custom field

[taffinity]

I just want to add a text box for customer to enter some text when ordering a product.
This is a very basic thing.
I have followed the basic instructions on creating a custom field.
Everytime I go to the front end and it is not showing up.
I assume it should show up in the product page near the button for "add to cart"
They would enter text in box and then add to cart.
I tryed text box and editor and string variables.
some of the pages the "add to cart" disappeared.
Almost like it is there but invisible?? I did see a comment about make visible to customer... but didnt know what that was referring to, nor do I see it in my menus.
thanks for any help

using joomla 2.5.8
vm 2.0.20b

thanks for any help.
If yo want to see the page...
I read through many of the post about this, but not finding an answer.

[PRO]

Did u try the textinput plugin.and it has to be set as a "cart variant"

[taffinity]

yes, I did the cart variant.
Now a choice is showing up in the product page, but it doesnt give a box for the user to type into.

http://tennisaffinity.com/index.php/tennis-store/send-a-card/first-tennist-detail
if you want a visual.

I have the custom settings as:
cart variant
published: yes
Parent: no drop downs avail
cart attribute: yes
Description: descrip what to do    
Default   : empty... didnt know what to put
Tooltip: info about what to do   
Layout position: I put left?   
Admin only    No   
Is a list?    No   Yes tryed both
Hidden    No 

thanks for any more tips
ss

[PRO]

ONLY the input plugin will work for this

Cart variant YES because it gets passed to the cart.

LAYOUT positions for CART variants are ALWAYS by the add to cart button. So this is always empty witth cart variants



Type "Plugins"
Cart Variant YES
Down at the bottom, choose "textinput" in the dropdown

[taffinity]

you say: ONLY the input plugin will work for this....
Are you saying I need to install a plugin
I notice a couple of links for below your suggestion.
Is that plugin that I install to get this?
if so your instructions say install, but how do you install. I went to the plugin manager and dont see an install button??

The choices I have now 
Custom field type: I chose  "Plugins"
Cart Variant YES
(choose "textinput" in the dropdown)
Down at the bottom, their are three select a plugin, the only one that refers to text is
VM - custom customer text input

thanks sorry this is a pain.

[PRO]

VM - custom customer text input

^^