USPS Shipping Module by MarcoB - RateV4, IntlRateV2 - Support Thread

[mikestaps]

Ok, so this is me opening my mouth and inserting my foot!!!! FIRMLY!!
The optional insurance mod DOES NOT work with this mod. I'm going to get on that and see what I can do...

[Bonkycat]

LOL! Your foot is fine. I actually read every post in this thread before posting my own question and did see they won't play nicely together, but that is ok. I can tweak the standard zen shipping to work for me by playing with weight. The optional insurance is a necessity for my business, so I will install it without the other.

[mikestaps]

Bonky-
sent PM with tips on setting up test store...

[Marco B]

I'm going to release an update which will allow you to easily customise the shipping service names using an updated language file. It allows for multi-language support if anyone wants to implement USPS in other languages.

Also if insurance or other options are enabled it can show on the quote with price being optional. It can be fully customised in the language file.

Making insurance optional is tricky. I'm experimenting with another way of selecting shipping services instead of using tickboxes.

It would be another text area field where a quote option will be entered on each line with parameters. This would replace the tick boxes if it is used. It would allow a flexibility that I cant get with the standard shipping module config methods.

fcm-le,sig (First-Class Mail Large Envelope with Signature Confirmation)
pri-hfp,ins (Priority Mail - Hold for Pickup with Insurance)
pri-hfp (Priority Mail - Hold for Pickup)
pri-lfrb,ins (Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box with Insurance)

It should allow for every possible combination people would want.

The update with the language file will come first. I'm still thinking about the draft concept above for shipping options.

[mikestaps]

Marco-
So I have managed to add the products volume to the product set up page in the admin. From testing all seams to be good. I uploaded all of the files I edited to here if you want to check it out. Now to look at implementing it into the USPS module (right after I finish with the opt. ins., if its even possible)

[mikestaps]

After some extensive testing I have found the the Optional Insurance Mod DOES in fact play nice with this USPS module.
check it out here (it automatically tuns off if you select UPS, but works for USPS...)
The optional ins. mod is an order total mod and is independent of the USPS shipping module.
Now back to the volume checking "hack" of this USPS module...

[lindasdd]

I'm going to release an update which will allow you to easily customise the shipping service names using an updated language file. It allows for multi-language support if anyone wants to implement USPS in other languages.

This would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
lindasdd

[Marco B]

After some extensive testing I have found the the Optional Insurance Mod DOES in fact play nice with this USPS module.
check it out here (it automatically tuns off if you select UPS, but works for USPS...)
The optional ins. mod is an order total mod and is independent of the USPS shipping module.
Now back to the volume checking "hack" of this USPS module...

You'll find that your method of implementation will require more 'hacks' of core zen-cart files. Thats why I re-tasked the weight field.

It's not just a matter of getting the field in the database and having it editable in the admin section. Now you either have to edit the shipping and/or order class to retrieve the volume field for the products array. Or you have to do another database lookup in the shipping module code to retrieve and add up the product volumes.

Once I've improved the framework for my module I will start looking at writing an improved shipping class that can properly handle volumes and drop shipping. I'm not at that stage yet...

[Marco B]

Hmm, what I would like about a separate volume field is that it would be easier for people to use.

The drawback is in maintaining the code because core files are being modified.

I'd like to hear from a few people on this. What do you think is better?

[mikestaps]

Well, you know my vote!!! LOL