ImageMap - Order from Outside X-Cart
 

Hi guys,

ok, so I KNOW this has to be the wrong category to put this post under, but I couldn't decide where it belonged ;) Funkydunk, please move it as you see fit.

I have a client who wants to use X-Cart. Nothing wrong with that, the problem starts the he wants to add items to the cart via an imagemap OUSIDE the store.

Basically, he has a parts catalog with a diagram of the part. When a user clicks on the part, it takes him to the order page, fills in a quantity, and then retuns back to the diagram. There are muliple diagrams (look at http://www.ronlund.com/nova.htm as an example). Basically, each of those graphics, he will make an imagemap and link back to the store.

Currently they suggest people open two browsers, one for the plans, and one for the store. Will this work? Is there an easier way?

I know I could do something like:
/customer/cart.php?productid=whatever&amount=1
but will this work for his needs? He would enter that link on one page, then open a new window with the x-cart for the order. What happens if the client CLOSES that new window?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

you could add these pages as extra pages in xcart and take out the move to cart option. you could even create a new customer/home.tpl that looses the side menus if space is an issue.

You would need to hard code thie links though with your image map to get the products to add to the cart.

I can kind of see why they want to do it this way but it will be a pain.

I may be way off the bat on this one, but here this is my suggestion.

Why not have the assembly diagrams open in a popup window and have them request the individual product info be displayed in the store/main window. Add a close button and maybe a right/left arrow navigation scheme for browsing categories on the pop up window. I think you could hardcode categories.tpl to include the open window behaviour so that it would stay dynamic.

Would "_parent" work for calling back to the cart? I dunno.

My idea may be too simple. I'd be interested to see your solution to this.

:)

Thanks for the suggestion guys.. No word from the client how they're going to proceed at the moment. A second window as a popup will probably be the choice at the moment, the trick is just making it work ;)

Basically calling the cart in the background (possibly even in a small 100pixel frame at the top the screen to enter the product to the cart. Then once the user is ready to check out, launch that frame in full screen. That MIGHT take care of it. I'm concerned about dropping sessions etc too...

Still batting around ideas. I'll let y'all know what direction we diecide to head with this client. Any other suggestions, keep 'em comming!