Creating Unique Product Ids based on Attributes

[TwitchDesign]

I've been searching for through the forums and add-ons for a solution to this, but I have found very little. If there is a solution already posted, please point me in the right direction.

Basically, my store will have products that vary in size and flavor. Each combination has a different product number that has to be included on the packing slip when I send it to my supplier. I could list each item separately, but that would turn 300 items into around 3000. Is there a simpler solution?

If not, I will have to code an answer. Here is my initial idea, let me know if you think this will work.

1. Code a checkbox into the New Product Form asking if this product will use attributes. (This will determine whether the Product Number pulls from New Product or from Attributes Controller.
2. Since there is not a way (that I know of) to create dependent attributes, I will make only one attribute and call it Size/Flavor and make the Option Names Vanilla - 6oz, Vanilla - 12oz, etc.
3. Then under Adding New Attributes, Prices and Weights I will have to add a new text box that accepts and stores a New Product ID(in a new variable).
4. Lastly change the invoice to look for and pull that variable to the receipt.

or..

It sounds easy on paper, but what issues might I run into with this..

Thanks in advance for your help.

[kobra]

First off there is no table or record in a table yo store this

Then look at the # of pages when buying something as each will have to have code for this

Look at shopping_cart.php as this will have to have code to assemble and price it

Look at the admin files for pages that will need coding

[gjh42]

The flavor doesn't affect the price, does it? If not, there is no reason not to have an attribute for each (Flavor and Size); you would read the identifier from each attribute and combine them for the product identifier.

What happens if you set up a product without attributes, and later decide to use them? You would have to remember to go back and check the box in the product editing page. It might be better to automate this - check if the product has attributes, and use them if they are present; otherwise use just the base product id. This simplifies admin coding and the user interface while making it more reliable.

You might use internal code that takes the product and attribute ids and does a lookup to translate that into a relevant supplier model number, to avoid another admin change and user interface. I would think creating a single file or table of corresponding values would be better than inputting things manually for each product attribute.

[TwitchDesign]

Thank you for your response..

The flavor doesn't affect the price, does it? If not, there is no reason not to have an attribute for each (Flavor and Size); you would read the identifier from each attribute and combine them for the product identifier.

The flavor doesn't affect the price, only the product number. I was thinking that giving each product only one unique attribute that combines flavor/size would be a simpler set up than doing a lookup with a base products, attribute 1 and attribute 2 to get the product #.

What happens if you set up a product without attributes, and later decide to use them? You would have to remember to go back and check the box in the product editing page. It might be better to automate this - check if the product has attributes, and use them if they are present; otherwise use just the base product id. This simplifies admin coding and the user interface while making it more reliable.

After I posted, I considered under Attribute Options having an attribute listed as 'None' that would have to go onto all products that don't have attributes, but doing a background check might be just as easy.

You might use internal code that takes the product and attribute ids and does a lookup to translate that into a relevant supplier model number, to avoid another admin change and user interface. I would think creating a single file or table of corresponding values would be better than inputting things manually for each product attribute.

Does Zen Cart give each attribute a unique identifier for each product or would i have to input that?

Thanks again.. Also out of curiosity, how much do you think it would cost me to have a programmer do this?

[gjh42]

Each option name, each option value, and each attribute selection when applied to a product has a unique id. You could work on a per-product basis and translate the attribute id(s) to a model number, or you could calculate from the option id and value id combined with product id if "strawberry" and "6 oz" always give the same elements in the supplier's code.

I don't expect it would be cheap to get even this streamlined version of the functionality coded, but we aren't supposed to discuss prices in the forum. You can look in Commercial Help Wanted to get quotes.

[TwitchDesign]

Ok, I'll give it a whirl and see what happens. Thanks again for your help.