[Old] Royal Mail Modules

[Pixxi]

We know there are other couriers who will be touting for business from Royal Mail. Do we know if they all use counties?

Would it be better to move the emphasis of the UK template to Post Codes or Post Towns?

All the couriers I've encountered over the last several years have all used postcodes - they often don't even bother to print the post town/city on the label. GPS systems in the cab, no doubt

I think Philip's original idea of concentrating on Royal Mail (ie. ParcelForce) zones for parcels is the best solution for a basic (and reliable) parcels module that everyone in the UK can use.

Attempting a courier/postcode-based module may well prove problematic. A courier-based module would involve a fair bit of research into what method(s) most couriers use, and where to obtain that postcode data from. Plus the categorisation of that postcode data into (maybe different) zones/rates for each of the courier services, which would, of course, have to be kept up to date in the future.

Also - much easier to change ParcelForce rates once every now and again than several courier companies

[bouncingltd]

All the couriers I've encountered over the last several years have all used postcodes - they often don't even bother to print the post town/city on the label. GPS systems in the cab, no doubt

I have a GPS, I have no idea where I am going most of the time, I've had one system or another since an RS2 I once owned five years ago, so I pretty much don't know where I've been either.

I think Philip's original idea of concentrating on Royal Mail (ie. ParcelForce) zones for parcels is the best solution for a basic (and reliable) parcels module that everyone in the UK can use.

So do I, in fact that's such a good idea I shall pretend it was my own. It was actually TonyRobbo's

Attempting a courier/postcode-based module may well prove problematic.

I agree, specially as it would be my problem.

Also - much easier to change ParcelForce rates once every now and again than several courier companies

Ahh well what I thought was, was to supply Parcelforce as an example, and a "blank" for other people to customize for their own couriers, because I don't actually use parcelforce myself. I am still working on this, I'm just working on some other things too. After I've done this, I am going to actually launch my shop which should have been done before I got into this malarky, maybe have a bath and then I shall be downloading the Japanese Zencart that apparently is set up for parcel dimensions as well as weight, which sounds exciting.

[faulkns]

Phil

No luck on stopping the code appearing. Using 1.3.5 and Win XP on wamp local server.

Re: the other comments.

I don't see the problem over zones or postcode (unless I'm being a complete numpty). Doing some research, postal towns and counties are irrelevant to the Post office and most couriers, they only work on the postcode, which relates to the main sorting depot (e.g. RG for Reading also relates to places outside Berks.)

I think what is important is that UK is picked up, if this is how the module functions (Correct me if I'm wrong). Distance across UK is irrelevant to charge for delivery with the Royal Mail. It's only the size and weight that count.

What may be needed (if not in already- as I am struggling with install) is ability to define your classification (large letter etc) and recalculate where multiple items bought. Tricky one that. Do 2 large letters make a packet by size, if not by weight? Maybe even to restrict type of postal service by item as stock catalog?

Anyway lets see if I can get it working.

See ya

[Pixxi]

Distance across UK is irrelevant to charge for delivery with the Royal Mail. It's only the size and weight that count.

That's true for 'Standard Parcels' (3 to 5 days). For other ParcelForce services (such as 9am, 10am, 12am, ParcelForce 24 and ParcelForce 48) the UK is split into 3 zones:

Zone 1: Most of mainland UK
Zone 2: Highlands and Islands of Scotland
Zone 3: Northern Ireland, Isle of Man and Isles of Scilly

(the Channel Islands are in Zone 4, and the Republic of Ireland in Zone 5, then the rest of the world in subsequent zones)

It might be rare to receive an order from a customer in Zone 2 or Zone 3 who wanted next day or 48 hour delivery, but if you did, you wouldn't want to pay the extra zone rate for the carriage yourself

What problems are you having installing? Your screenshot is a bit too small to read, but it looks like either your language files aren't being found or you haven't run the SQL.

[faulkns]

I haven't run any sql query, can you expand on that as I am very limited on sql stuff.

Agree on Special delivery that is relevant if you are going to use it, which many UK zenners might.

[Pixxi]

Philip's mod includes an SQL insert (called: upgrade_1.2_to1.3.sql) which you will need to run to have the necessary parameters installed into the configuration table of your database.

Go into PHPMyAdmin on your server, select your database, click on the 'SQL tab, paste the contents of the SQL file in the box and click 'Go'.

[bouncingltd]

Philip's mod includes an SQL insert (called: upgrade_1.2_to1.3.sql) which you will need to run to have the necessary parameters installed into the configuration table of your database.

Go into PHPMyAdmin on your server, select your database, click on the 'SQL tab, paste the contents of the SQL file in the box and click 'Go'.

NO NO, He should be okay, he was doing a fresh install so he should not need to updgrade. I agree that the screen shots are too small though. But what I'm wondering is whether its a window's/ Unix line ending thing since I'm only using Linux. Can you cut and paste the first few lines of text from the errors ?

Thank you