modification of checkout_shipping

I need add a new text field below "Special Instructions or Comments About Your Order" field on the check out page. So I add

<fieldset class="shipping" id="partydate">
<legend><?php echo TABLE_HEADING_PARTYDATE; ?></legend>
<?php echo zen_draw_textarea_field('partydate', '45', '1'); ?>
</fieldset>
```in **shop\includes\templates\custom\templates\tpl_checkout_shipping_default.php**

and 

define('TABLE_HEADING_PARTYDATE', 'Please Tell Us the Date(s) of Your Birthday Party');

**also I add a text data field "partydate" into  database  table  "orders_status_history" . 

I would like to know anything else I need to modify to catch the data customer input into the text field I just added.

Thanks in advance!

Why during the checkout? Wouldn't it be better to get the date with the product it is associated with using the attributes?

Hi Kim,

The site sell party supplies, so better know when customer is going to do the party.

Any suggestion from you?

Cheers

bbai

Okay- the comments section isn't enough? You can change the "title" from special instructions to Party date and instructions.

Yes, change the title is the easiest way. I did the complex way to add an extra field, just because the client insist an separate field from the comments.