Can I set one attribute to Required and have another Optional?

[rstevenson]

Hi,

I'm trying to set up to sell large products already in their own separate part boxes. One complete product requires more than one part, and may have an optional part as well. Like this...

product: top
attribute: base (each top requires a particular base)
attribute: middle (optional)

I can't just include the base with the top as one product, because our shipping modules need to know that the top is in a separate box and the base is in a separate box. And they are too big to combine into a single box.

So... how can I set one attribute to be required? (I was looking for a simple switch in the attributes setup screens that would control this, but if it's there, I can't find it. )

Rob

[misty]

Attributes controller...at bottom of page
6 different coloured boxes...
3rd from left...coloured orange..
Default attribute to be marked selected...

[rstevenson]

Yessss, ... . But in my case, these are more than just default attributes -- they're required attributes. The product "top" is no good without the attribute "base", though it would be fine without the attribute "middle".

So if I can use the setting you suggest and make it not possible for that attribute to be de-selected, that would work.

I suppose I could apply a style of visible: none in the stylesheet to that radio button or check box (while leaving the attribute itself visible of course) so the buyer couldn't accidentally de-select it.

Rob

[misty]

Understand now.. quite a conundrum..thinking cap
on ..

[misty]

Top and base are set as required...middle is option..
So set up an option as please choose(default)..add that
option to both top and base..so customer has to choose
those two..middle option on its own..not necessarily
as default choice.

[rstevenson]

Thanks for that misty.

I think I'm going to have to set up a duplicate of the store (it's live, and disturbing its databse is likely Not a Good Thing) here on my MAMP server so I can experiment freely. Sounds like there are a lot of possibilities to consider, and I might need to use a combination of things -- like a default attribute and then hiding part of it using styles -- to make things work.

I hope there aren't too many permutations and combinations of products/attributes. This could make me crazy!

Rob

PS
In case you were wondering, the product is fountains, and most do have bases, but they may also have pumps of various kinds, lights of various kinds, reservoirs, etc., and are available in various optional finishes, and ... ... .

[misty]

Yes, always more difficult when site live rather than in
development...sorry if my solution confused you..
I know what I meant

Be very interested to hear your final configuration
for fountains..

[rstevenson]

Thanks for trying! I'll update this thread once I've got it worked out.

Part of what I have to work out is Canada Post's requirement to receive dimensions as well as weight with each product. And I recall reading in this forum somewhere that attributes don't have dimensions. But maybe the CP module will allow me to set dimensions for an attribute as well as a product. If it doesn't I may have to consider copying and pasting code and all that nasty nerd stuff. My brain hurts already.

Rob

[rstevenson]

For those who might want to know. ...

I ended up adding products in a separate Parts category for each part -- the middle and base examples above; top being the fountain in the Fountains category. I had to do that because as mentioned above, the Canada Post module requires dimensions as well as weight, and attributes don't have those.

I made the Parts category not load in the list of categories (admin switch.) And I added two mods from thatsoftwareguy.com -- Combination Discounts and Buy The Set. The BTS mod requires the CD mod, the features of which I don't otherwise use at the moment.

Then, because I had set up to display the Buy The Set button for each fountain that needed it, I had to use a category specific stylesheet to ensure that the Add To Cart button wouldn't be displayed for those products. As described in another thread, just put #cartAdd {display: none;} into that custom stylesheet for that category.

The net result is that with a single click on the BTS button, 2, 3 or more products (really a product and one or more parts) get added to the cart all at once. And they all have their own dimensions and weights, so the Canada Post shipping module can get its act together.

At this point the UPS-XML module is not getting the boxes and dimensions and weight correct, but we're working on it.

Rob