Attributes HOW-TO

[midiwhale]

Originally posted by Ajeh@Jun 24 2005, 02:57 AM
There is a purpose to the offset on the plus/minus aspect.

There are client's that I have that need the display to read a certain way and calculate properly and having the two values allows both to happen.

For some, just the one setting is needed. Others need both.

All depends on your shop :)

That's what I'd love,
just 1 example of each variation.

And can you explain the "maths" behind the terms "factor" and "offset"?
That's still causing me pain

AFAIK in human speak when we talk of a factoring, we mean percentage.
And an offset would be a master ranging
(ie offset +1 = whatever the answer is add 1)

But here VALUE (Factor?) 1.10 - (Offset?) 1.00 in practice adds 10% but why?



if these two terms are defined in your book I am definitely buying it !! Even if you tell me the answer now !! Scout's honour....

[Ajeh]

Let's say the products_price is $10

then attributes_price_factor 1 and attributes_price_factor_offset is 0

10 x (1-0) = 10

then attributes_price_factor 2 and attributes_price_factor_offset is 1

10 x (2 - 1) = 10

then attributes_price_factor 3 and attributes_price_factor_offset is 1

10 x (3-1) = 20

then attributes_price_factor 1 and attributes_price_factor_offset is .1

10 x (1-.10) = 9

then attributes_price_factor .90 and attributes_price_factor_offset is 0

10 x (.90 - 0) = 9

This is simple math.

Some sites fine this easier to use one way vs the other. So having the two fields helps store owners utilize this feature in a method that makes more sense to them.

[midiwhale]

Thanks Linda,

GREAT EXPLANATION ;-)
Is this in the book? Do I have to get my credit card out ??


There is a major issue here though !

According to your formula you can leave the offset as 0 and basically it should have NO impact on the answer. BUT it does !!

And this is why it goes the shape of the pear ;-)

The formula as you've said is supposed to be

Value * (factor - offset)

Great !!

But when tryign to add 20% to a price;

3.50 * ( 0.2 - 0 ) SHOULD = 0.70
BUT it is NOT. In zencart it equals 0.60

To get the correct answer you HAVE to use an offset of 1 and a factor of 1 point percentage

ie
3.50 * ( 1.2 - 1 ) = 0.70

Please try it if you don't believe me !!

Maybe there is a simple reason for this I don't understand, but the formula "quoted" should NOT give that answer !
A calculator does not!

This is why nobody gets it IMHO. Because it's ::cens

Because logicallly for 20% you can just go ( 0.20 - 0 ) BUT in zencart it comes out as less than 20% ::frust

With your explanation I can finally work around it, but it is pants to HAVE to use an offset of 1 and a point percentage value, to get the right answer. It just is not natural

I wonder of this is part of our ozie friends problem too with his extra 10% (i.e. nothing to do with tax) :-(


In your last example

then attributes_price_factor .90 and attributes_price_factor_offset is 0

10 x (.90 - 0) = 9

This is simple math.

3.50 should add 3.15, but it adds 2.68.
This is why I could never work it out. Because 2.68 is what relation to anything - LOL

If the offset is zero it gets it wrong. How can that not be a bug ?

[Ajeh]

I get .70 if I use either situation:

3.50 with .2 and 0
3.50 with 1.2 and 1

Are you perhaps experiencing a tax issue or something?

[midiwhale]

Originally posted by Ajeh@Jun 26 2005, 08:01 PM
I get .70 if I use either situation:

3.50 with .2 and 0
3.50 with 1.2 and 1

Are you perhaps experiencing a tax issue or something?

But if I use the second version, the answer is correct.

How can that be a TAX issue ?

Maybe its a server PHP version issue then ?
I'm using 5.0.3

When I use a zero offset the maths is wrong!

[Ajeh]

There are many issues with v5.0.3 ... some claim you can fix them with v5.0.4

Others say go unix with v4.3.11


Undex unix ... v4.3.11 ... no issues here that I can see. Both match.

[midiwhale]

OK I take it all back ::frust
Maybe I'm going mad as well?

I must have tried some of the tests on a non tax product, though I don't see how or why.... I could swear it was the same test eveytime...

Anyway;
0.60 is 17.5 tax off of the correct answer 070 (rounded) - DOH :yk

In other words the offset of zero is (now) working accurately.

::tup

So I am a confused moron ....


But this I "think" explains JoHorse's problem!!

If SHOW TAX IN ADMIN is off then the calculations it "shows" under attributes will be EXC. TAX.
But in the cart, where SHOW TAX is on, the tax is calculated and added correctly to the base product and attribute price.

The other thing is that even if the base price is zero, it needs to be set to a taxable product (if it is), otherwise I don't think the attribute price will know whether to be tax inc. or exc.

So in other words I don't think you need to correct the prices entered in attributes, as these will correctly follow the taxable state of the goods.

So as I intimated before, change your config (temporarily) to SHOW TAX IN ADMIN when entering the attribute price, if you want to do it as gross.
Or if you want to enter it as net, display admin as WITHOUT TAX.

I can't swear that Zencart follows the admin display tax settings when handling attributes, but obviously it should ;-)

Oh boy


HOORAY YES ::tup
The Config Store setting "Show Tax in Admin" DOES control whether the attribute prices are displayed/entered inc. or exc vat.
So as I said, if you want to enter gross (inc tax) price atrributes, just turn this on while you do it.

[Ajeh]

The attributes follow the Tax rules of the product.

If your shop is in a Tax zone and Tax is on then you see the tax whether or not you are logged in.

If your shop is not in a Tax zone and Tax is on ... you only see the Tax if you log into a Tax zone

The Tax follows the rules based on either customer zone or store zone when customer is not logged in.

[cchambers]

I am not sure if I am posting in the right area, and if i am in the wrong area, I apologize.
I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of you that contribute to these forums. I have spent most of my time on this forum, and because of this forum, I was able to in 4 hours go from no clue what to do as far as setting up a cart to having a cart up and running. the arrtibutes were quite tricky, but I *think* that I have got it figured out. it is not set up exactly the way I want, but, it works, and I was able to get it up and running quickly. I am sure I will have plenty of questions on tweaking the settings, and have no doubt i can find them here.

I truly believe that this cart, and the open source is the way to go. I have even convinced a friend of mine to convert from os commerce to zen cart simply beause he saw how much support is offered here, and that even a dummy like me can figure out setup.

so, THANK YOU!!!! to everyone that has contributed to this forum.
you can see my setup at:
http://www.chriscphotography.com/shop
if anyone has any comments, they can email me.

Thanks again,
chris
::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup ::tup

[Kim]

Chris-

Thank you for the kind words. We really appreciate them. I do hope that you will al$o $how your appreciation with a donation to the project. Every little bit helps.