Add Product Descriptions to Customer Order Confirmation Email and to Basket screen

[kiblinger]

Looking for a module that will allow me to add Product Descriptions to the Customer Order Confirmation Email. As it stands now, the email tells the customer they ordered a widget, but there is no confirmation as to what color, etc.

Essentially, I want more control over the email message so I can say something like, "Thanks for ordering a blue shirt, size XL" instead of just, "Thanks for ordering a shirt."

I'd also like similar control of the BASK screen - I assume a module might also exist for that?

Thanks all!

ck

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

You could do this with Other Page Templates (http://tinyurl.com/jv8mn) by Viking Coders, however it is unnecessary. Do you not have colors and size as attributes?

[kiblinger]

I thought attributes might be the answer but I can't figure out how to import
them from my flat file. I am driving the front end of the site with PHP and a MySQL DB (since there seems to be no way to connect directly to miva's product DB/table -- let me know if I'm wrong about that), and I'm driving the shopping cart end with MM/OUI. I upload a flat file to update miva rather than go through the tedious process of entering info directly.

http://www.clickdesignthatfits.com/

So if I create a "size" attribute and a "color" attribute in miva for each product (manually, one at a time, I presume?) can those fields be filled from the respective columns in my flat file the next time I upload it?

Thanks very much --- I am still getting my sea legs,

ck

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

You cant import them in that manner.

However, you can create an attribute template, and assign that template to your products via flat file.

If you need MySQL intergration, you should seriously consider upgrading to MM5, unless other functions or features provided in MM4 are not available via MM5 modules.

Otherwise you're just duplicating your efforts having both PHP pages with product info and MIVA's dynamic product displays.

[kiblinger]

Aha -- I may be answering part of my own question. I am re-reading miva Help re: Product Attributes and Attribute Templates, though some of it is not clear. Quote:

one template can be applied to many products attributes for one product only can be copied into product attributes
can be copied to into product attributes and modified for that specific product
Any advice is appreciated!

[kiblinger]

Re: MM5 --- my client's hosting co. offers 4.23 free so that's what I get for now. Perhaps I can convince them to buy 5 but I doubt it.

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

There is no reason to buy MM5, when there are plenty of hosts (like ourselves) who offer MIVA Merchant 5 included in the hosting packages.

You also should update v4.23 to v4.24 if you plan to say on MM4. There are a number of security and bug patches for v4.24 that should be applied.

[kiblinger]

Good advice -- will look into upgrading 4.23 to 4.24, and ultimately into host-switching. Though the latter will be a hard sell as their current ISP is really cheap. But perhaps I can make the MM5 case convincingly.

So, I am still pretty lost as to how to "create an attribute template, and assign that template to your products via flat file" -- I made some Attribute Templates but I don't even understand how to apply them to products in miva, and I can't figure out what a flat file would need to be structured like to eventually upload and fill in the template fields in miva, wherever they are. Any pointers or URLs to read greatly appreciated,

Thanks again,

ck

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

That cheap generally translates to a cutback in something else, like competence, support, etc.

The few bucks they save each month with a cheap host may be dwarfed in an instant should should the site go down at 2am and the host cant be reached.

Equate it to the customer like this...when renting storefront space...yea, it might be cheaper to rent in a poorer neighborhood - but how often will they be vandalized, victimized or robbed? :)

Choosing a host is very often overlooked as one of the most important business decisions a e-store owner will ever make.

[kiblinger]

Thanks for the advice. I will investigate later.

Meantime I am interseted in:

How to "create an attribute template, and assign that template to your products via flat file" -- I made some Attribute Templates but I don't even understand how to apply them to products in miva, and I can't figure out what a flat file would need to be structured like to eventually upload and fill in the template fields in miva, wherever they are.

Any pointers or URLs to read greatly appreciated,

Thanks again,

ck

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

All of those things are covered in the MM4 docs.

http://docs.smallbusiness.miva.com/en-US/merchant/4/webhelp/create_attribute_templates.htm

[kiblinger]

Right - As I noted before, I have been re-reading those. Some tech-editing was overlooked in key places, such as this bullet point which makes no sense:

"one template can be applied to many products attributes for one product only can be copied into product attributes"

I was hoping to find another, clearer how-to manual or something....