Would Atrributes work in this manner?

[colin-ny]

As I explained, the Fabric is sold in Yards. Though, that is really not the point as it could be sold in any number of units. The point is, a Sample (swatch) is available for $1.50 for every Fabric (which range from $20 to $30 per yard). What would be the best method for achieving this? An option set (as I first thought)? OR do I make a new product for each swatch and then link to each from it's related Fabric? (Though, this 2nd idea will be very time consuming and cumbersome.)

Anyway, I thought this would be an obvious question for someone on here (a seasoned Zen user, which I am not). I know how I'd do this in BigCommerce, Volusion, and heck even using PDG. But I am unsure the Best Method for Zen Cart.

(btw - The client is a friend, and they do Not want links to their site posted on these forums for a few reasons.)

Thanks in advance for any help, much appreciated,

Colin

[DivaVocals]

and they do Not want links to their site posted on these forums for a few reasons

So OBFUSCATE the URL so the search engines don't pick it up if that's the concern..

Example:
http://yoursite(dot)com

Lots of folks post links this way on the forum.. It's awfully hard to help without a link to SEE what you SAY.. and it makes it so those helping don't have to GUESS.. IJS..

[swguy]

@colin-ny, this is very straightforward. Price the product by attributes, then create two attributes - yard of fabric ($20, for example) or swatch ($1). They order quantities for the number of yards they need. It's a bit more work to create products like this, but it allows you to offer a swatch on the product page.

[colin-ny]

Thank you @swguy! That is a great idea. However, there are 100's of such products that I would have to do this for. I guess, either way I go (the way you're suggesting, or creating a new product for each Swatch and then linking to the related swatch on each Fabric product) will entail a lot of repetitive work. (No way around that...)

Again, thanks, good suggestion.

Colin

[lat9]

Thank you @swguy! That is a great idea. However, there are 100's of such products that I would have to do this for. I guess, either way I go (the way you're suggesting, or creating a new product for each Swatch and then linking to the related swatch on each Fabric product) will entail a lot of repetitive work. (No way around that...)

Again, thanks, good suggestion.

Colin

Once you've got the attributes together for one of the products, you can use the Attributes Controller to copy those attributes to all products in a category (cutting down on the amount of repetitive work).

[swguy]

Thank you @swguy! That is a great idea. However, there are 100's of such products that I would have to do this for.

If there are hundreds of products, I would create a swatch product for $1 with a text attribute for them to use to enter the model number (or name or whatever) of the fabric they want. Price the product at a dollar and call it done. It's not worth doing a ton of work for a one dollar product.

[colin-ny]

@swguy - Thanks for all the great suggestions and help. Much appreciated!

Colin

[gjh42]

If you do the swatch product/write-in fabric name, I would suggest adding a link to it from every product description. Boilerplate code as created by swguy's directions on his website, or the Product Articles mod in Plugins, could make that a simple process.