Unchanging attributes

[availableusername]

Hi all --

I have a catalog set up that is storing LxWxH dimensions for all products. These are being stored as optional attributes (each product has three attributes with one selection). The attributes never change (they are only used for shipping, and the product dimensions do not vary).

This works great from the standpoint of having fixed options that I can retrieve at any time. But it also creates an unnecessary "Please Choose" section on the product detail page ... and it causes havoc with the category display page, since I cannot allow users to add any products without first visiting the detail page. (Having optional attributes set creates a "more info..." link instead of a regular quantity box.)

Is there a better way to do this? The only reason I was using optional attributes instead of hacking an enhancement was to ease zen upgrades (by limiting the number of code changes).

Please advise. I have read piles of forum postings, and there is probably something on target that I haven't found yet...

Many thanks in advance!

[stevesh]

I'm not sure I understand 100% what you're doing - can we see the site?

[availableusername]

Unfortunately, I just have a copy of the site on my local development machine - it's not on the web. I have attached a screencap of the optional attributes I'm talking about.

Essentially what happens is that, because there are attributes set, product_listing.php dumps a "... more info" link in place of the buy now button (even if all other parameters are correctly set). The presence of attributes requires users to visit the detail page instead of purchasing the product immediately from the catalog page. I don't need anyone ever to see the attributes - they are only used internally. But I can't enable the buy link without removing the LxWxH.

[terpsnation]

Why not scrap the attributes altogether and just put the LxWxH in the title or something.

Attributes are usually used as options for the customer, not solely for internal usage. The reason why it changes to "more info" is because w/ attributes customers usually are forced to choose between a set number of attributes, and therefore cannot simply add the item to their cart w/out choosing the attributes first.

[stevesh]

I don't have time to test this right now, but would it be possible to set default values for the attributes (either in admin, or by modifying the template file(s)) such that the value would already be selected, bypassing the ...more thing?

[availableusername]

My preference would be not to have the attributes display anywhere at all --- customers do not need to see them for any reason. I just don't know if there is a way to do this without hacking core modules and making upgrades a PITA.

Regarding the default attribute.... as far as I can see, the product_listing code simply switches the Buy Now link to a ...more... link if there are *any* attributes set for the item.

Thoughts?