Attribute options with 2000 choices?

[jasmel]

I have several items that have personalization options.

Example: Music CD with child's name in it.

Shopper would find a Music CD, then add to cart and select the child's name from a option drop down menu. (or set the option to for personalization before adding to cart?)

Can this be done? Do I have to create each option one at a time or can I create all 2,000 names via Mysql script?

I tried to search the forums for this type of question but it seems either it hasn't been asked or I didn't phrase the search properly.

Thanks in advance!

[yellow1912]

Why? You can use the text attribute, which allows users to type in the name.

[jasmel]

Why? You can use the text attribute, which allows users to type in the name.

There are only CD's with these 2,000 names in them. Names like Jennica are not available however names like Jennifer, Jessica and other popular names are available.

I have to limit the customer's names selections to the ones that CD's have been made for.

[gjh42]

If you're comfortable writing a MySQL script, you should be able to automate populating the values for an option name in the database. See the Database Schema in the wiki for a list of tables and their field descriptions.

The fun part may be getting a usable dropdown to pick the name from.

[yellow1912]

Im thinking about Ajax ^^.

[jasmel]

Could I insert a standard html form with the output value going to the TEXT name textfield?

Select child's name: [drop down menu][^]
Output goes into TEXT area.

Then have the customer continue with the purchase.

I am not familiar with AJAX... is AJAX another option to get to my end goal?

[yellow1912]

Well, if you think about it, it's really not possible to have customers choose from a list of 2000 names. Your drop-down list would be too long.
The best way would be: let the customers type the name, but at the same time using javascript to check the name they typed it and tell them it's not available.
You can also use the first characters they type in to suggest available names
for example: if they type in jo then suggest john or jones etc....

Another possible option which is a bit easier:
Make that product a category instead, and inside that categories you have 26 products starting from A-Z (which is the first character of the name)

Then in each product you dont have 2000 options, may be 100 or so, still alot tho.

[jasmel]

Sounds like a better option that what I thought I had to do. (Create 2,000 products times seven CD choices. 14,000 possible CD's.)

The above statement just gave me another idea as an option.
Have the customer select the name as the "product" then add one of seven CD's as an attribute. Hmmmmm Then I can use the product filter to help them locate the name.

Don't really know what the best route would be? I can start playing with it more... Unless, somebody else has a great idea. I am willing to try just about anything.

[misty]

You could create html docs or pdf files which contain names
available..Link to these files in product description i.e
A,B,C,D,E, each opening in new window.
Then add text attribute to product, whereby customer chooses
one of the available names from those pdf/html files.

[jasmel]

Ok.. I have a new issue to this bigger issue.

The Personalized products I am about to sell are CD's. There are seven CD's to choose from and within each CD there are between 1,800 to 2,400 names to choose from.

Not one of the CD's has the same list of name choices (there are repeats of course) but, none of them use the same exact list of names.

What I plan to do is create a Selection Drop down menu for each CD and somehow have the correct one to display within the individual product's page.

*Guessing by using javascript. (**If somebody is willing to help me on this please Private Message me)

The problem I have, once I get the javascript figured out, is; how to I ensure that I get a receipt of the order with the customer's "name selection" on it? That way I know which CD to mail them.

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I do not wish to create an attribute for each CD and each name available for each CD. I would take me hours! 2,000 times seven CD's Ouch!
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