettersf.php on line 105

if you get this, this has now been fixed for the next release, I won't but uploading it yet, BUT don't use 2nd Class Signed for as if 2nd Class is installed, it gives Second class prices, not the signed for ones, and if 2nd Class is uninstalled it throws the above error 4 times. Also I still have not tracked down the mysteriously yellow/ orange gif problem.