AUSTPost module

imperialis:

Hi Rod,
Could this be the problem since i'm using gms
if (MODULE_SHIPPING_AUSTPOST_WEIGHT_FORMAT == "kgs") { $sweight = $shipping_weight * 1000 ; }
else { $sweight = $shipping_weight ; }

Ordinarily I'd say yes, but in this instance we have confirmed that the data being sent to the server has valid parameters and returns a valid result (at least when using a web browser), so all of your inputs are correct (at least for the randomly chosen test item).

The problem therefore is in the data output. About the only thing I can think of at the moment is that it is being disabled for some reason.

Try enabling ALL shipping options and see if you/we can deduce exactly what methods are considered valid, and which ones should be valid, but don't show, and anything that does show but shouldn't.
Something strange is going on and I still can't think what.

imperialis:

When I click the links I get
charge=8.3 days=2 err_msg=OK

And that is what the AP module should also be seeing).

imperialis:

I have curl enabled doesn't seem to make a difference

When changing this option (or any other module options) you need to ensure you close your webbrowser before retrying, 'coz zen-cart likes to cache queries making it appear that a change has had no effect.

Anyway, lemme know what you find by enabling all shipping options.

Cheers
Rod.

ps. You might also try running the AP module alone 'cos there may be some kind of conflict with your table rate module.

I have enabled all shipping option but it doesn't seem to have made a difference i'm still only getting satchels

imperialis:

I have enabled all shipping option but it doesn't seem to have made a difference i'm still only getting satchels

Very odd.

Next step.
Load /includes/modules/shipping/autpost.php itno a text editor.
On or around line 878 you'll see a line that starts with
// echo 'INFO .................

Remove the leading slashes //
Resave the file.
Ensure that you have the cURL option enabled.

Try ordering our test product and let me know what output you get.

Cheers
Rod.

Hi All,

Where does the module pass through what images it will use for the shipping?

i.e I only use Australia Post therefore want to remove the austpost_logo.jpg from the invoice that goes to the customer.

Also has anyone used this module with Super Orders as im only getting the austpost_logo.jpg image and not the shipping type. eg "Parcel Post"

Any help in the right direction would be great.

Thanks

Brett

The test product has sold out so I have used the pocket spell book it still only comes up with satchels and this error

ERROR:

Found
The document has moved here.

Apache/2.2.3 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8d PHP/5.2.5 Server at austpost.vcsweb.com Port 80
INFO:

ERROR:

Found
The document has moved here.

Apache/2.2.3 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8d PHP/5.2.5 Server at austpost.vcsweb.com Port 80
INFO:

ERROR:

Found
The document has moved here.

Apache/2.2.3 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8d PHP/5.2.5 Server at austpost.vcsweb.com Port 80
INFO:

ERROR:

Found
The document has moved here.

Apache/2.2.3 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.3 OpenSSL/0.9.8d PHP/5.2.5 Server at austpost.vcsweb.com Port 80

imperialis:

The test product has sold out so I have used the pocket spell book it still only comes up with satchels and this error
ERROR:
Found
The document has moved here.

This is a new one on me. The error message is technically valid/correct, but for some reason or other, the redirection isn't being followed (at least not for you).
This leads me to think that this is probably a server configuration setting/option somewhere that is preventing scripted redirects from taking place. You'll probably need to contact your ISP for help on this one.

Meanwhile, I can can offer you a couple of workarounds:

Workaround#1 :
load the current /modules/shipping/austpost.php into a text editor. Locate line 108 (or therebouts)... it current reads
$SERVER="http://austpost.vcsweb.com" .
Change it to read
$SERVER = "http://drc.edeliver.com.au".
Next.... Scroll down to line#130... uncomment the entire block of text/settings for the 'fixed price items and fees'. Adjust to suit. (Note: there are a couple of errors in this block that will also need fixing, namely, any of the items that have values seperated by commas need to be quoted... eg:
$CostINS=1.20,1.20,5.50,2.00 ;
Will need to be changed to
$CostINS="1.20,1.20,5.50,2.00" ;

Save the file, and all should be ok.

Workaround#2.
Use an older version of the AP module (I suggest the last in the V1 series).
This should work 'out of the box', but you will find that this one doesn't have all of the same shipping options that are available in the V2 series (Sorry, I can't recall the changes off the top of my head). You will find that the V1 versions allow you to enter the 'fixed price' costs via the admin configuration screen though, which means you'll not have to edit any .php code.

Hopefully these tips will be useful to you, but please do keep in mind that the core of the problem seems to relate to your server not being able to follow the redirects, and only your ISP can help you with that one.

Cheers
Rod

Hi Rod,
I haven't tried what you have said yet, I will contact my host first and see what they say as when I had a look this morning letter rate was showing but not regular post it's all very odd

Hi Rod,

Great module, it's one of the reasons I'm finding Zen Cart to be so much more usable than osCommerce!

I sell custom-made button badges, and really want to use large letter to send them in order to keep customer costs reasonable. The badges themselves are under 1cm high, and up to 3 cm in diameter. I can fit five easily into a size 0 padded bag, and at least 20 into a size 2. I've set the dimensions on my first test badge to .2 cm high and 1x1cm with a weight of .0001 kg, but I'm still getting only parcel options when I order one badge. Not sure what I'm doing wrong there.

I'm very concerned that when customers are trying to order 20 badges it'll force them to parcel, even though I know it can send as a large letter. I'd appreciate any advice.

Cheers,
Catherine

imperialis:

Hi Rod,
I haven't tried what you have said yet, I will contact my host first and see what they say as when I had a look this morning letter rate was showing but not regular post it's all very odd

Letter rates are another of the 'fixed price' charges.
The item you tried with is obviously considered small and light enough to qualify. I guess you still have the letter rate option enabled from the earlier tests ;-)

Cheers
Rod

Awesome Badges:

The badges themselves are under 1cm high, and up to 3 cm in diameter. I can fit five easily into a size 0 padded bag, and at least 20 into a size 2.

Unfortunately, what you can fit into a bag isn't going to be the same as what the AP module considers will fit. The algorithms to do that are far too complex for me, and are in fact considered something of a holy grail among some programmers.

The algorithm used by the AP module is a very simple "stack by height, keep track of maximum widths and lengths".

Awesome Badges:

I've set the dimensions on my first test badge to .2 cm high and 1x1cm with a weight of .0001 kg, but I'm still getting only parcel options when I order one badge. Not sure what I'm doing wrong there.

Although probably not relevent, but is there a reason for you to be weighing your items in Kgs when gms seems to be much more suited?

I say 'probably not relevent' because it shouldn't be relevent, however, I can't recall what precision level I am performing the math functions with, which means that after multiplying and rounding this item may end up with an effective weight of zero, in which case the minimum weight allowed by parcel will be applied, thus nullifying the letter rate options (it does this to protect the merchant from under charging).
In other words, try changing your weights from kgs to gms, OR, add a little more mass to your badges, eg, 0.001kg.

Also check your TARE weight settings. These weights get added to the total product weight, which may be pushing your weights over the limits.

Awesome Badges:

I'm very concerned that when customers are trying to order 20 badges it'll force them to parcel, even though I know it can send as a large letter. I'd appreciate any advice.

This can and probably always will be an issue, because there are far to many different scenarios that need to be considered when producing a program such as the AP module. There is always going to be someone that needs something 'special'. Usually a compromise and workaround is often the best solution. In your case, I would suggest considering setting up special departments for 'bulk buys' and using the weights/dimensions of the package containing the combined items for shipping purposes.

That, or very carefully select your badge dimensions so that the stacking algorithm produces the results that you require, while still being 'realistic'.

Cheers
Rod.

PS. Please keep in mind that as well as 'stacking' items, the AP module always re-orientates them prior to stacking. This means that regardless of how you/we view an item, the AP module treats the longest dimension as the length, the shortest dimension as the height, and the remaining dimension as the width.

RodG:

Although probably not relevent, but is there a reason for you to be weighing your items in Kgs when gms seems to be much more suited?

Because I wasn't sure whether changing the default of the page to grams would work. The guides only talk about how to change from pounds to kilos. :)

In other words, try changing your weights from kgs to gms, OR, add a little more mass to your badges, eg, 0.001kg.

Mostly a decimal error here. I changed it to 10 grams but that doesn't seem to have fixed it.

Also check your TARE weight settings. These weights get added to the total product weight, which may be pushing your weights over the limits.

That fixed it! I set it to 20:0 and now have the option for small letter coming up (although I know it'll send as a large. They'll always send as a large. I'll add 50c to the handling fee for small and that will cover it nicely.)

This can and probably always will be an issue, because there are far to many different scenarios that need to be considered when producing a program such as the AP module. There is always going to be someone that needs something 'special'. Usually a compromise and workaround is often the best solution. In your case, I would suggest considering setting up special departments for 'bulk buys' and using the weights/dimensions of the package containing the combined items for shipping purposes.

That, or very carefully select your badge dimensions so that the stacking algorithm produces the results that you require, while still being 'realistic'.

I'll try both of these. Thank you very much for your help!

AustPost Mod. - Delivery Time Lookup 4 Satchels Too
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101269

Do you think this could have something to do with it?
[Tue Jun 24 00:21:47 2008] [error] [client 125.254.71.35] File does not exist: /home/imperial/public_html/404.shtml
[Tue Jun 24 00:21:47 2008] [error] [client 125.254.71.35] File does not exist: /home/imperial/public_html/favicon.ico

I contacted my host people and they couldn't help I also installed the other aust post mod and It doesn't have satchels, I might uninstall this and try reinstalling and see if something gives

imperialis:

Do you think this could have something to do with it?
[Tue Jun 24 00:21:47 2008] [error] [client 125.254.71.35] File does not exist: /home/imperial/public_html/404.shtml
[Tue Jun 24 00:21:47 2008] [error] [client 125.254.71.35] File does not exist: /home/imperial/public_html/favicon.ico

Nope. Not at all.

imperialis:

I contacted my host people and they couldn't help

What did you tell them? What was their reply?

imperialis:

I also installed the other aust post mod and It doesn't have satchels, I might uninstall this and try reinstalling and see if something gives

Err, exactly WHICH "other aust post mod" did you install? What version?

Cheers
Rod

Hi Again Rod,
this whole thing has been doing my head it so I had to leave it for a few days
My host techs tried to do something and completely killed my cart so no one could check out until I realised what had happened grrr lost a bit of money that day so I have given up on them and don't want them anywhere near it

I installed the other mod the one above your in the downloads section didn't like it

I don't know whats happening but the satchels arn't even working consistantly now I still have a feeling it must be something very simple but I have gone through all the files and they seem to be in the correct place I don't know what the next step would be

imperialis:

Hi Again Rod,
this whole thing has been doing my head it so I had to leave it for a few days
My host techs tried to do something and completely killed my cart so no one could check out until I realised what had happened grrr lost a bit of money that day so I have given up on them and don't want them anywhere near it

I installed the other mod the one above your in the downloads section didn't like it

I don't know whats happening but the satchels arn't even working consistantly now I still have a feeling it must be something very simple but I have gone through all the files and they seem to be in the correct place I don't know what the next step would be

Hmm, I thought we'd established that the problem isn't yours. It is a problem with your ISP, ergo, there is nothing that you can do to fix the problem other than try the "workarounds" that I mentioned earlier (and all these will really do is confirm what we've already established).

Cheers
Rod

How does one go about change the icons/graphics for the shipping info into text instead of the icons/graphics? I haven't figured this out yet.

I'm using SuperOrders and AustPost without a hitch until I upgraded AusPost over the weekend to the latest version. Now I have a problem I'd appreciate a heads up with.

On details, I get the AP logo with a zero for postage $0:00.

In the invoice, I get "(ERROR:Unable to obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server. You may still checkout using this method and we will co"

Because we now don't know if they've selected parcel, registered or express; it's becoming a chore this morning to ring all customers and ascertain their preference.

I did read somewhere that this script runs through RodG's servers rather that direct to AP?

Wingz:

I'm using SuperOrders and AustPost without a hitch until I upgraded AusPost over the weekend to the latest version. Now I have a problem I'd appreciate a heads up with.

On details, I get the AP logo with a zero for postage $0:00.

In the invoice, I get "(ERROR:Unable to obtain a valid quote from the Australia Post Server. You may still checkout using this method and we will co"
There are many reasons why this would occur. Many of them due to normal behaviour, some of them due to invalid input data, and a rare few caused by 'external' influences.

Wingz:

I did read somewhere that this script runs through RodG's servers rather that direct to AP?

It uses both (for different reasons). Please refer to the authoritive guide on this matter; the "servers.txt" file included within the AP distribution files for more information.

Meanwhile, if you could give some useful information, such as a URL, and ideally, a demo product, whereby I can duplicate your problem I'll be in a far better position to help isolate the cause of your specific error.

Also, based on nothing other than order of probability, my first suggestion would be to try the enable/disable cURL toggle.
When testing, ALWAYS close and re-open your browser when checking for the effects of this change (otherwise you'll be using cached settings).

Cheers
RodG

This is a fantastic module, I installed it and it worked perfectly from the beginning.

I would like to make 2 minor visual changes but I am not at all skilled in this area.

In my checkout page I get both the austpost_logo.jpg and the austpost.jpg showing side by side. I would like to remove the austpost_logo.jpg and just leave the austpost.jpg.

The second thing I would like to do is replace the austpost_del.jpg with text "Days Estimated for delivery".

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Paul