how do I "test drive" addons?

[niccol]

Well, I am sure that that information could be improved in many ways. Why not pick a module that you like and improve the support documentation yourself? After all, it sounds easy, and that way you would be contributing to the community and making it easier for others.

[schoolboy]

The question was not about TESTING A MODULE. It was about...."how do I know if this module helps my business or not". I was hoping for something like picaflor-azul's site where you can see what her templates look like. Heck, even a pdf file with "here is what this module does and how it works" would be great. Then, after I know it can help me...I can spend the effort to integrate that into both my changes and other Modules that have been added.

In general, the principle is to keep addons TO A MINIMUM. As a rule, we don't install add-ons unless there is a compelling business reason to do so. But there are a few we install as standard:-

Image Handler
Numinix's FEC (though some clients don't want it)
Column Grid Products Listing

... which are modules that make the visit faster, easier and more efficient.... perhaps the MOST IMPORTANT consideration in an eComm site.

I know how the community works...its just the text description of some of the major add-ons leaves a lot to be desired. From what I have seen I am really on my own which is okay. I just means that I will have to have a specific need to justify the time to explore the add ons by installing them. That is something I was hoping to avoid.

For the most part, add-ons are written by "computer geeks" who are unlikely to have a Doctorate in English Grammar (or in whatever their principal language is). I agree that a LOT of the "README" information is as clear as mud in some cases, but this does not diminish the value of the contribution, nor the integrity of the person who has gone to the trouble of making it available to everyone. Many of the plugins are written by people whose first language is not even English...

Between 2005 and 2006 we had a site where we listed the then popular ZC modules (for version 1.2.7 and early version 1.3.x), and we did indeed provide more lucid explanations of how to install the module(s) and what their benefits were. Unfortunately, with the rise of 1.3, we had to abandon the site because it was taking up too much time to manage and (ironically) it was not getting much support or visits.

[DrByte]

Well, I am sure that that information could be improved in many ways. Why not pick a module that you like and improve the support documentation yourself? After all, it sounds easy, and that way you would be contributing to the community and making it easier for others.

Agreed. Submissions of updated plugin descriptions and/or plugin documentation files are welcome. You might even ping the contributor to help refine any submissions to ensure the best accuracy before submitting your update (or supplying them with the update to submit themselves).

[g2ktcf]

Now that is the kind of info I am looking for! I know I need an order editing package of some sort...for splitting shipments as I have some items that are very long lead. However, I am not sure to use Edit Orders or Superorders for this. I will just test both of these and see how they work.

Thanks!
Chris

[niccol]

And I know that the person who has taken on some of the responsibility for maintaining those two particular add-ons is very open to help/advice/constructive criticism. The two read me files on those modules are worth reading but the only way that you will really come to terms with them is testing them yourself and seeing if they meet your business needs. If you do that and discover that you have things that you would like to add to the documentation then I am sure that that would be very much appreciated. The support threads for the particular mod are usually the first point of contact.

Various attempts have been made at times to create mods to split orders up. Edit orders will get you some of the way, I believe, but not all of the way. There are also mods, the name of which escape me at the moment, for creating orders for customers from admin. ( But personally I have found these a bit flaky ) . But as I say, once you have investigated Edit Orders and seen what it can do, a sensible question or feature request on the support thread is the way to go. Particularly, if it is accompanied by a serious offer of help with documentation.