Display product attributes in two columns (side by side)

[DivaVocals]

I've seen a few posts here asking about this or something similar. I got some help from a few sources to get this working for me.. I thought I'd share my solution in case anyone else is looking for something similar. You need to set up the appropriate override for the tpl_modules_attributes.php file (includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates)

Product attributes by default appear in a vertical format based on the sort order for each attribute. For a few attributes, this is cool, but for more than a few attributes, it can make the product pages a little unwielding.. I needed to have attributes appear in two columns side by side. I wanted to keep this simple.. I figured that using the existing sort order features would allow me to use the admin controls to place the attributes where I wanted them to appear and the order they should appear in. Even numbered attributes appear in the left column, while odd numbered attributes appear on the right. (by number I mean the sort order number)

There is only one caveat.. I had a friend helping me, and I didn't want to bug him too much.. His orginal solution got me part way there, but didn't split the odd and even sort order numbers the way I wanted.. I figured out how to get his orginal solution to split the attributes between odd and even sort order numbers in two columns.. However, I couldn't figure our how to get attributes with sort order "1" to appear correctly.. (This attribute always appeared in the left column with the even numbered attributes) So I worked around this by having my attibute sort order start with "2" (so now I am skipping/not using "1" or "0" as a sort order), and it solves the problem.. Even sort order numbers appear on the left, and odd sort order numbers appear on the right. Oh I also have the form field appear below the label just to make the final layout a little neater looking.

Hope someone else finds this useful..

Display product attributes in two columns (display attributes side by side)

[DivaVocals]

One additional caveat.. The attributes will appear in the shopping cart in a vertical list with the even numbered attributes followed by the odd numbered attributes... For me this is fine.. Just wanted to let anyone using this know just in case.. I may one day look into adding a two column attribute display in the shopping cart too..

Attributes layout horizontal
Attributes layout two columns
Attributes layout side by side
Attributes layout pairs

[Website Rob]

Not sure how useful this coding will be but your sharing is appreciated.

Who knows, maybe somebody will run with it and create a "must have" module.

[DivaVocals]

It's very useful IMO when you have product with over 10 attributes. My client didn't like the way the product pages looked with 10+ attributes lined up in a vertical stack. (and I tended to agree with her)

Many folks seem happy with the attributes layout as is (perhaps you are one of those satisfied folks), but IMO, for products with lots of attributes, the vertical stack looks a bit uninviting.. I shared my solution because in looking for a solution to this layout issue here on this forum, I found other people looking for somthing similar.. I'm sure it will be useful for someone who is looking to to what I was trying to do..

[dave7777]

Thanks Diva
Havent tried it yet but just what I was looking for

[DivaVocals]

You are very welcome.. Happy to share!

[roy(irishtaxi)]

Thank you! just what I needed!

[DivaVocals]

how can i add another column? i tried messing around with the code but i had no success. also i would like the atribute value to be on on the same row with the atribute name...

I wish I could help.. I didn't make this modification, a programmer friend of mine did this for me.. I just decided to share it with the community..

Thank you! just what I needed!

You are very welcome.. Glad it worked for you..

[divani]

Hi All,

Forgive me if my understanding of the requirement here is incorrect but the ability to specify number of columns for attribute images comes with Zen Cart (I use 1.3.8a).

This has already been discussed in this post.

Regards,
Vab

[DivaVocals]

You need to read through this post again.. Your understanding of the requirement here is indeed incorrect.. I have explained what this mod does and what the before and after result looks like including sample sites so that it's clear.. This mod is not about the attribute IMAGES. I am very much aware that the ability to specify columns for attribute IMAGES is built in.. This mod is about the ATTRIBUTES themselves as a distinct entity..

As you may be aware, attributes only appear in one vertical stack. You add one and it appears... You add more, and they appear one right below the last.. This mod puts them in two columns side by side.. Nothing more.. Nothing less..