Return Authorization Module (RMA)

Whether it be via message-stack or inline form error messages, these error messages need to be displayed one way or another (if you want required fields).

This mod uses inline error messages, IMHO, i do not think this was change for change sake, with so many forms using CSS tool-tips and jQuery to display inline error messages, I think it was to give the form a more up-to-date presence.

If one chooses to convert to message-stack by all means, try my MessageStack LightAlert Light Box.

I have to agree with @DivaVocals, the inline error messages do provide better usability hence all the new CSS tool-tips and jQuery form builders.

A Return form DOES help sales and confidence with a customer IMHO.

DivaVocals:

you do need to display some indication to the end user where that error lies

But error messages should provide for that:

eg Postcode input requires a minimum of 3 characters,

where "Postcode", in this instance, is the name of the input field.

Cheers

post duplicated

rbarbour:

A Return form DOES help sales and confidence with a customer IMHO.

We are not disputing the value of Return forms, but rather only where the error messages in the updated mod are to be placed.

My comment regarding form layout dirsuption seems to have been overlooked.

cheers

dw08gm:

But error messages should provide for that:

eg Postcode input requires a minimum of 3 characters,

where "Postcode", in this instance, is the name of the input field.

Cheers

and those error messages are what is displayed in the current RMA form.. Why is this a BAD thing???:

rbarbour:

Whether it be via message-stack or inline form error messages, these error messages need to be displayed one way or another (if you want required fields).

This mod uses inline error messages, IMHO, i do not think this was change for change sake, with so many forms using CSS tool-tips and jQuery to display inline error messages, I think it was to give the form a more up-to-date presence.

If one chooses to convert to message-stack by all means, try my MessageStack LightAlert Light Box.

I have to agree with @DivaVocals, the inline error messages do provide better usability hence all the new CSS tool-tips and jQuery form builders.

A Return form DOES help sales and confidence with a customer IMHO.
I agree.. inline messages are used more often in applications these days because they ensure that end users have fewer issues understanding EXACTLY what is required when a form fails validation on submit. It's not change for change sake at all.. it is IMPROVED usability, and I don't understand how that is a BAD thing..

dw08gm:

We are not disputing the value of Return forms, but rather only where the error messages in the updated mod are to be placed.

My comment regarding form layout dirsuption seems to have been overlooked.

cheers

Not overlooked, I ran into the same issue on a site I updated - def something to reconsider as far as adding constraints for the displayed (span) error which should be easily accomplished as I used css.

dw08gm:

My comment regarding form layout dirsuption seems to have been overlooked.

cheersNot sure what you are referring to here.. what layout "disruption" (not sure if this is misspelled or not in your post) are you referring to???

DivaVocals:

Why is this a BAD thing???:

I seem to have misplaced by reading glasses.

Cheers

dw08gm:

I seem to have misplaced by reading glasses.

Cheers

If you are referring to the size of the error message font, you do realize that the forum software shrinks these inline images.. the actual page is not unreadable or microscopic by any means..

DivaVocals:

It does provide for BETTER usability.. It's a frustrating user experience to fill out a form only to find out that it's missing data, and to have NO indication what the issue is... You cannot assume that people will just KNOW and figure it out because you assume that they SHOULD know.

Again we'll have to agree to disagree.. A returns form by it's very nature isn't helping sales, so I fail to see how providing the end user some indication that the form is not filled out correctly correlates to sales.. Displaying a generic validation message without ANY indication where the error in fact lies is not a great user experience.. In my long experience working in software development, when a form is submitted without all the required information you do need to display some indication to the end user where that error lies.. You call it change for change sake, but improving user experience is not in my opinion a bad thing..

Again clearly you do not agree with this logic..
to add to this wanted to quote something I read that torvista posted this morning in a completely different thread, but it is applicable to this discussion:

I subscribe to the design theory: "Don't make me think" (or rather "...assume I cannot think").
Exactly!!

So, I have made tremendous headway with this mod, to many new features to list but I will list a few:

Admin option for every field:
0 = Display as Optional
1 = Display as Required
2 = Do not Display

Admin option for error display
true = Inline Display
false = Messagestack Display

Admin option to display Store Name & Address on returns page
Admin option to display Store Name & Address on returns success page
true
false

Admin option to display Different Store Name & Address on returns success page (if a different address is used to process returns)

Admin Order History Info RMA Button/Link Display options
0 = Display as Button
1 = Display as Link

Admin controlled text for above Link Display

And many many more options!!!

I am going to package and forward the files to @DivaVocal to test and make necessary changes. Due to the many features and flexibility I think a new upload and thread should be started.

**Flexible Return Authorization (RMA) for Zen Cart 1.5.x **

rbarbour:

So, I have made tremendous headway with this mod, to many new features to list but I will list a few:

Admin option for every field:
0 = Display as Optional
1 = Display as Required
2 = Do not Display

Admin option for error display
true = Inline Display
false = Messagestack Display

Admin option to display Store Name & Address on returns page
Admin option to display Store Name & Address on returns success page
true
false

Admin option to display Different Store Name & Address on returns success page (if a different address is used to process returns)

Admin Order History Info RMA Button/Link Display options
0 = Display as Button
1 = Display as Link

Admin controlled text for above Link Display

And many many more options!!!

I am going to package and forward the files to @DivaVocal to test and make necessary changes. Due to the many features and flexibility I think a new upload and thread should be started.

**Flexible Return Authorization (RMA) for Zen Cart 1.5.x **Wow.. you are awesome!!:clap: I'll PM you my e-mail address.. I totally agree about the new support thread as well..

DivaVocals:

Wow.. you are awesome!!:clap: I'll PM you my e-mail address.. I totally agree about the new support thread as well..
Flexible Return Authorization has been submitted to downloads.. the support thread for the new Module is here: http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?208996-Flexible-Return-Authorization-%28RMA%29-Support-Thread..

I'll post updates when the module is available for download..

can anyone post a link to this mod working? I would like to see a demo before i install. sounds like just what I need though :)

Installed this mod on a 1.3.9h site. Configuration page shows and works in admin. The returns page appears to collect all the data but the email lacks all the data collected on the Returns page. It's as though the $EXTRA_INFO field doesn't make it to the email.

Other install mods are FEC.

Thanks in advance to an insight as to solving this.

Just tried to install RMA mod on a new 1.5.4 install and getting the following error: Column count doesn't match value count at row 1

After a little research it seems if the installer for this module shortcuts explicitly naming the columns it will spit out the column count error when run.. Is there a updated install script that I can try?

marcopolo:

Just tried to install RMA mod on a new 1.5.4 install and getting the following error: Column count doesn't match value count at row 1

After a little research it seems if the installer for this module shortcuts explicitly naming the columns it will spit out the column count error when run.. Is there a updated install script that I can try?
Which specific RMA mod are you trying to install?
What other mods do you have installed? Specifically anything by Numinix? Many numinix mods break other mods' install logic because of the changes Numinix made to database tables. To work around that you may need to alter your install scripts to specifically list all the column names for which it is inserting data.

ie: change the install.sql from INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES .....to```
INSERT INTO configuration (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES .....

Hello DrByte, thanks for responding to my issue. Yes I have a few Numinix modules installed and figured it was because of them. It's the regular RMA module not the flexible one. I will try your solution later this evening when I'm able to work on the site and report back.

Ok it worked!

Here is the original code:

#Return Authorization SQL Install
# For Zen-Cart 1.3.9
# Last Updated: 4/13/2010

SET @t4=0;
SELECT (@t4:=configuration_group_id) as t4
FROM configuration_group
WHERE configuration_group_title= 'Return Authorization';
DELETE FROM configuration WHERE configuration_group_id = @t4;
DELETE FROM configuration_group WHERE configuration_group_id = @t4;
DELETE FROM configuration WHERE configuration_key = 'DEFINE_RETURNS_STATUS';

INSERT INTO configuration_group VALUES (NULL, 'Return Authorization', 'Return Authorization Display Settings', '1', '1');
UPDATE configuration_group SET sort_order = last_insert_id() WHERE configuration_group_id = last_insert_id();

SET @t4=0;
SELECT (@t4:=configuration_group_id) as t4
FROM configuration_group
WHERE configuration_group_title= 'Return Authorization';

INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Phone Number', 'RETURN_PHONE', 'true', 'Display phone number field', @t4, 1, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Item Name', 'RETURN_ITEM_NAME', 'true', 'Display Item Name field', @t4, 2, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Item Number', 'RETURN_ITEM_NUMBER', 'true', 'Display Item Number field', @t4, 3, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Total Value', 'RETURN_VALUE', 'true', 'Display Total Value', @t4, 4, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Only registered customers may submit a return request', 'REGISTERED_RETURN', 'false', 'Only registered customers may submit a return request', @t4, 5, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Set "Return Action" Dropdown List', 'RETURN_ACTION_LIST', 'Refund, Replacement, Repair', 'On the "Return Authorization" Page, set the list of actions , in this format: Action 1,  Action 2', @t4, 6, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_textarea(');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Return - Show Store Name and Address', 'RETURN_STORE_NAME_ADDRESS', 'true', 'Include Store Name and Address', @t4, 7, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Define Return Authorization', 'DEFINE_RETURNS_STATUS', '1', 'Enable the Defined Return Authorization Link/Text?<br />0= Link ON, Define Text OFF<br />1= Link ON, Define Text ON<br />2= Link OFF, Define Text ON<br />3= Link OFF, Define Text OFF', @t4, 8, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''0'', ''1'', ''2'', ''3''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` VALUES (NULL, 'Return Authorization Version', 'RA_VERSION', '2.3.3', 'Return Authorization version', @t4, 9, NULL, now(), NULL, NULL);

Here is what I changed it to:

#Return Authorization SQL Install
# For Zen-Cart 1.3.9
# Last Updated: 4/13/2010

SET @t4=0;
SELECT (@t4:=configuration_group_id) as t4
FROM configuration_group
WHERE configuration_group_title= 'Return Authorization';
DELETE FROM configuration WHERE configuration_group_id = @t4;
DELETE FROM configuration_group WHERE configuration_group_id = @t4;
DELETE FROM configuration WHERE configuration_key = 'DEFINE_RETURNS_STATUS';

INSERT INTO configuration_group VALUES (NULL, 'Return Authorization', 'Return Authorization Display Settings', '1', '1');
UPDATE configuration_group SET sort_order = last_insert_id() WHERE configuration_group_id = last_insert_id();

SET @t4=0;
SELECT (@t4:=configuration_group_id) as t4
FROM configuration_group
WHERE configuration_group_title= 'Return Authorization';

INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Phone Number', 'RETURN_PHONE', 'true', 'Display phone number field', @t4, 1, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Item Name', 'RETURN_ITEM_NAME', 'true', 'Display Item Name field', @t4, 2, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Item Number', 'RETURN_ITEM_NUMBER', 'true', 'Display Item Number field', @t4, 3, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Total Value', 'RETURN_VALUE', 'true', 'Display Total Value', @t4, 4, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''), ');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Only registered customers may submit a return request', 'REGISTERED_RETURN', 'false', 'Only registered customers may submit a return request', @t4, 5, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Set "Return Action" Dropdown List', 'RETURN_ACTION_LIST', 'Refund, Replacement, Repair', 'On the "Return Authorization" Page, set the list of actions , in this format: Action 1,  Action 2', @t4, 6, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_textarea(');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Return - Show Store Name and Address', 'RETURN_STORE_NAME_ADDRESS', 'true', 'Include Store Name and Address', @t4, 7, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''true'', ''false''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Define Return Authorization', 'DEFINE_RETURNS_STATUS', '1', 'Enable the Defined Return Authorization Link/Text?<br />0= Link ON, Define Text OFF<br />1= Link ON, Define Text ON<br />2= Link OFF, Define Text ON<br />3= Link OFF, Define Text OFF', @t4, 8, NULL, now(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(''0'', ''1'', ''2'', ''3''),');
INSERT INTO `configuration` (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, last_modified, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Return Authorization Version', 'RA_VERSION', '2.3.3', 'Return Authorization version', @t4, 9, NULL, now(), NULL, NULL);