Order Form Templating - Revision history

John: Redirected page to Order Form Templates

2016-01-20T14:52:14Z

Redirected page to Order Form Templates

John: /* Parent Relationships */

2015-09-21T23:59:17Z

‎Parent Relationships

John: /* Creating a New Template based on a Parent */

2015-09-21T23:32:58Z

‎Creating a New Template based on a Parent

John: /* Parent Relationships */

2015-09-21T23:27:32Z

‎Parent Relationships

John: /* Parent Relationships */

2015-09-21T22:39:56Z

‎Parent Relationships

Matt: /* Creating a Custom Order Form Template */

2015-09-21T22:26:43Z

‎Creating a Custom Order Form Template

Matt: /* Configuring the Order Form Template */

2015-09-19T04:16:43Z

‎Configuring the Order Form Template

Matt at 04:16, 19 September 2015

2015-09-19T04:16:19Z

Matt: Created page with "WHMCS order form templates are now more powerful and customizable than ever before. WHMCS supports a mix and match order cart configuration process with parent and child order..."

2015-09-18T18:26:56Z

Created page with "WHMCS order form templates are now more powerful and customizable than ever before. WHMCS supports a mix and match order cart configuration process with parent and child order..."

New page

WHMCS order form templates are now more powerful and customizable than ever before. WHMCS supports a mix and match order cart configuration process with parent and child order forms. By designating an optional parent order form template, admin users can now create a modular and scalable ordering process for their customers by utilizing child order form pages.

The first step to utilize parent and child order form support is to ensure that a custom template is in place. This is to guarantee that your template settings are not overridden in future WHMCS updates. Once a custom template is in place, the next step is to create a YAML file in the new template root that specifies the parent - the file needs to be named "theme.yaml" and have the following values:

[[File:Order-theme-yaml-file.png]]

With "standard_cart" being the name of the custom parent template that you have designated. Now that the custom order form template folder is in place, with a parent value present in the new folder's theme.yaml, simply navigate to the admin area and and choose the cart from Setup > General Settings > Ordering. While this is a fully functioning ordering process, every step can be customized even further. For example, it may be decided that the checkout page needs further customization. In this case, the checkout.tpl may be copied from the parent folder to the selected folder and modified as seen fit. The ordering process is automatically updated, reflecting the new checkout page, and future WHMCS template updates don't overwrite the modified file.

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:52, 20 January 2016
Line 1:		Line 1:
−	~~==Introduction==~~	+	#REDIRECT [[Order_Form_Templates]]
−
−	~~Order Form Templates define the look and feel of the shopping cart process.~~
−
−	~~==Built-in Order Form Templates==~~
−
−	~~WHMCS ships with a number of built-in order form templates. More information on these and the functionality of each can be found in the~~ [[~~Standard Order Form Templates~~]] ~~documentation.~~
−
−	~~==Configuring the Order Form Template==~~
−
−	~~There are two locations where Order Form templates can be configured.~~
−
−	~~The first is in '''Setup > General Settings > Ordering'''. This defines the system default order form template directory. By default, this is set to ''Standard Cart''.~~
−
−	You can also configure an Order Form template on a per product group basis. This can be done in '''Setup > Products/Services > Create/Edit Product Group'''. By selecting an Order Form template here, it will override the system default any time that product group is viewed within the client area, as well as define the styling used for the product configuration part of the order process for products and bundles within that group.
−
−	<div class="docs-alert-warning">Please Note: The view cart and checkout steps of the order form will always use the system default order form template setting as the cart can contain products from mutliple different product groups at the same time.</div>
−
−	~~===Dynamic Order Form Switching===~~
−
−	You can also specify an order form "on the fly" using a specially crafted url. Any order form template you specify using this method takes precedence over any system or product group default order form template settings, and will last for the duration of the users visit.
−
−	~~To do this you use a URL such as http://www.yourdomain.com/whmcs/?carttpl=xxxxx where xxxxx is the name of the template directory. See [[Linking to WHMCS]] for further information.~~
−
−	~~==Template Files==~~
−
−	~~Order Form templates are located in the '''/templates/orderforms/''' directory. Each sub-directory is a different order form template. Within those directories, you will find the following files.~~
−
−	~~The names and what each of them controls is provided below.~~
−
−	* products.tpl - Lists product categories and products
−	* adddomain.tpl - First step for domain registration only orders
−	* addons.tpl - Lists the addons a user can order for their existing packages when logged in
−	* domainrenewals.tpl - Lists domains in the clients account and allows for renewals to be ordered in advance
−	* configureproductdomain.tpl - Domain selection for domains attached to a product
−	* domainoptions.tpl - Used by some templates to display domain availability check results
−	* configureproduct.tpl - Configure the product before adding to the cart eg. billing cycle, configurable options, custom fields
−	* configuredomains.tpl - Choose domain addons, complete custom field requirements & custom nameservers
−	* ordersummary.tpl - Used to display cart contents and product total summaries during order process
−	* viewcart.tpl - Showing cart contents & checkout process
−	* login.tpl - Used for login for existing users
−	* complete.tpl - This page is showed at the end of the checkout process
−
−	~~==Creating a Custom Order Form Template==~~
−
−	~~So you want to create your own order form template. Nice!~~
−
−	'''Step 1:''' Choose a name - The first step is to create a custom folder to store your custom templates files in so that they are not overwritten or lost when upgrading. Names must be alphanumeric, all lowercase and you may use underscores.
−
−	'''Step 2:''' Decide how you will create your template - if running 6.1 and later, we recommend using the parent relationships method (see below). For any earlier versions of WHMCS however, or simply if you prefer, you will need to copy all of the template files from one of the existing order form template folders to use as a starting point for your custom order form process.
−
−	~~===Parent Relationships===~~
−
−	In an effort to make upgrading and maintaining order form customisations easier, Order Form templates support the concept of parent/child relationships. What this allows is to create an order form that inherits template files from another directory, eliminating the need to create a custom copy of all twelve template files. Only the pages you wish to customise need be created, the rest will then automatically be loaded from the parent order form when defined.
−
−	By leveraging this functionality, you can create templates that are simpler and easier to maintain and keep up-to-date as any changes made to template files that you haven't customised, and that exist only within the parent order form template, are automatically updated any time you upgrade.
−
−	~~This is most simply illustrated by way of an example:~~
−
−	The ''Standard Cart'' order form template is the parent order form for the ''Premium Comparison'' order form template. Therefore since the Premium Comparison consists of only a products.tpl template file, all other steps of the order process for products and groups assigned to that order form template use the templates and design/styling as provided by the Standard Cart.
−
−	~~<div class="docs-alert-info">~~
−	~~<span class="title">TIP: </span><br />~~
−	* The "Standard Cart" order form template is selected under '''Setup > General Settings > Ordering tab'''.
−	* Then the "Premium Comparison" order form is selected for the product groups for which we wish to use its product selection page '''Setup > Products/Services > Products/Services > Edit Group'''.
−	~~</div>~~
−
−	~~===Creating a New Template based on a Parent===~~
−
−	~~<div class="docs-alert-info">The following is supported in WHMCS 6.1.0 and later only.</div>~~
−
−	Once you have created a new template directory with your desired name, to define a parent relationship, you need to create a YAML file within the new template directory you just created that specifies the parent template it is based upon. This yaml file should be named ''theme.yaml''' and include the following content:
−
−	~~[[File:Order-theme-yaml-file.png]]~~
−
−	~~In the above example, "standard_cart" is the name of the parent template we're using.~~
−
−	At this stage your new order form template is ready to be used and can be activated and used either via the Ordering tab of General Settings, or by selecting the custom order form template name within the configuration area for a specific product group.
−
−	~~Now let's look at how we would customise a step of the order process.~~
−
−	~~#Begin by identifying the name of the template file that controls the step of the process you want to customise (see the list above).~~
−	~~#Next, copy that template file from the defined parent template to your new template directory~~
−	~~#Now make your desired changes to the copy of the template within your custom template directory~~
−	#Finally enable your new order form to see it in action and you will find the step you customised is loaded from your custom template directory, while all other steps are loaded from and act as per the parent.
−	~~##Typically the parent template would be the system default (Setup > General Settings > Ordering tab).~~
−	~~##Your custom template would then be selected on the product groups for which it to be used (Setup > Products/Services > Products/Services > Edit Group).~~

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ===Parent Relationships===
-In an effort to make upgrading and maintaining order form customisations easier, Order Form templates support the concept of parent/child relationships.  What this allows is to create an order form that inherits template files from another directory, eliminating the need to create a custom copy of all eleven template files. Only the pages you wish to customise need be created, the rest will then automatically be loaded from the parent order form when defined.
+In an effort to make upgrading and maintaining order form customisations easier, Order Form templates support the concept of parent/child relationships.  What this allows is to create an order form that inherits template files from another directory, eliminating the need to create a custom copy of all twelve template files. Only the pages you wish to customise need be created, the rest will then automatically be loaded from the parent order form when defined.
 By leveraging this functionality, you can create templates that are simpler and easier to maintain and keep up-to-date as any changes made to template files that you haven't customised, and that exist only within the parent order form template, are automatically updated any time you upgrade.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:32, 21 September 2015
Line 84:		Line 84:
	#Now make your desired changes to the copy of the template within your custom template directory		#Now make your desired changes to the copy of the template within your custom template directory
	#Finally enable your new order form to see it in action and you will find the step you customised is loaded from your custom template directory, while all other steps are loaded from and act as per the parent.		#Finally enable your new order form to see it in action and you will find the step you customised is loaded from your custom template directory, while all other steps are loaded from and act as per the parent.
		+	##Typically the parent template would be the system default (Setup > General Settings > Ordering tab).
		+	##Your custom template would then be selected on the product groups for which it to be used (Setup > Products/Services > Products/Services > Edit Group).

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:27, 21 September 2015
Line 59:		Line 59:

	The ''Standard Cart'' order form template is the parent order form for the ''Premium Comparison'' order form template. Therefore since the Premium Comparison consists of only a products.tpl template file, all other steps of the order process for products and groups assigned to that order form template use the templates and design/styling as provided by the Standard Cart.		The ''Standard Cart'' order form template is the parent order form for the ''Premium Comparison'' order form template. Therefore since the Premium Comparison consists of only a products.tpl template file, all other steps of the order process for products and groups assigned to that order form template use the templates and design/styling as provided by the Standard Cart.
		+
		+	<div class="docs-alert-info">
		+	<span class="title">TIP: </span><br />
		+	* The "Standard Cart" order form template is selected under '''Setup > General Settings > Ordering tab'''.
		+	* Then the "Premium Comparison" order form is selected for the product groups for which we wish to use its product selection page '''Setup > Products/Services > Products/Services > Edit Group'''.
		+	</div>

	===Creating a New Template based on a Parent===		===Creating a New Template based on a Parent===

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ===Parent Relationships===
-In an effort to make upgrading and maintaining order form customisations easier, Order Form templates support the concept of parent/child relationships.  What this allows is to create a template that inherits template files from another template.  When a template file is not defined in a given template, and a parent relationship is defined, then the template is automatically loaded from the parent template.
+In an effort to make upgrading and maintaining order form customisations easier, Order Form templates support the concept of parent/child relationships.  What this allows is to create an order form that inherits template files from another directory, eliminating the need to create a custom copy of all eleven template files. Only the pages you wish to customise need be created, the rest will then automatically be loaded from the parent order form when defined.
 By leveraging this functionality, you can create templates that are simpler and easier to maintain and keep up-to-date as any changes made to template files that you haven't customised, and that exist only within the parent order form template, are automatically updated any time you upgrade.

@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 So you want to create your own order form template.  Nice!
-'''Step 1:''' Choose a name - As always, the first step is to create a custom folder to store your custom templates files in so that they are not overwritten or lost when upgrading. Names must be alphanumeric, all lowercase and you may use underscores.
+'''Step 1:''' Choose a name - The first step is to create a custom folder to store your custom templates files in so that they are not overwritten or lost when upgrading. Names must be alphanumeric, all lowercase and you may use underscores.
 '''Step 2:''' Decide how you will create your template - if running 6.1 and later, we recommend using the parent relationships method (see below).  For any earlier versions of WHMCS however, or simply if you prefer, you will need to copy all of the template files from one of the existing order form template folders to use as a starting point for your custom order form process.

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 ==Configuring the Order Form Template==
-There are two places where Order Form templates can be configured.
+There are two locations where Order Form templates can be configured.
 The first is in '''Setup > General Settings > Ordering'''.  This defines the system default order form template directory.  By default, this is set to ''Standard Cart''.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-WHMCS order form templates are now more powerful and customizable than ever before. WHMCS supports a mix and match order cart configuration process with parent and child order forms. By designating an optional parent order form template, admin users can now create a modular and scalable ordering process for their customers by utilizing child order form pages.
+==Introduction==
-The first step to utilize parent and child order form support is to ensure that a custom template is in place. This is to guarantee that your template settings are not overridden in future WHMCS updates. Once a custom template is in place, the next step is to create a YAML file in the new template root that specifies the parent - the file needs to be named "theme.yaml" and have the following values:
+Order Form Templates define the look and feel of the shopping cart process.
 [[File:Order-theme-yaml-file.png]]
-With "standard_cart" being the name of the custom parent template that you have designated.  Now that the custom order form template folder is in place, with a parent value present in the new folder's theme.yaml, simply navigate to the admin area and and choose the cart from Setup > General Settings > Ordering.  While this is a fully functioning ordering process, every step can be customized even further.  For example, it may be decided that the checkout page needs further customization.  In this case, the checkout.tpl may be copied from the parent folder to the selected folder and modified as seen fit.  The ordering process is automatically updated, reflecting the new checkout page, and future WHMCS template updates don't overwrite the modified file.
+In the above example, "standard_cart" is the name of the parent template we're using.