A Multi-variant product is a product that is available in multiple variants(like – color, size, etc.), and price of the product varies, based on particular variant selection by any buyer, though the actual product id is same for all. Joomla VirtueMart apart from other custom fields allows application of custom field plug-ins onto its products. These additional custom fields plug-ins can be used to provide additional properties to a product, like – dynamic product range selection based on a variant selection.
Custom plugin in Joomla VirtueMart falls under the vmcustom group of plugins, so the base class for it will be named as plgVmCustomYourPluginName that extends class vmCustomPlugin. The structure for constructor would come as –
/**
* Webkul Software.
*
* @category Webkul
* @author Webkul
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2010-2017 Webkul Software Private Limited (https://webkul.com)
* @license https://store.webkul.com/license.html
*/
class plgVmCustomYourPluginName extends vmCustomPlugin {
function __construct(& $subject, $config) {
parent::__construct($subject, $config);
$varsToPush = array(
'var_1'=>array(0,'bool'),
'var_2'=>array('','string'),
'var_3'=>array(array(),'array'),
'var_4'=>array(0,'int')
);
$this->setConfigParameterable('customfield_params', $varsToPush);
}
We will use var_1 as a check input to change product price, and var_2 as the price to be added dynamically.
The vars used that are set in config parameters are then can be accessed by object ‘$field’ and can be edited by any input field with name=”customfield_params[<?php echo $row ?>][var_2]” on product edit page in backend as-
/**
* Webkul Software.
*
* @category Webkul
* @author Webkul
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2010-2017 Webkul Software Private Limited (https://webkul.com)
* @license https://store.webkul.com/license.html
*/
/**
* plgVmOnProductEdit get product param for this plugin on edit.
* Displays the custom field in the product view of the backend
* The custom field should not be displayed before the product being saved.
* Also should not loaded in the child products
*
* @param object $field - The custom field
* @param int $product_id virtuemart product id
* @param int $row - The a/a of that field within the product
* @param string $retValue - The html that regards the custom fields of that product
*
* @return boolean true
* @since 1.0
*/
function plgVmOnProductEdit($field, $product_id, &$row, &$retValue) {
if ($field->custom_element != $this->_name) return '';
ob_start(); ?>
<table class="adminlist">
<tbody>
<!-- making any field in product edit -->
<tr>
<td>
<input type="checkbox" value="1"<?php if (!empty($field->var_1)) { ?> checked="checked"<?php } ?> name="customfield_params[<?php echo $row; ?>][var_1]" />
</td>
<td>
<?php
$var_2 = empty($field->var_1) ? '' : $field->var_2; ?>
<input type="text" name="customfield_params[<?php echo $row ?>][var_2]" value="<?php echo $var_1 ?>" />
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<?php
$retValue .= ob_get_clean();
$row++;
return true;
}
Similarly, these filled vars are then can be accessed by object ‘$group’ and can be edited by any input field with name=”customProductData[<?php echo $row ?>][AnyUniqueName]” on product edit page in backend. Here we are creating a check box, on the selection of which we will change product price.
/**
* Webkul Software.
*
* @category Webkul
* @author Webkul
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2010-2017 Webkul Software Private Limited (https://webkul.com)
* @license https://store.webkul.com/license.html
*/
/**
* plgVmOnDisplayProductFEVM3 method to generate output on the product page in FE.
* Display of the Cart Variant/Non cart variants Custom fields - VM3
*
* @param object $product Virtuemart Product
* @param object $group Virtuemart custom field
*/
function plgVmOnDisplayProductFEVM3(&$product,&$group) {
if ($group->custom_element != $this->_name)
return '';
$anyUniqueName = '';
ob_start(); ?>
<div class="row">
<div class="wk-rent-sel-des">
<p><?php echo $group->additional_charge_title==''?JText::_('PLG_JVBRES_MOSD_ADDITIONAL_CHARGE'):$group->additional_charge_title ?></p>
</div>
<div class="wk-rent-sel">
<input type="checkbox" name="customProductData[<?php echo $group->virtuemart_product_id; ?>][<?php echo $group->virtuemart_custom_id; ?>][<?php echo $group->virtuemart_customfield_id; ?>][anyUniqueName]" value="<?php echo $group->var_1; ?>" />
</div>
</div>
<?php
$group->display .= ob_get_clean();
}
As you can see, we initialized a variable $anyUniqueName and then used it as an index to the input field. This is done to get the value of it at runtime, so that product price can be changed accordingly. We can do this with the help of modificatorSum in the listed function –
/**
* Webkul Software.
*
* @category Webkul
* @author Webkul
* @copyright Copyright (c) 2010-2017 Webkul Software Private Limited (https://webkul.com)
* @license https://store.webkul.com/license.html
*/
/**
* plgVmPrepareCartProduct previously plgVmCalculateCustomVariant()
* use it to modfiy the product in your cart, price, weight, dimension, text, name, whatever.
* To modify the price of a product with a custom field.
* Call from ajax, when custom field value change while selecting product for cart.
*
* @param object $product TableProducts
* @param object $customfield virtuemart custom field
* @param array $selected keeps the data of the right method/plugin coming from the form
* @param float $modificatorSum variable to be modified
*
* @return boolean true
*/
public function plgVmPrepareCartProduct(&$product, &$customfield, $selected, &$modificatorSum) {
if ($customfield->custom_element !== $this->_name)
return ;
if ($product->allPrices)
$modificatorSum -= $product->allPrices[0]['product_price'];
$anyUniqueName = $this->dateInterpret(JArrayHelper::getValue($selected, 'anyUniqueName'));
if ($anyUniqueName) {
if ($customfield->var_2 > 0) {
$modificatorSum += $customfield->var_2;
}
}
return true;
}
Usage
A Multi-variant product is useful for many types of the stores that provide a range of products, as well as stores running booking and reservation concept, where a single product is managed based on different date/time selections by any buyer. One of this kind of extension is available on the Webkul store here:
For any query regarding Joomla VirtueMart plug-ins and add-ons, you can communicate with us by creating a ticket at:
https://webkul.uvdesk.com/en/customer/create-ticket/
2 comments
Thanks for your valuable feedback. Yes, the official doc provides only a little info on this part and that is why there was a need to write this post. Sometimes even we need a reference to our past work. I tried to cover every possible function which is necessary to build a VM custom plugin here, and truly if you follow it to build your custom plugin you will directly get the results.
You can also have a reference help of any already built custom plugin, one of which is mention in usage section of this post. Additionally, you can ask any code related help on VirtueMart forum. There are many active members there, including us.
Warmly Anant Garg Webkul Software Pvt Ltd