Please tell me it isn't so

[michaelchu]

Please tell me the "Attribute Required for Text" isn't just for the Text attribute! At first I thought the flag wasn't working then after changing the attribute type several times I realized the flag only works on Text box.

If it is, why is the flag available for every type of attributes? Would it not be logical to make a "Attribute Required" flag for all attributes so the customers can be alerted when they skip/miss a necessary option for checkout? What am I missing here, I can't be selling the only merchandise that has required product attributes other than TEXT.

[Ajeh]

Add another Option Value like:
Pick One
Display Only: YES
Default: YES
Sort Order: 0

Now the customer has to pick the correct value ...

[michaelchu]

Add another Option Value like:
Pick One
Display Only: YES
Default: YES
Sort Order: 0

Now the customer has to pick the correct value ...

Unfortunately nothing would prevent the customer from checking out with the default value, the order wouldn't make sense but they can still check out nonetheless. The whole point is to notify the customer a field was missed when they try to check out.

I have seen this function in many e-commerce sites where the required field (of different type) would highlight and prevent the customer from check out, just didn't realized it is not available in ZC.

[Ajeh]

Please try this ...

Those settings will not let the customer checkout with that Option Value ... that is the point ...

For example, on Size ... you can call the Option Value:
Your Size ...
What fits you ...
Pick One ...
Fred was here ...

Default YES
Display Only YES
Sort Order 0

now that will be the default and selected ... but the customer cannot order the Product with that one selected and has to pick a valid option ...

[michaelchu]

Thank you very much for the info, at least I can put the "Required" restriction on the drop box, still a bit cumbersome but definitely better than nothing.

[gjh42]

There can be ways to hide the "display only" option selection with CSS, so the customers don't need to see it. These will vary with the type of attribute, and will need to be tailored precisely to the particular attribute.

[schoolboy]

Thank you very much for the info, at least I can put the "Required" restriction on the drop box, still a bit cumbersome but definitely better than nothing.

It is impossible (and unreasonable to expect it) to provide "generic" parameters in attributes, because every single shop owner has unique requirements.

The technique for setting up "display only" attributes is the most efficient and effective way of covering all bases, because users can then apply a "generic" function to what is a "bespoke" element.

However, as Zencart is opensource software, there is no law that prevents you from constructing a better alternative and applying it.

I get really annoyed by people who "expect" that certain things should be available - just because they don't like what they see. The core software is FREE, and you can do anything with it that you want to. Many people do just this, and devote days of their time and expertise to creating improvements, which they then make available to everyone via the free add-ons. This is the sort of ethos that is respected... Complainers should just go elsewhere.
Rant over...