Can I do this - manual input of invoice cost

[Seelife]

Hi Folks - I am trying again to get VM2 working for my needs.
I am selling services and will likely use one of the digital download plugins to do this.
But a question - I would like clients to be able to pay an invoice "manually" ie there is no fixed cost product.

I was looking at a "Order service" that would then be invoiced eg using maybe VMinvoices.
or even better - I send clients an invoice and they they login and pay the invoice amount - again not a fixed cost/product.
Then the client pays the invoice with the amount in the invoice through the payment processor.
I have a working Gate2Shop plugin for VM2

Has anyone done this or can describe how to set this up.

[jenkinhill]

Use a purchase order system - search the forum for "purchase order" Then you can invoice however you like.

eg http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=104494.msg348264#msg348264

[PRO]

http://www.artio.net/virtuemart-tools/vm-invoice-generator
http://www.artio.net/e-shop/joomla-extensions/vm-invoice

[lindapowers]

Also:

http://www.chillcreations.com/joomla-extensions/ccinvoices-joomla-invoicing-extension
http://www.chillcreations.com/joomla-extensions/ccvaom-virtuemart-pdf-invoices

[Seelife]

Thanks for the feedback.  That is helpful.
I may not be understanding properly tho.
I see that I can create invoices with a number of plugins - these sem fine. But can someone just explain - when the client gets the invoice - what happens.  Do I have to create the order (with the amount in the invoice plugin -VM) or do these invoice systems ALSO create an order - so that the client then enters and "pays" the invoiced amount using my payment processor?
What I mean is - does that invoice generate the order that the client pays - or is it JUST an invoice generator.
Sorry if I sound dense  - I just want to be clear before jumping in setting up.
Thanks

[jenkinhill]

The last 4 links above are just for invoicing addons. The orders are made in VirtueMart which is set up not to process any payment, but to simply save and email the actual order information (to the store admin). The admin can then issue an invoice to the cutomer, using one of the above or an alternate system. For example one of my clients issues invoices for payment through PayPal using PayPal's own invoicing system.

[Seelife]

Hi Jenkinhill, thanks for that.
Any suggestions then on how to do this :
1  manual or thro an invoice plugin -
   A  send an invoice to client where I have specified an amount to pay
   B or have them place an order for a service & get an invoice (in this case the fee may not be set yet)
   (this i understand can be done with an invoice plugin)
   
2  I update the order with invoice fee in VM
3  direct client to pay invoice as per invoice instructions
4  Client goes to pay the invoice VM to my payment processor (gate2shop)

Or is there a simple stupid way to do this.
Basically I want my clients to pay an invoice thro VM for a service - which connects to my payment processor.
I just want a way so that if I have an "odd" amount as invoices are not fixed prices - so there isnt a product to click & buy.

EDIT :
OK I see that the Artio Invoices I can MANUALLY create an order -
So - if I create an order in VM/Artio - send the invoice - the client can then login and pay in VM - Yes or No?

For instance one client may be invoiced for $2000 another for $750 - so I have no fixed product cost.
Thanks for input.

[PRO]

OK I see that the Artio Invoices I can MANUALLY create an order -
So - if I create an order in VM/Artio - send the invoice - the client can then login and pay in VM - Yes or No?

For instance one client may be invoiced for $2000 another for $750 - so I have no fixed product cost.
Thanks for input.

this is a question for artio

I just posted a link to them. I do not use it

[reinhold]

If you simply want to create an order for an amount that is not a fixed product price, you can use my "VM2 Donations" Plugin:
http://www.open-tools.net/virtuemart-2-extensions/vm2-donation-plugin.html

It provides an input box, where the buyer can enter the amount that will be added to the product price (e.g. for donations). However, if you set the product price to 0.00001 (if you set it to exactly 0, no "Add to Cart" button will be shown in the default template...), you can enter the full product price yourself.

Together with the Joomla masteruser plugin (http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/access-a-security/site-access/authentication-management/12851 ), this allows you to create create orders for you clients, where you can enter the product prices yourself.

Reinhold