Hi all
Just wondered if it was possible to setup user dropdown search criteria boxes which would in turn form a url link for the search criteria selected..
Sorry to be a bit vague, but I mean soemthing like this:
http://www.wizmarkmobiles.co.uk/phoneslideshow-samsung.htm
The user can select the search criteria and then click compare..
Can this be adapted for shopwindow ??
Cheers
Marco
had a quick look and I believe it would be possible Yes.
In SW V2, we are introduced to the new "RefineBys". this allows us to refine our search criteria by price, brand, shop, ect (not sure if colour is in there yet!). This idea you've had Wizmark would be entirely possible using V2
You'd need to use the API and get comfortable with it first.
Dynamic drive have a "Chained drop down" script that I think might work well for this idea.
Personally, I would have each drop down accessing SW "onchange" which would be used to update the next drop down and possibly update the area of the page showing products. this would clearly need to be an ajax system.
The beauty of ajax is that you're never updating the entire page, just a small portion. Which keeps it running very quickly and low on bandwidth usage (even hitting SW server between request and response).
you could alternatively, copy each and every possiblity into static dropdown lists with the "onchange" simply updating the URL of the ajax frame. This would be easy for small niches, like Pink samsung handsets but the bigger your possible product list, the more likely you'll need to keep it 100% dynamic
*edit*
Ive just had another look at the link you posted and realised this is your site anyway!
I'm assuming you're using a database of product feeds already and your own search criteria. I would suggest NOT trying to reinvent this wheel. You've already got something which works pretty well as it is, no point fixing it if it aint broke.
Instead, try using the API to download the products you need from your merchants. you'll probably have to play around with the data you get in order to get it to fit your database, but it's a simple matter really.
Thanks Andy for your great advice:)