Need a new manual for VM 2 - can't figure out how to add customfields

[beevo]

I'm totally new to VM and downloaded the latest VM2. Admittedly it is really oversized for what I am trying to do. Given that this new site has only about 200 products to sell it seems using VM2 is cracking a nut with a sledgehammer. Especially as it is so complicated. I tried using simplecaddy but like it says, it's simple so I couldn't add variations to a product. Basically all I want to do is show an art piece and the same image can be bought as a print, laminated print, or framed print. I wanted the product to be shown and a drop down list beside the add to cart button.

Well I have been struggling now for three days with VM2 - and it didn't help that I was tring to learn how to use it using a manual that I've only discovered is for VM1! No wonder I couldn't find the modules and parameters it was taling about.

So, before I uninstall VM our of sheer frustratioin, Can anyone tell me how to set up a product and then have 3 options for the user to choose from with their own prices. Once I've done one I can do the other 199.

Maybe someone should consider doing a 'baby VM' component with just the minimum simple features for someone trying to sell just a few products.  - Just a thought.

Thanks for your help.

[beevo]

Replying to my own post here; I found the answer in the wiki version of the manual
http://dev.virtuemart.net/projects/virtuemart/wiki/Product_custom_fields_without_stock_control

It would be a good idea a link to the wiki on VM2 was posted beside the manual download area of the VM site.

Hope htis helps someone else struggling.

[Greenhouse]

Thanks Beevo... but how does this solve your problem? I can;t see anywhere here where it says, specifically, a dropdown. Is it "grouping custom fields"? I cannot create a drop down with several variants, no matter what I try. can you help?

TX

[beevo]

Yes Greenhouse. You are right. Because I was so delighted to actually find an area to edit to create custom fields, I was quick to jump to the conclusion that this would solve the problem. So far as I can see there are hundreds of posts trying to get this drop down to work and all of the answers mention this same link. But when you follow the instructions you only get a drop down for each of the attributes you've made.

There is no way for the user to actually select ONE option and then click 'add to cart'

There is an old saying here in Northern Ireland when someone complains about something they didn't pay for:
"So what do you want for nothing - your money back?"    Well, er, in this case yes sorta . . I've spent 4 days trying to get something to work, all the time considering it was my inadequacy and lack of knowledge that was the problem, when if fact it just doesn't work to begin with.

Seen as there are SO many looking for solutions to this surely someone, anyone, can make a definitive reply, even if it is to say, "It can't be done - there is a bug in the program" at least then we wouldn't be banging our heads off the wall trying to get it to work. I'll give it one more day before I uninstall VM. And if I have to, I will most certainly tell others to steer clear of it too to save them all the hassle. Meantime, I'm off to joomla extentions to see what else I can use instead.

[Greenhouse]

Thanks Beevo. This is insane. A single field isn't a "drop down". This should be a simple thing.... hard to imagine they are not addressing it.

[beevo]

OK, never let it be said I'm not a tryer.

I got this to work for my needs at least (although I would have preferred to be able to put in a Paypal code for each varient.
I'm sure you're familiar with most of this but I'll try to be detailed for newbies like myself.
Here goes:
In admin back end navigate to VirtueCart
go to the Products Area (left hand column and in click on Custom Fields.
Click on NEW
Set your parameters up like the attached picture.
The custom field type should be "CART VARIANT" - select that from the drop down list
Give your variant a name
       (as I'm selling art I called it "Art Vairant" but you can call yours "Colours" or whatever.)
Type in a desctiption
Leave DEFAULT blank
Type in a tool tip if you like "Choose what colour you want" or whatever
PARENT: leave at Please Select
Published YES
admin only NO
Is List NO
Hidden NO
Cart Attribute YES
================== save and exit the custom fields area
------------------
You will not need to go back in there again (well for this purpose anyway)
Now in the PRODUCTS area on the left click on Products
make a product
click on the final tab area on the right called custom fields

use the drop down manu under CUSTOM FIELD TYPE select an option
select the custom field you just made - in my case Art Variant (in your case colour or whatever)
now a variant will appear for you to populate
type in a variat and it's price
==============    NOW DON'T miss this bit
Now once again select Art Variant from the CUSTOM FIELD TYPE list
and Once again you get another variant to edit
Continue to your needs and save
when you've finished you will find at the front end ONE single drop down with a list of variants for that single product

Enjoy - I'm gonna have a beer now - I deserve it.



[attachment cleanup by admin]

[Greenhouse]

Thanks Beevo. You rock. What if the product has a single price? I want a price of $28 to display, and no matter which varient from the dropdown you choose, the price stays the same. Can't seem to get it. If I set the product price and leave the custom field price boxes blank, it puts a "free" next to it. Not ideal.

TX

[beevo]

I haven't checked this yet but I vaguely remember reading something about putting a plus sign or a minus sign in the price to do stuff. Have a few experiments. I'm in the middle of checking other stuff. For instance. I was dissapointed to find that if I clone a product it will NOT clone the variants I hvae on that product. For me this means putting three variants one by one on 200 products! Not happy with that.
I'll have to check out the tables for VM and see if I can't simply do a query and add them all in a single codeline.

Back soon.

[Greenhouse]

check out this overrides info. Works great...

http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=96968.0

[beevo]

Solves your problem, but not mine. Because a clone wont copy the custom fields I have to put them all in one by one - for 200 products - no joke

Thanks for sharing your learning though.

[beevo]

The copying of custom fields when cloning is now covered in the VM 2.0.1 so that's another problem sorted.
This link takes you to the download for VM 2.0.1 http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=96945.0

You just download this. unzip it. use joomla to install the com. package - you don't have to uninstall VM 2.0.0, it will just update that for you.
The same is true for the all in one modules and plugins - they are updated when you install the new version.

One thing. when you do update. there will be a "UPDATE FOUND CLICK TO UPDATE" button showing v 2.0.2 this will NOT update to that but will bring you back to version 2 (I believe). So just ignore it for now.

[PRO]

http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=90833.0

[blans]

That's still not very helpful banquet... I just came from that thread...

Like the subject says we need a new manual.

I think a lot of VM users would like to see a manual that simply states how to:

Add 250 products (t-shirts, pants etc...) with children (size, color etc..) that can be selected from a dropdown. When selecting a product the picture should change to that color/size picture.
Also how to simply add multiple pictures per t-shirt (front/sideways etc...). Oh yeh... It would be nice if the dropdown was in a good order XS-S-M-L-XL.

That would be a great start since getting this done even for me as an experienced VM user is pretty hard in VM2.

[Matto]

Thank you so much, Beevo.
As Greenhouse said, you really rock.

[rustle]

Thanks Beevo

after hours of banging my head off a wall,
you saved my life 


now what I am looking for is the ability to 2 or more drop down lists like you described above
If anybody knows the answer to this it would be much appreciated