Before I start, can someone answer 2 questions for me?

I'm using Joomla, and have been using the criminally awful VirtueMart while setting up my business partner's site. If you haven't used VirtueMart, please take this moment to count your blessings. Done? Ok- on to my issues/questions. By the way, I lied- there are 3 questions, sorry about that.

I am going to be using authorize.net. Is that a problem?

I need to charge tax on some items, and no tax on others. Only people in my state (California) should get charged tax (if applicable). Is that type of setup a problem?

I need true cascading dropdown choices for products, with prices dependent on the choices made. Let's say we're selling postcards (he is) on two different kinds of paper stock (there are) and 2 di
I need the first dropdown to be size, with two options (4x6, 5x7). The next dropdown may be paper stock, and the 4x6 doesn't have the same stock choices as the 5x7. The next dropdown may be the paper coating option, and the 5x7 coating on standard stock might only be $20, while the 5x7 coating on thick stock might be $200. Please tell me that this is something that is not only possible, but normal- VirtueMart treats this scenario like unicorns: it doesn't exist, and I'm crazy for wanting it.

The last hiccup would be the shipping prices for the items- inside that web of dropdowns means the final item chosen will have different shipping costs. If the base product is postcards (yes, again!), then the final product may be postcards, 4x6, thin paper, uncoated. That shipping weight will be substantially different than a 4x6 postcard on heavy stock with plastic coating.

That was actually four questions, wasn't it? My apologies. And yes, before I get made fun of for asking about absurdly simple things that are obviously a function of the cart, please remember that my feelings get hurt easily. That, and I'm coming from virtuemart where what I thought would work, never did. Ever.

Oh yeah (I find myslef apologizing yet again for another question), does anyone have experience in the jZen addons to integrate ZenCart with Joomla? At this point, I'd just like the log-in table to match up, and have the ability to put featured products inside a module to display them where I'd like.

Thank you in advance, I truly and sincerely appreciate any help in this respect.

1. Yes. authorize.net support is built in to Zencart.

2. https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=76

3. If I understand the question, this is called 'dependent attributes', and Zencart can't do it. I don't know of any open source cart that can. Search the Tutorials/FAQ and the forum for 'attributes' to make sure I understand the question.

4. Lots of shipping options, including by weight.

Thanks, stevesh. You understood the question, and that is exactly what I'm looking for- dependent attributes. Crazy that not one open source cart can do it, because it's such an important thing to have!

byran:

Thanks, stevesh. You understood the question, and that is exactly what I'm looking for- dependent attributes. Crazy that not one open source cart can do it, because it's such an important thing to have!

I'm in the similar type of business as you (or your client), and you can make due with zc's attributes to a good extent, though not dependant. I've put a lot of time in to researching other carts, and generally not even paid ones work easily for this. A suggestion though: checkout formspring.com, although it's not a free option, it is something you can integrate in to anything, including zencart, but you lose some of the reasons for using zencart to begin with.

For me: I have tooo many options to care to build a form that size with drag n drop + defines, but it sounds like your forms wouldn't be too long, so maybe it'll help... (Also, includes a decent upload modual incase you were wondering.)

Thanks, byoriginaldesign. I checked out that site, and it's very interesting. I don't think it will work for what he needs, but it's great to know that it's out there- I'm sure I'll know someone who can put it to use. As far as dependant dropdowns, I'm hoping that a couple of the add-ons I found can possibly work. Gonna test them out tomorrow, and I'll post back my results.

stevesh:

3. If I understand the question, this is called 'dependent attributes', and Zencart can't do it. I don't know of any open source cart that can. Search the Tutorials/FAQ and the forum for 'attributes' to make sure I understand the question.

There is a possible "work-around" - depends on how your attributes are configured - by using the Stock By Attributes module. As I say, whether it will address your needs is something only you can determine.

The new version of Zencart (2.0) promises to have dependant attribute functionality.

schoolboy:

There is a possible "work-around" - depends on how your attributes are configured - by using the Stock By Attributes module. As I say, whether it will address your needs is something only you can determine.

The new version of Zencart (2.0) promises to have dependant attribute functionality.

That's what I found. There's also one called "dynamic drop downs for stock by attributes", so I'm hoping that a combination of those will work. Thank you very much everyone, for the help.

The new version of Zencart (2.0) promises to have dependant attribute functionality.

Unfortunately Schoolboy is misinformed, dependent attributes is not coming in Zen Cart 2.0. Stock by attributes and Attribute SKUs wil be available though.

Kim:

Unfortunately Schoolboy is misinformed, dependent attributes is not coming in Zen Cart 2.0. Stock by attributes and Attribute SKUs wil be available though.

:shocking: :shocking:

You're kidding, kim... please tell me you're kidding... ? :cry:

(Would it be possible to write a dependent attribute module for 2.0?)

(Would it be possible to write a dependent attribute module for 2.0?)

Anything is possible, but we will not be doing it for 2.0. Perhaps you'd like to make a contrib for it after we release?