PC Configurator Module [Support Thread]

[numinix]

Pull down menus are better imo. For larger lists of options they are the definite winner and still look fine when only a few options are listed. Whereas radio buttons only look good for a few options and terrible for many options. Since the PC Configurator needs to be general for everyone, it should stay as pulldowns.

[DrByte]

After only a cursory look at the alpha code, I would like to just mention that it might be prudent to consider looking at the admin module code in consideration of overrides (yes, there "are" some overrides in the admin, but they're not template-related).

/admin/includes/modules/*.php -- these are "master" files
/admin/includes/modules/PRODUCT_TYPE/*.php -- these are the per-product-type overrides of the master

In the case of the product_music type, you'll see that several of the "master" files also exist (with some changes inside) in the product_music subfolder.

However, in the case of the main/base "product" product_type, you'll see only a couple files related to entering product details.

This mod makes changes to the copy_to_confirm.php module. However, by changing the "master" version of this file, you suddenly affect *all* product types on your site. If you're only using "product general", then I suppose it doesn't matter. But if you also have document products and perhaps products that use the free-shipping product type, or maybe a 3rd party addon product type such as books, then your changes to the 'master' modules *might* adversely affect those other product types as well.
Then again, MAYBE that IS what you want ... but if that's the case, you might need to document what changes will be required to the core code of those other product types as well.

I'm not sure whether your PC Configurator needs its own dedicated product-type, as I haven't inspected in great detail as yet. Nevertheless, that could be another option that might help prevent some confusion among product types.

It's not an urgent issue, and not a huge mistake ... but I thought I'd mention it for consideration while you're looking at refining things. What you choose depends on your goals.
The general rule would be ... if you're finding a need to touch a file in the /admin/includes/modules folder, you *most likely* should be putting your changes in the subfolder related to the product-type your changes specifically affect ... even if there's not already a file by that name IN that subfolder.

[lebrand2006]

Thank you Charis, I have downloaded this and it seems ok apart from a couple of things i'm not sure of, When going through the options of what you want in the custom PC should you be adding them to cart as individual items and then it makes the new PC or do you do something else? Secondly in the configuration i have changed the options to show what i want to offer the customers a choice of (case, motherboard Etc, about 12 in total), but when you go to the configurator on site it shows all options, Is this correct?
Once again Thank you for you contribution. Any help on this matter would be appreciated

You don't add to the cart individual items !!! You make your choices and then you do to the next screen ( today I will post the update ) where your choices are presented in a table ( this will be ready today with the update ) .

Then you press next, and in the last screen, a new product is inserted automatically in category "Custom PC". Then you are directly redirected to this product's info page, where you can buy it.

As for the configuration, ( I tested on line and in local server ) works fine if you upload all files, and make all SQL Patches.

In Configuration -> PC Configurator you set a product group to "off" when you don't want to appear in the shop.

Do not worry, as this is the pre testing alpha version. All bugs will be fixed.

[lebrand2006]

After only a cursory look at the alpha code, I would like to just mention that it might be prudent to consider looking at the admin module code in consideration of overrides (yes, there "are" some overrides in the admin, but they're not template-related).

/admin/includes/modules/*.php -- these are "master" files
/admin/includes/modules/PRODUCT_TYPE/*.php -- these are the per-product-type overrides of the master

In the case of the product_music type, you'll see that several of the "master" files also exist (with some changes inside) in the product_music subfolder.

However, in the case of the main/base "product" product_type, you'll see only a couple files related to entering product details.

This mod makes changes to the copy_to_confirm.php module. However, by changing the "master" version of this file, you suddenly affect *all* product types on your site. If you're only using "product general", then I suppose it doesn't matter. But if you also have document products and perhaps products that use the free-shipping product type, or maybe a 3rd party addon product type such as books, then your changes to the 'master' modules *might* adversely affect those other product types as well.
Then again, MAYBE that IS what you want ... but if that's the case, you might need to document what changes will be required to the core code of those other product types as well.

I'm not sure whether your PC Configurator needs its own dedicated product-type, as I haven't inspected in great detail as yet. Nevertheless, that could be another option that might help prevent some confusion among product types.

It's not an urgent issue, and not a huge mistake ... but I thought I'd mention it for consideration while you're looking at refining things. What you choose depends on your goals.
The general rule would be ... if you're finding a need to touch a file in the /admin/includes/modules folder, you *most likely* should be putting your changes in the subfolder related to the product-type your changes specifically affect ... even if there's not already a file by that name IN that subfolder.

Thank you very much for writing all this. As I have mentioned many times I am new to PHP , SQL etc, and also in the procedure of learning. I know my code is a mess, and that's why I asked help in developing this module.

As I noticed, code options are so much with PHP , especially when you are working in a such good application as Zen Cart is. So I am sure I should not write it this way. As for the core files, I knew about this issue ( supposing a shop with "product general" only ) and I mentioned it in the README file.

Any help and modifications would be nice. I am sure I would not write this code at all if I knew better the structure of Zen Cart. I am trying to learn.

Thank you very much again

[lebrand2006]

Hallo, great work!.. But I think that radio and checkbox buttons are better then select(pull down menu)

look here:
http://www.foxpc.cz/easy/49
or
http://www.tee.cz/konfigurator/

Very very nice work. From the best I have seen.

Well here we are talking about Zen Cart.

Everyone would be happy if you make these "functions" work for Zen Cart.

In addition, you will help the community.

Would you post the code for http://www.foxpc.cz/easy/49 ?

This is the point. The point of life :)

[lebrand2006]

Thank you Charis, I have downloaded this and it seems ok apart from a couple of things i'm not sure of, When going through the options of what you want in the custom PC should you be adding them to cart as individual items and then it makes the new PC or do you do something else? Secondly in the configuration i have changed the options to show what i want to offer the customers a choice of (case, motherboard Etc, about 12 in total), but when you go to the configurator on site it shows all options, Is this correct?
Once again Thank you for you contribution. Any help on this matter would be appreciated

Did you test it on local server or on line ?

Please provide your URL

Thanks

[lebrand2006]

Dear all, I am packing the new Testing Aplha Version of PC Configurator.

It will be available here :

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=667

[lebrand2006]

New version Testing Alpha Version 1.1 has been uploaded here :

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=667



ATTENTION - ATTENTION

IF YOU DID NOT INSTALL PC CONFIGURATOR JUST READ THE FILE "README_INSCTRUCTIONS.txt"


IF YOU HAVE ALREADY INSTALLED PC CONFIGURATOR DO THE FOLLOWING FOR THIS
TESTING ALPHA VERSION :



1. Upload the file "pc_configurator_defines.php"

FROM catalog-shop\includes\languages\english\extra_definitions\

TO your_zen_cart_catalog/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/



2. Upload the following files

-> "define_pc_configurator.php"
-> "define_pc_configurator_step_2.php"
-> "define_pc_configurator_step_3.php"


FROM catalog-shop\includes\languages\english\html_includes\classic\

TO your_zen_cart_catalog/includes/languages/english/html_includes/classic/

IF YOU USE CUSTOM TEMPLATE, RENAME "classic" TO YOUR TEMPLATE NAME



3. Upload ( and replace ) the folder "pc_configurator"

TO your_zen_cart_catalog/includes/



In this testing alpha version 1.1 there are some fixes and additions.

This is the version for "crash" testing

I will continue developing this module, when we know the results from testing.

So please POST here any bugs, ideas etc. :

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70184

[lebrand2006]

I am very interested in this contribution. I'll take a look at your code in the upcoming week and make any suggestions.

Keep up the good work!

Thank you. It would be nice if everybody make suggestions !

########################################################################################################################____

Reffering to all community users, I believe that combining our modules would never be something creative.

Having in mind that some of us ( I believe most of us ) have their works, it is better for all of us UPLOADING our code and combining the code to produce new better modules than combining the modules.

So I would like to make a question to all of those users who come here in this forum, even for those who do not use Zen Cart :

WHY YOU DO NOT UPLOAD YOUR CODE ? WANNA SELL IT ?

IF YES, SELL IT SOMEWHERE ELSE

IF NO, press button "Post Reply" , use Additional Options , press the button "Manage Attachements" and just UPLOAD you nice code !!!

This is the point of life : SHARING

[DrByte]

press button "Post Reply" , use Additional Options , press the button "Manage Attachements" and just UPLOAD you nice code !!!

This is the point of life : SHARING

Even better, upload your contributions to the "downloads" section so they can be cataloged and available to everyone from one central location.