attributes force selection

[buildingblocks]

First, I have searched and read for how to force a selection. But it doesn't seem to address what I am trying to do.

I have some figurines I am selling priced by attributes. The figurines are separated into series by option names using checkboxes.
Is there a way to force the selection of at least one attribute without having to assign a read only default value to each option name? If I do that then one item from each series has to be selected.

This is how they are set up at the moment.

http://booksandunusuals.com/miscella.../wade-whimsies

[gjh42]

If you want to allow more than one to be selected at a time, then you will need to leave it as is. The "force at least one checkbox" issue is a generic web issue which you could google to see if there are practical solutions.

If you want only one selected, you could make them radiobuttons; they would have to be in one option name group. Flexible Attributes in Free Addons may be able to help you get the layout you want, with grouping.

[buildingblocks]

Thanks for responding.

That's what I was afraid of. I want to keep them separated (at least visually) into series. The only other way I could do it then is to monkey it and group them all under one option name then create separator values with value named as the series. Once that's done I can hide the checkbox/input field by ID. I partially tested that and it looks like it may work ok that way but I wanted to see if there is a right way before I do it.

[gjh42]

You can't use checkboxes and force a selection, at least not without adding custom coding. If you want checkboxes, there is no point in changing your setup. If you want radiobuttons, your approach would work.

[buildingblocks]

You can't use checkboxes and force a selection

aahhhh, that I did not know. Thanks for mentioning it. That saves me the long route of finding it out myself.

I'll leave it be and move on to something else.

[schoolboy]

Checkboxes (in any form submission) are for MULTIPLE values:

They allow a user to choose "A" and "B" and "C"... or "A" and "C"... or "B" and "C"... (etc).

... so you cannot FORCE a single selection with checkboxes.

You can only force selections where there are several values, but only one can be selected - and this then applies to dropdowns and radio buttons.

To FORCE a selection, one creates a "DISPLAY ONLY" OPTION VALUE in any given dropdown/radio-button value set. You make this the DEFAULT value, and it is also a good idea to give it the lowest sort-order number, so it appears FIRST in the list.

If the visitor fails to make a selection, they cannot proceed to add-to-cart, and an alert message shows, telling them they MUST make a choice in these options, before a product can be added to the cart.

EG:

Option NAME = "Shirt Colour"

Option VALUES for "Shirt Colour" :-

(Sort order 1) Please make a selection... (Display Only and Default option)
(Sort order 2) Red
(Sort order 3) Green
(Sort order 4) Blue