[Olof]

Hello CSC,

Can you please provide detailed information on what changes have been made in Version 4.3.1 in the area's of Options, Option Combinations?

We are about to start a custom-development project to overcome some shortcomings in CSC in those areas. But before doing that, we would love to know what 4.3.1 will bring.

Found some info on the forum:
A. uservoice request 'started' https://cscart.userv...ns-total-import
B. CSC answer to a question of mine: http://(http://forum...a/page__st__40)

In short, since 4.3.1 you have full control over options, you can export/import the following:
- option combinations (images)
- option exceptions
- option variants (price/weight modifiers, images)

Besides you can make update these properties not only with Export/Import but also using API.

Our questions (based on playing with Beta 3 version, with many thanks to EcomLabs' online demo)
1. Stock levels (quantities) per Option Combination;
1.1 able to export/import via CSV? (we see no new fields in the export engine in Beta3)
1.2 via API?

2. Absolute pricing per Option Combination
2.1 Is now possible? (we see no new fields in Beta3)
2.2 if yes, than same question as 1.1
2.3 if yes, than same question as 1.2

3. New discount structures possible per Option Combination?

4. VAT calculations possible per Option Combination?

5. Options (not O.Combinations) can have its own SKU code per variant? (thereby eliminating the need for creating Option Combinations if you only have 1 Option set)

6. ....other changes....?

Thank you in advance
Olof

[Olof]

I went ahead and asked the above questions to CSC support desk (spending some valuable credits..). Please see below their answer, perhaps it can be of benefit to others as well.

Personally, the addition of Quantity field to Option Combinations is a big improvement for those of us who need to manage/sync inventory per physical item. But it is strange & disappointing to read that Option Combinations will not have any price functionality. Managing quantities per product but without pricing / discounts is just plain strange...

----------------------------------------------------------------

Message:
Thank you for your time and patience and sorry for the delay in answering.

Our questions (based on playing with Beta 3 version)

1. Stock levels (quantities) per Option Combination;
1.1 able to export/import via CSV? (we see no new fields in the export engine in Beta3)
1.2 via API?

Yes, there will be an ability to export/import option combinations via Export/Import data functionality in CS-Cart version 4.3.1. Also option combinations can be updated via API. This functionality is available in CS-Cart version 4.3.1 Beta 4. You can download it from our community forum:

http://forum.cs-cart...-cart-431-beta/

The option combinations have the Quantity field, so their inventory can be edited, via Import/Export data functionality and API.

2. Absolute pricing per Option Combination
2.1 Is now possible? (we see no new fields in Beta3)
2.2 if yes, than same question as 1.1
2.3 if yes, than same question as 1.2
3. New discount structures possible per Option Combination?
4. VAT calculations possible per Option Combination?

Unfortunately, option combinations do not have prices and do not work with them. So, discounts and tax calculations will not be available for option combinations.

5. Options (not O.Combinations) can have its own SKU code per variant? (thereby eliminating the need for creating Option Combinations if you only have 1 Option set)
6. ....other changes....?

Unfortunately, product option variants do not have the CODE (SKU) field. For this reason the Option combinations functionality was added.

This is all information which we can provide you at the moment. The full list of changes will be provided in the changelog after final version of CS-Cart version 4.3.1 is released. We will announce it in our blog:

http://blog.cs-cart.com/

Thank you.
---
Sincerely yours,
Evgeniy Tyulenev
Technical support engineer
CS-Cart Knowledge Base: http://kb.cs-cart.com
CS-Cart Reference Guide: http://www.cs-cart.c...ence-guide.html
CS-Cart Community Forums: http://forum.cs-cart.com

[imac]

Dear Olof,

In CS-Cart we will make some changes to how product options and global options work. This will lead to incompatibility of modification you are planning to in 4.3.1
Main idea is to let customers filter by product options in the Storefront.
We will make all options global, and each product will have it's own values for the global options you assign to it.

I'm not sure at the moment if we will change option combinations behavior or not.

[Olof]

Hello Imac,

Thanks for the update. But I'm having trouble understanding what you are writing and what specifically is/is not changing.

For us, it does not matter if changes are made to Options or Option Combinations, as long as certain functions are created. What we (and others I believe) need per physical product variant:
1. SKU code
2. Quantity
3. Absolute Price
4. Price functionality (discount rates, VAT)

Example/definition of product variant: Shirt-Yellow-Large

Thanks
Olof

[pbannette]

Hi,
Would like to see more information on proposed options changes. I had and may have again, products with up to 10 text field/areas options.Different for each of 200 products. The products use 3 or for Global Options and then up to 10 text field options per product., each with expressions to limit text and row input. Are you also making these text fields global? This would mean I would have about 2000 global options. I hope its not what I have seen in other carts. Could not use them.
Also, I would like to see an option type: Product. The selection in the drop-down would be another product. There would probably have to be a restriction that these products could not have options.
Thank you,
Bob

[JackConnick]

Yes, the option combinations are pretty much a kludge. There should be a code for each option and the ability to link it to another product code so as to adjust inventory on both. It could be much more pimplier and useful.

[tomalau]

@imac, can you guys fix the issue with exceptions on combination?

If a product combination is in an order, the stock is -1, and if the stock is 1, the combination is automatically added to the exceptions.

But if the order is cancelled, the combination has 1 product in stock, but the exception is still there, so it can't be ordered by another customer.

[imac]

@imac, can you guys fix the issue with exceptions on combination?

If a product combination is in an order, the stock is -1, and if the stock is 1, the combination is automatically added to the exceptions.

But if the order is cancelled, the combination has 1 product in stock, but the exception is still there, so it can't be ordered by another customer.

At the moment you can use 3rd party add-on for this: http://marketplace.c...t-variants.html
But I cannot guarantee if it works correctly.

We have this request in out tracker and most probably will add this together with options refactoring.

[P-Pharma]

I can recommend that addon. Its essential functionality,

[harrynguyen88]

I think this can be a potential features

[Damir (WSA-team)]

4. VAT calculations possible per Option Combination?

Dear Olof,

Maybe our the "Product combinations VAT" add-on can help you.

Thank you.

[Olof]

Hello Damir,

Dear Olof,

Maybe our the "Product combinations VAT" add-on can help you.

Thank you.

Hello Damir,
Thank you for the suggestion, I will look into it. At this moment, I'm waiting for a stable 4.3.X version to migrate to (from 4.1.3) before adding any new add-ons.

However, 4.3.X, while an improvement in Options/Combinations, is not addressing the core problems with Options & Option Combinations. Real work at the architecture-level is needed, in order to comply with Amazon, Ebay, Google requirements

Please vote for it if you agree: https://cscart.userv...y-amazon-and-go

More discussion info can be found here:
http://forum.cs-cart...__fromsearch__1
and
http://forum.cs-cart...__fromsearch__1

thanks
Olof

[amdowney]

At the moment you can use 3rd party add-on for this: http://marketplace.c...t-variants.html
But I cannot guarantee if it works correctly.

We have this request in out tracker and most probably will add this together with options refactoring.

Are you improving the data feed module? I have another store I'd like to bring to CS Cart but as every product is option based, each option (combination) needs to be individually exported in the feed and not the main product - currently this is not possible is it? Desperately needed.

Also in the 4.2.4 stores I am running (currently updating to 4.3), despite having 'exclude disabled products' checked, disabled products are still exported? An option should also be given for out of stock products!

[imac]

Are you improving the data feed module? I have another store I'd like to bring to CS Cart but as every product is option based, each option (combination) needs to be individually exported in the feed and not the main product - currently this is not possible is it? Desperately needed.

No yet, we are planning rework options functionality in 5.x Porbably we will add the changes in Data feed too.

Also in the 4.2.4 stores I am running (currently updating to 4.3), despite having 'exclude disabled products' checked, disabled products are still exported? An option should also be given for out of stock products!

If disabled products are exported than this is a big - did you report it to Help Desk or Bugtracker? As for out of stock products that's not as easy again due to the products with options. I posted a feature request on this - we will check this.

[Olof]

No yet, we are planning rework options functionality in 5.x Porbably we will add the changes in Data feed too.

Hi Imac,
Can you give perhaps a bit more info on the 'rework options functionality'?

[imac]

Hi Imac,
Can you give perhaps a bit more info on the 'rework options functionality'?

Olof, at the moment details are the same as I posted earlier. I wrote "we are planning" in response to "Are you improving the data feed module" in other words to outline that we are not doing it right now.

[Olof]

Olof, at the moment details are the same as I posted earlier. I wrote "we are planning" in response to "Are you improving the data feed module" in other words to outline that we are not doing it right now.

Imac, ok, fair enough I suppose.
It's just that after installing version 4.3.x (sometime in the next 2 months) we are facing sizable investment costs in customizing code w.r.t to Option functionality (see my various posts around the forum) and I would love to know the product roadmap of this particular corner of CSC....

[businessclick]

Hi,

 

is there a way to add and edit product options via API 4.3?

I didn't find docs about this capability.

 

Thanks!

[Olof]

Businessclick,

 

Hi,

 

is there a way to add and edit product options via API 4.3?

I didn't find docs about this capability.

 

Thanks!

 

I have no experience with API (we use import/export), but when I look at the Changelog of 4.3.1 it should be possible (I think..)

 

See the changelog here: https://www.cs-cart....angelog431.html

[amdowney]

No yet, we are planning rework options functionality in 5.x Porbably we will add the changes in Data feed too.


If disabled products are exported than this is a big - did you report it to Help Desk or Bugtracker? As for out of stock products that's not as easy again due to the products with options. I posted a feature request on this - we will check this.

 

Hi Imac, when is 5.x due? My one site has now been suspended from Google Shopping due to feed inaccuracies! The feed says 'in stock' but no combinations are available. We update the hundreds of products from a spreadsheet modifying the options table. Unfortunately this has no effect on the main product at all when they are all out.