puzzling situation with attributes/model#/orders

Forgive me if this is in the wrong section...I didn't know where else to ask this. (And no offense if no one answers…I have stumped you too! :blink:)

I am setting up Zen Cart for a friend (first time to sell online) who owns a stationery shop (and has for 11 years). She LOVES ZC:clap:, but we have one problem we haven't been able to figure out dealing with her ordering process. She has a set of codes that tell her everything about the order--basically how to put the stationery together. Like this:

A.B.2.0000.1.AR.RD

A=card type, B=paper type, 2= product size, 0000=graphic used, 1= graphic occurrence, AR=font type, RD=color

Obviously attributes play a role in the selection, but the customer can only pick certain ones depending on the product (like the font choice AR and color RD), the rest are standard. For the products "in-stock" (although there is really nothing out of stock since it is created as it is ordered), the string of numbers (above) is assigned an ID--which I have as the model number in ZC. Unfortunately, if any part of the string changes (the customer wants a different font) then the model number is incorrect.:frusty:

The problem lies with filling the order. The only thing that shows up on the order are the attributes that have to be selected. Sparing the details, she has to have the whole string to access the files correctly…which is obviously not on the order.

So I have figured out…I can create the attributes that don’t change. For example, a picklist with only the graphic image that applies to that product, there is no choice but it will show up on the order. My question for that is…Is there anyway to put in a note next to the attribute "For Office Use"? Or is there a way to hide that attribute to show up on the order, but not on the product page?

The other question is…Is there a way to assign a “model#” to an option value? For example, if you pick the font Arial from the picklist, the backend sees it as a model# (or AR).

Do you see another way around this? Thanks to all who read this far!

www.octobersmith.com/kkcards

[QUOTE=osmith;528033]
Is there anyway to put in a note next to the attribute "For Office Use"? Or is there a way to hide that attribute to show up on the order, but not on the product page?

I believe that an attribute selector (radio button, dropdown, text box) is assigned a style ID that is generated from the Attribute's ID number, thereby making that attrubute selector unique. It MAY be possible (I'm not sure) to HIDE the attribute if you include a "display:none" condition in your stylesheet, eg:

#attrib-1 { display: none; }

Try it - see what happens.

The other question is…Is there a way to assign a “model#” to an option value? For example, if you pick the font Arial from the picklist, the backend sees it as a model# (or AR).

I do not believe this is possible without some pretty nifty backend coding!