Dynamic Product Weight and USPS Shipping Options

I have been combing through the forums looking for an answer to 2 questions. First is concerning the weight in in my DB table. It is appears that it has to be at least 1lb per items and that is the minimum I can get to process through the USPS API...My question is am I correct there there has to be a min weight in the DB (like of 1lb).

Second issue is I am trying to find where I can give the customer an option of selecting Express, Priority, Parcel Post...etc. Cannot seem to find the simple answer to this one...all looks kinda cryptic.

Appreciate the feedback (BTW...my api handoff is working, just looking to lock down the weight issue and add some options for the customer)

Thank you,

Gary

the weight in the database can be less than 1lb, but the weight passed to the shipping provider must be at least 1 lb. in the code for the weight, you can add a condition to pass 1 if the weight is less than 1 or use the total weight if it is more:

<?php echo(($yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight") < 1)?1:$yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight")); ?>


To offer a shipping type selection, you will need to add a select list to the checkout page:

<select name="USPS_Service" id="USPS_Service">

              <option value="FIRST CLASS">First-Class</option>

              <option value="EXPRESS">Express</option>

              <option value="PRIORITY">Priority</option>

              <option value="PARCEL">Parcel</option>

            </select>

and add a hidfden form element of the same name to the form on the confirm page that will capture the value posted:

<input type="hidden" name="USPS_Service" id="USPS_Service" value="<?php echo(isset($_POST['USPS_Service'])?$_POST['USPS_Service']:""); ?>" />

next add a set session value behavior, set the trigger to any form post, set the name to USPS_Service for the value, click the lightning bolt icon and select the USPS_Service form element.

in the shipping behavior, bind the shipping service to the USPS_Service session variable.

Jason...thx for the reply. Couple of questions as they are second nature to you.

First off, this code: (<?php echo(($yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight") < 1)?1:$yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight")); ?>) that you suggest.... does it go on the display page?

Second: The Shipping Option selections...you reference the checkout page...did you mean the display page as well (not the actual checkout page, but the display cart page)?

Third: Your feedback indicates:

(next add a set session value behavior, set the trigger to any form post, set the name to USPS_Service for the value, click the lightning bolt icon and select the USPS_Service form element. in the shipping behavior, bind the shipping service to the USPS_Service session variable.)

Could you clarify the info again. I was not sure you were referencing to create a session variable on the confirm page. I lost you...again, what you typed made complete sense to you I am sure...if you could induldge me I would appreciate it.

One thing I thought of in hind sight...I wish there was a way that the shipping options could be listed with the $$ amounts from the quote and then the customer pick the one they want. How challenging would this be and I believe it would be on the confirm page.

1) the code:
<?php echo(($yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight") < 1)?1:$yourCartName->TotalColumn("Weight")); ?>

is used for the weight setting in the shipping lookup server behavior.


2) The select list to chose the shipping type should be added to the checkout form.

3) you need to add a set session value behavior to the confirm page. open the confirm page, go to the server behaviors tab click the plus button and select eCart -> General -> Set Session Value.

Set the trigger to any form post.

for the name, enter:
USPS_Service

for the value, click the lightning bolt icon and select the USPS_Service form element.

  One thing I thought of in hind sight...I wish there was a way that the shipping options could be listed with the $$ amounts from the quote and then the customer pick the one they want.  

that _could_ be done, but will take a fair bit of hand coding to accomplish

Jason, in reading your response it sounds like you are saying that 1 pound is the minimum weight that is passed to every carrier. In the case of USPS 1 ounce is the minimum. A first class package must ALWAYS weight 13 ounces or less so a one pound limit would preclude ever shipping by this class.

no, in eCart you can set your wight units.

that code forces a minimum of 1 of what ever wight units you specify.

If you set eCart to use pounds, it will be a minimum of 1 pound.

If you set eCart to use ounces, it will be a minimum of 1 ounce.

depends on your weight setting in the eCart object.