There's a whole lot of different stuff in this thread, but basically the models for stock variations and options for non-stock variations is fine and doesn't need to change.
All purchases in a store are ultimately of a single stock item.. i.e. a single model. The path for finding and choosing that item is just search > Categories > Products > Models in the old store.
The new store enhances this with the properties editor, which re-purposes the existing category functionality as product properties - or attributes, specifications, features, manufacturer, whatever you like. These properties are provided as a filter on any list view, dynamically displaying only those properties that exist in the items listed. The filter also includes stock and price range selection. Properties are a classification system, not stock control.
Then there's the idea of a means for managing attributes independently of the products. This has been on the wishlist for a long time and is partly addressed in the new store with the properties editor. But note again that properties or attributes of this sort are not in themselves stock items.
Then there's the idea of a product builder. This can exist at two levels. First, the buyer would ideally arrive at a virtual product type, such as a shirt, and then select further details from the existing stock items of that type. That is essentially what the 'major flaw' in this thread refers to and it really is just treating a category as a product type, but with a simplified method of choosing from the available stock on a single page.
Shopify has a method where a product that is not a stock item can be viewed on a page. It then allows the buyer to select from the available models that are in stock. It also offers an unsupported method allowing the developer to create linked dropdowns for selecting from the available models. The key difference with NB Store is that the product on Shopify is not a stock item itself.. it's really just a product type. One could possibly create a category template in NB Store to emulate this concept.
The next idea mentioned is the product builder. Normally one would place products into groups and very similar to the above method, have a page where a non-stock product is displayed. e.g. a computer, and then on that page provide selectors for all the available stock items that are used to create that 'product'.
The difference between these two product builders is that one leads to a single stock item in the basket and the other leads to multiple items in the basket.
Summarising...
Regards
Rob
All purchases in a store are ultimately of a single stock item.. i.e. a single model. The path for finding and choosing that item is just search > Categories > Products > Models in the old store.
The new store enhances this with the properties editor, which re-purposes the existing category functionality as product properties - or attributes, specifications, features, manufacturer, whatever you like. These properties are provided as a filter on any list view, dynamically displaying only those properties that exist in the items listed. The filter also includes stock and price range selection. Properties are a classification system, not stock control.
Then there's the idea of a means for managing attributes independently of the products. This has been on the wishlist for a long time and is partly addressed in the new store with the properties editor. But note again that properties or attributes of this sort are not in themselves stock items.
Then there's the idea of a product builder. This can exist at two levels. First, the buyer would ideally arrive at a virtual product type, such as a shirt, and then select further details from the existing stock items of that type. That is essentially what the 'major flaw' in this thread refers to and it really is just treating a category as a product type, but with a simplified method of choosing from the available stock on a single page.
Shopify has a method where a product that is not a stock item can be viewed on a page. It then allows the buyer to select from the available models that are in stock. It also offers an unsupported method allowing the developer to create linked dropdowns for selecting from the available models. The key difference with NB Store is that the product on Shopify is not a stock item itself.. it's really just a product type. One could possibly create a category template in NB Store to emulate this concept.
The next idea mentioned is the product builder. Normally one would place products into groups and very similar to the above method, have a page where a non-stock product is displayed. e.g. a computer, and then on that page provide selectors for all the available stock items that are used to create that 'product'.
The difference between these two product builders is that one leads to a single stock item in the basket and the other leads to multiple items in the basket.
Summarising...
- Ability to create virtual product views, and display a filter for selecting only those product properties for which there is stock available. Allow one stock item to be purchased.
-
Ability to create the same as above, but display stock from a defined group of other products. Allow several to be purchased.
Regards
Rob