insert page into checkout process

[deere20]

Running zc 1.3.8a,

What determines the order of the pages displayed in the checkout process ? Some pages have a post url action, others don't. I need to insert a page into the checkout process. I've created the page successfully, but can't determine how to get zen to include it in the checkout process, and configure WHERE to include it.

Thanks

[DrByte]

There is no built-in room for inserting a page between existing pages.
You'll have to rework the architecture in the existing pages in order to add your own, including adding your own validation and error-checking to be sure whatever you've altered doesn't break other pages or lose collected information, and make sure any data submitted on your additional page is acceptable, etc.

You've given no information about what this additional page is supposed to *do*, so it's impossible to suggest alternatives or recommendations.

[deere20]

Thanks, what we're looking to do is to validate the shipping address with the usps api, and give the user a chance to view this verification, and either accept it or override it ...

[DrByte]

You could probably do that directly on the checkout_shipping page.
Maybe submit the address for validation before you display the shipping page.
If it doesn't pass, offer suggestions directly on the page. You could either utilize (copy) some of the logic from the checkout_shipping_address page, which is used to display multiple address-book options and let them choose from the list, or you could just redirect to the checkout_shipping_address page directly and add your suggested address-correction to the list to allow them to choose from available options.
And, you could similarly validate each address on the checkout-shipping-address page, offering corrections to those as well if deemed appropriate.

[deere20]

Yes, I would like to use the checkout_shipping_address page ... guess my question is how to always go to that page in the checkout process, instead of it just being optional, like it is by default. Ideally after entering their address for billing, this page would always come up, the user would confirm, then the next page would be the shipping page.

Thanks

[DrByte]

That's not the order it works in.
The checkout flow is: Shopping Cart->Shipping Address (and method selection)->Billing Address (and payment selection)->Confirmation.
If one wants to change an address, they click on the Edit Address button, which takes them to the appropriate page to do that, and that page sends them back when done.

You seem to be talking about validating shipping addresses, but now you're talking about validating billing addresses, and then going back to shipping.
If your customization requires the insertion of another page in order to work, make sure you're not actually adding a lot more to the checkout process, since the more you complicate it, the more you'll find customers abandoning your site in favor of a site that's less confusing.

Most people are asking for ways to *shorten* the checkout process, not ways to *lengthen* it by adding more pages/steps.

As explained earlier, I recommend that you do your validation as part of existing pages, instead of adding more pages.