Conceptual Ajax, Flash, JS, Flex or something else??

[customk1]

ok, so i have a concept for items that i want to incorporate into my business.
basically, it would be a "build your own dog collar" system... by which customers would start with a basic decision of size, color and width of collar... which would then appear on the screen as a blank collar. customers could then drag conchos, or decorations (spikes, rivets, spots, jewels etc) to the blank collar on the screen from a bank of images displayed... and each item they added to the collar would tally the total cost of the collar.
it would basically be a drag and drop screen... kinda like this, but could be 'simpler' (no resizing etc. like in this link)
http://www.no-refresh.com/shop-demo.php#


so my questions are... what program would you suggest for doing something like this? javascript? ajax? flex? etc?

and, could something like this be incorporated into zen cart in some way?

here is the other issue... i would want this to be incorporated for only 1 part of my site... basically, run it as a 'define pages' page... i want the remainder of my site to function as it normally does.

is any of this possible?

[kobra]

As opensource it is all possible

How sharp at code are you?

Or how important is this to you in dollars you would expend to have it coded?

There are talented coders that could make this a reality...
(caveat emptor)

[customk1]

well i coded/customized my zencart site
http://www.customk9design.com
'myself' with the help of forum members here of course.

but it is all self taught... and i am willing to try it myself to save $$, and most importantly... to have the opportunity to learn how to do it. since my core site is up, i am not in a time crunch to get it implemented.

ultimately, i would like to start with some guidance in two areas... 1st, can it be implemented on my existing zencart site, using the existing shopping cart, but only on one page? can whatever is created on that custom page be sent to the shopping cart? how would it work with the zen cart admin inventory?

finally, is there a particular program/programing language that would be easier/easiest to use with zen cart to have a drag and drop creation like this? ajax? flex? js? (i do have dreamweaver if this has any bearing on easy creation)

thanks kobra and other contributors for your guidance... it is appreciated!

[kobra]

1st, can it be implemented on my existing zencart site, using the existing shopping cart, but only on one page?

I would suggest that you create a development install - could be cloning your live site to begin with - -But not on your live site EVER

can whatever is created on that custom page be sent to the shopping cart?

Guess I would approach it through attributes that are then used for your create the collar- So you recode the application/function of the radio button to be applied when it is graphically added

how would it work with the zen cart admin inventory?

If you need to track the attribute items you wil complicate this but would need the stock by attributes module

finally, is there a particular program/programing language that would be easier/easiest to use with zen cart to have a drag and drop creation like this? ajax? flex? js? (i do have dreamweaver if this has any bearing on easy creation)

php & your best option of what you can find pre scripted
I do not know any dev environment that is WYSIWYG though and DreamWeaver is really only WYSIWYG for html

[gilby]

well i coded/customized my zencart site
http://www.customk9design.com
'myself' with the help of forum members here of course.

but it is all self taught... and i am willing to try it myself to save $$, and most importantly... to have the opportunity to learn how to do it. since my core site is up, i am not in a time crunch to get it implemented.

ultimately, i would like to start with some guidance in two areas... 1st, can it be implemented on my existing zencart site, using the existing shopping cart, but only on one page? can whatever is created on that custom page be sent to the shopping cart? how would it work with the zen cart admin inventory?

finally, is there a particular program/programing language that would be easier/easiest to use with zen cart to have a drag and drop creation like this? ajax? flex? js? (i do have dreamweaver if this has any bearing on easy creation)

thanks kobra and other contributors for your guidance... it is appreciated!

This type of thing has been done before
I would suggest using Flash (and actionscript) for the visual part