VirtueMart Forum

VirtueMart 2 + 3 + 4 => Administration & Configuration => Topic started by: cback on March 08, 2022, 11:08:29 AM

Title: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 11:08:29 AM
Hi guys,

I hope someone can help.  VM version 3.6.0 10113

I often have customers that want to reserve products and pay later.  So they need to be able to place the order, CONFIRM it, but when the payment window pops up, they close it.   This causes the order to be registered in the system, but with status 'PENDING'.  I can then make changes if necessary or add discount or whatever, then I send customer payment link to pay when they are ready and after that I confirm the order for real.   The issue is, that lately (I have no idea why), when the customer tries to place multiple (reservation) orders in this way.... the previous pending orders are being messed up (the products are being replaced by new products from the subsequent orders).   Also, bunches of order numbers are just missing/not being used.  It's all very creepy.   For example, yesterday I had an order in the system (one of these pending reservations), it was just waiting to be paid for.... but then customer tried to place some new reservations and today this order has vanished.

I really need the reservation functionality.

Does anyone have any clues as to what's going on or how I can fix this?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 11:39:18 AM
I think this is a new "feature". VM reuses orders overwites old pending orders. This can be inactivated.

https://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/206-hidden-configurations.html (https://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/206-hidden-configurations.html)

You have to set

reuseorders=0

Jörgen @ Kreativ Fotografi

Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 11:58:03 AM
Thank you, but according to my .cfg file it's already on 0.  I tried this a while back.....  but no fix, hence my return here LOL

Or is there something wrong in the .cfg maybe?

Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 12:12:51 PM
Have You updated the .cfg file in VM backend ?

Just changing data in the file is not enough.

Jörgen
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 12:14:29 PM
I am not familiar with any of this, so thanks for tip, where do I change this in backend please?
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 12:16:30 PM
https://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/206-hidden-configurations.html (https://docs.virtuemart.net/manual/general-concepts/206-hidden-configurations.html)

Jörgen
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 12:23:21 PM
Yes, I saw the link and read it, but as I say I have no idea about this... where exactly must I change these settings if not only in the .cfg file?  In some table?  Where do I find this please?  Complete newbie here.
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 12:50:30 PM
Change any setting and save.
Reset setting and save again.

Might work with just saving, but no harm in trying.

Jörgen
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 12:56:34 PM
I am not sure I am being understood LOL

I have been all over the VM backend config for hours, cannot find any setting to do with reusing order numbers.

I downloaded .cfg file via FTP (from the location in the link you sent)  , changed it to reuseorders=0 and uploaded again.

Still it doesn't work.

With each order I create,  thre previous pending order is deleted and a new order number is assigned. 



Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 12:58:28 PM
I am also curious if other people also have this issue... I cannot surely be the only one who needs this functionality LOL
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 13:13:30 PM
I have done everything suggested 3 times over now, but it's not working.   If anyone else has any other suggestions, I'd be very thankful. 
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 13:25:53 PM
Have you saved the configuration as my imaged showed, after you updated the .cfg file ?

Jörgen
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 13:26:49 PM
Yep, multiple times.  Even undid it all and did it over (changing from 0 to 1 and back to 0) and saving again and again  ..... not working :(
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: Jörgen on March 08, 2022, 13:40:29 PM
OK, then I am out of ideas.

Jörgen
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 08, 2022, 14:13:08 PM
No problem, thanks for trying.  Hope someone else has further ideas.
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: pinochico on March 09, 2022, 23:30:23 PM
There is nothing easier than creating a payment method using standard payment and naming it Reservation and setting a new status after confirming the order - not Pending, but Reservation.

The order will be completed and other orders will no longer interfere with it.

Don't forget about setup send email and stock
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 08:32:00 AM
Wow, thank you so much for this idea!  I have got it working I think..... just one question, how do I add the little icons to make the system still send an email to me and the customer, and the icon to allow editing of the reservation order?  Please see attachment :) I can't find these settings anywhere....
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: pinochico on March 10, 2022, 10:37:34 AM
You don't' find really :)

I think TAB template
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 10:43:05 AM
I am sorry, I have no clue where to find that.... can you explain or do you have a screenshot?
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 10:44:45 AM
Because when I create the reservation order myself to test, I do not get the confirmation in my email.   BUT, when I canceled it, and choose 'notify customer', then I did get the cancellation message in my email.  So just need to make sure customers are getting the confirmations/cancellation messages as well.
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: pinochico on March 10, 2022, 10:59:46 AM
Config, TAB orders
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 11:27:02 AM
Thank you, have done this. 

But same freaky issue.

1. Customer just placed 2 reservation orders direclty one after the other, to test.  (22716 and 22717)
2. First order she places should have number 22716.  If you look at the numbering system, you will see it is missing (see screenshot).  But it's not really missing.
3. So I search for the number.   VM has now replaced a previous pending order of customer (226**), from 03 march, with this new reservation order and changed the old order number to this new one 22716.  Previous order number is gone and information (products and quantities) have been overwritten.

I am at a loss, have no idea what is going on here.



Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: pinochico on March 10, 2022, 12:24:29 PM
First - sorry, im not your developer - I make only journey and other is about you (testing, setup)
Second - why is order in Pending? Do you read carefoull my idea? - After confirm reservation, then order change from pending to reservation status - this status is finally status before send payment info by email == not changed others NEW!!!! orders (not olders)....
Third - why check the old orders? Old orders is completely lost with new system - new idea will be ok only for new orders

Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 12:58:02 PM
I know you're not my developer.  I don't have one, that's why I'm trying to learn and figure stuff out on my own, with a bit of help if possible  :)

To answer your questions:

Before your suggestion of creating a new payment method, the customer already had some pending orders, waiting for payment.  So the way it worked in the past was that they would follow all checkout steps and confirm the order, but then when PayPal window pops up, they close it.  This way, the order comes into VM backend and remains on pending.   This used to work just fine, until suddenly a few weeks ago, it didn't and all the orders started getting overwritten and order numbers missing.   So that's why I am here and I now created the new payment method (reservation) as per your suggestion and I am very grateful for the tip.
The reason I am mentioning older orders is because the older pending order from 3 march has now been overwritten bij the new reservation order.  The number of the older order is gone and replaced with new number from today.

Perhaps I need to cancel all pending orders of customer first.  I will try this.

I did notice though that when the new reservation emails come in (order confirmation email) there is strange information in subject line, not like it normally is.   COM_VIRTUEMART_MAIL_SUBJ_VENDOR_L     Is this something that can be fixed to show the correct subject like with regular orders which are not reservations?

Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: GJC Web Design on March 10, 2022, 14:12:56 PM
->  COM_VIRTUEMART_MAIL_SUBJ_VENDOR_L

make an overide in the normal Joomla way - in the admin language - check the box  for both
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: cback on March 10, 2022, 14:20:44 PM
Thank you for the reply, but I don't have a clue what you're talking about.  I guess you really do need to have some basic understanding of VM before asking these complicated questions here on the forum. 
I guess I'll try and find someone who can help with this all, but I am very thankful for all the tips and suggestions so far. 
Title: Re: Making reservations
Post by: pinochico on March 10, 2022, 14:38:18 PM
QuotePerhaps I need to cancel all pending orders of customer first.

Of course - old orders you have to change to new status Reservation

> COM_VIRTUEMART_MAIL_SUBJ_VENDOR_L

if you create new status with char L == you have to add new language constant to language ini file:

COM_VIRTUEMART_MAIL_SUBJ_VENDOR_L=="Reservation" (find other language constant where exist in FTP -> COM_VIRTUEMART_MAIL_SUBJ_VENDOR)

Don't forget - the best option the after creation language constant in override or putting in language INI file, then change name of new order status to language constant too (if you use multilanguage eshop)

If you don't understand about language constant, function and override - first learn about this something how function Joomla and language constant on Joomla:
https://docs.joomla.org/J3.x:Language_Overrides_in_Joomla
https://docs.joomla.org/Help310:Extensions_Language_Manager_Overrides/en
https://www.joomlashack.com/blog/joomla/language-constants/