Gentlemen:

Mine is an odd requirement but it has been a very difficult topic on a number of fronts.

First, let me describe the website I have developed. It has just 1 product. There are, however, some 8 million variations based on a series of options that can be specified. These options are handled by a form builder component that has been adapted to work right in the Product Details page in Virtuemart. The 50 or so fields required to configure the variations of the product are all located in the form. The form appears to VirtueMart as a plugin Custom Field and the details of the specification are stored in the Product Attribute column in the VM Order Item table. This approach marries the flexibility of a form builder package with the e-commerce capabilities of VirtueMart and it seems to work well.

I run an English language website. However, I need to send a Delivery Note to a fulfillment house, who will do the actual manufacturing (to the specification provided) and shipping. That note and invoice need to be in a language other then English. That is a straightforward thing to do. I just create the email message and invoice templates in the other language and it gets sent off.

The problem is the Product Attribute field. As I mentioned above, it appears as a plug-in Custom Field. Plugin Custom Fields do not appear to be subject to the multi-language capabilities of Joomla and VirtueMart (the "standard" VM Custom Fields are, apparently, but not the plug-ins).

So, here's the problem. Before the Delivery Note Invoice is sent, I need to do a simple series of "string-replace" functions on the contents of the Product Attribute. Only for Delivery Notes, not for regular invoices. Is there somewhere in the code where I can add these functions? If so, where do I do it?

Now I know that this will make support an issue. It will be necessary for me to report possible errors from original code only and I know I will have to apply my adaptation after any future upgrades. I'm not overly happy about this but it is, I believe, what I have to do (unless someone out there has a better approach).

I have been looking at another component to solve this problem but I don't believe (at this time) that it can work. I planned to use VM Invoices to allow updates to the VM orders (it will even allow me to update the Product Attribute field even if it is a little awkward). Now, I also plan on using VM Invoices to send Confirmation emails and PDF Invoices (I like the way the Template can be adapted, it gives a great deal of flexibility). So, regardless of how things work out, I intend to use VM Invoices.

So, gentlemen, your thoughts on this problem of mine. Can you accommodate me? It would be brilliant if you could!

Sheldon

Dear Sheldon,

can you send us info about that plugin you are using for custom fields?

I did not want to mention product names on this Forum as I do not want to be thought of as promoting it. I am just a satisfied user. So, just to be clear, I get no compensation of any sort from the component vendor.

The component in question is a variation of Breezing Forms. The form output is stored as a single Product Attribute complete with the HTML needed to display or print it correctly. I have attached an image of a typical Product Attribute as seen from your own VM Invoices Order Items edit screen. As you will see, it is just an HTML string with field labels, HTML tags (e.g. <span>, <\/span>, <br\/>, etc. - note the "\" escaped back slashes). I have also attached a sample PDF invoice (again as generated by VM Invoices).

There is really nothing special about this Product Attribute save its size. There are a lot of options when it comes to specifying some items...

Hope this helps.

Sheldon

Sorry. Failed to notice I could not attach a PDF. Attached is a PNG of a single Item from an order. It will let you see how the Product Attribute prints/displays.

Regards,

Sheldon

Too big a file...

Attached is a small JPG.

Sheldon