Programming Attributes question

[colortheworld]

Hi All, I'm not a programmer so I'm not sure if this is a simple job that I'm over looking or if there's a contribution that handles this or what, but I have a question regarding attributes that I'm going to bounce on you guys here and see what can be done, and where/how.

A client of mine deals with custom firearms. He wants to sell some items "as is", meaning I just list them in categories/products like any usual product, but they also want a "build a gun" feature where you customize the gun, in the shopping cart, and purchase from there.

Here's where I am a little lost, not being a programmer. To me, this would look like an "if then else" statement job, but I'm not sure if that is doable with zencart (maybe in the shopping_cart.php file) or not.

The client wants the customer to be able to start off by seeing an "option" attribute listing "barrel", "action", "trigger", "stock" or "misc.", now if it was just this... it would just be an attribute with options and values, but the client wants the buyer to pick an option such as "barrel", at which time an "option" for "manufacturer" appears with available manufacturers depending on which original option was selected. once the manufacturer is selected, another "option" appears with specifics offered by that manufacturer. once that is done, the buyer can purchase said product.

Is this something that can be done with zencart? Is there a contribution I haven't found or missed or is this something I would have to author in a php file?

Any feedback is much appreciated!

[stevesh]

Sorry, no. Zencart doesn't support dependent attributes, and there's no mod I'm aware of.

It's possible we might be able to suggest a work-around with a little more specific information.

[colortheworld]

What do you mean by work-around, and what info would be needed?

[afo]

He means that someone may be able to work out a way to do what you want using what's available in Zen Cart if you can supply more information about what you're trying to accomplish.

[colortheworld]

Alright well here's what I would be looking at

Type:

- Action
- Barrel
- Stock
- Misc
- Trigger

once you select a type, the next attribute would show the manufacturers that carry said type

- Manufacturer 1
- Manufacturer 2
- Manufacturer 3

you select a manufacturer and another attribute displays the specifications that manufacturer carries

- Spec 1
- Spec 2
- Spec 3

Once that is done, you would get your price and go from there. I could put all the attributes into the controller, but the big problem I have is that 1) the prices would be totally inaccurate and 2) every attribute would show, giving the illusion that you could build something that you cannot.

I was looking at Improved Attributes Controller and the support thread, and I'm wondering if that is something that could work. If anybody has any ideas, please PM me or respond here -- especially if you need more info.