MiniVend allows item attributes to be set for each ordered item. This allows a size, color, or other modifier to be attached to a common part number. If multiple attributes are set, then they should be separated by commas. Previous attribute values can be saved by means of a hidden field on a form, and multiple attributes for each item can be stacked on top of each other.
The configuration file directive UseModifier is used to set the name of the modifier or modifiers. For example
UseModifier size,color
will attach both a size and color attribute to each item code that is ordered.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You may not use the following names for attributes:
item group quantity code mv_ib mv_mi mv_si
You can also set it in scratch with the mv_UseModifier scratch variable -- [set mv_UseModifier]size color[/set] has the same effect as above. This allows multiple options to be set for
products. Whichever one is in effect at order time will be used. Be
careful, you cannot set it more than once on the same page. Setting the mv_separate_items or global directive SeparateItems
places each ordered item on a separate line, simplifying attribute
handling. The scratch setting for mv_separate_items has the same effect.
The modifier value is accessed in the [item-list] loop with the
[item-modifier attribute] tag, and form input fields are placed with the
[modifier-name attribute] tag. This is similar to the way that quantity is handled, except that
attributes can be ``stacked'' by setting multiple values in an input form.
You cannot define a modifier name of code or quantity, as they are already used. You must be sure that no fields in your forms
have digits appended to their names if the variable is the same name as the
attribute name you select, as the [modifier-name size] variables will be placed in the user session as the form variables size0,
size1, size2, etc.
You can use the [loop arg="item item item"] list to reference multiple display or selection fields for modifiers (in
MiniVend 3.0, you can have it automatically generated --see below). The
modifier value can then be used to select data from an arbitrary database
for attribute selection and display.
Below is a fragment from a shopping basket display form which shows a
selectable size with ``sticky'' setting. Note that this would always be
contained within the [item_list] [/item-list]
pair.
<SELECT NAME="[modifier-name size]">
<OPTION [selected [modifier-name size] S]> S
<OPTION [selected [modifier-name size] M]> M
<OPTION [selected [modifier-name size] L]> L
<OPTION [selected [modifier-name size] XL]> XL
</SELECT>
It could just as easily be done with a radio button group combined with the [checked ...] tag.
MiniVend 3.0 will automatically generate the above select box when the [accessories <code size]> or [item-accessories size]
tags are called. They have the syntax:
[item_accessories attribute*, type*, field*, database*, name*, outboard*] [accessories code attribute*, type*, field*, database*, name*, outboard*]
The item attribute as specified in the UseModifier configuration directive. Typical are size or color.
select Builds a dropdown <SELECT> menu for the attribute.
NOTE: This is the default.
multiple Builds a multiple dropdown <SELECT> menu for the
attribute. The size is equal to the number of
option choices.
display Shows the label text for *only the selected option*.
show Shows the option choices (no labels) for the option.
radio Builds a radio box group for the item, with spaces
separating the elements.
radio nbsp Builds a radio box group for the item, with
separating the elements.
radio left n Builds a radio box group for the item, inside a
table, with the checkbox on the left side. If "n"
is present and is a digit from 2 to 9, it will align
the options in that many columns.
radio right n Builds a radio box group for the item, inside a
table, with the checkbox on the right side. If "n"
is present and is a digit from 2 to 9, it will align
the options in that many columns.
check Builds a checkbox group for the item, with spaces
separating the elements.
check nbsp Builds a checkbox group for the item, with
separating the elements.
check left n Builds a checkbox group for the item, inside a
table, with the checkbox on the left side. If "n"
is present and is a digit from 2 to 9, it will align
the options in that many columns.
check right n Builds a checkbox group for the item, inside a
table, with the checkbox on the right side. If "n"
is present and is a digit from 2 to 9, it will align
the options in that many columns.
The default is 'select', which builds an HTML select form entry for the attribute. Also recognized is 'multiple', which generates a multiple-selection drop down list, 'show', which shows the list of possible attributes, and 'display', which shows the label text for the selected option only.
When called with an attribute, the database is consulted and looks for a comma-separated list of attribute options. They take the form:
name=Label Text, name=Label Text*
The label text is optional -- if none is given, the name will be used.
If an asterisk is the last character of the label text, the item is the default selection. If no default is specified, the first will be the default. An example:
[item_accessories color]
This will search the product database for a field named ``color''. If an entry ``beige=Almond, gold=Harvest Gold, White*, green=Avocado'' is found, a select box like this will be built:
<SELECT NAME="mv_order_color">
<OPTION VALUE="beige">Almond
<OPTION VALUE="gold">Harvest Gold
<OPTION SELECTED>White
<OPTION VALUE="green">Avocado
</SELECT>
In combination with the mv_order_item and mv_order_quantity variables this can be used to allow entry of an attribute at time of order.
If used in an item list, and the user has changed the value, the generated select box will automatically retain the current value the user has selected.
The value can then be displayed with [item-modifier size] on the order report, order receipt, or any other page containing an
[item-list].