CE Phoenix Cart Forum

I sell a variety of products. A few are books. I'd like a practical way to sort and display them.

Let's say that I have 30 books, by 9 different authors (plus all of the non-book items).

First, I'd like a way to identify each book (product) with both the Title and the Author. I'm not using the Manufacturer field, so we could use it for the Author record. (Or, add a new field. Either works for me.)


Then, ideally, choice #1 would be:

1) When the customer selects the Book category (and ONLY the Book category), be offered the option to sort by Author -or- by Title

2a) If the customer selects Author, display 9 different sub-categories, one for each Author. Within each sub-category, list only the books by that author. (Alphabetically, by Title)

2b) If the customer selects Title, list all 30 books, alphabetically, by Title.


If that is not possible, choice #2 would be:

1) When the customer selects the Book category (and ONLY the Book category), be offered the option to sort by Author -or- by Title

2a) If the customer selects Title, display all 30 books, alphabetically, by Title.

2b) If the customer selects Author, display all 30 books, grouped first by Author (alphabetically), then within that group, alphabetically by Title.


To repeat, the Author/Title selection option should ONLY in the book category. No need to make this available for any of the other products.


(Oh, except for videos. I do sell DVDs too. Same sorting option needed)

TIA

You could do any of the following, which might or might not achieve what you want (or at least bring things closer to what you want);

1. Have Authors as "Sub Categories".
Books > Wu Ch'eng-En > Monkey King
Books > John Grisham > Lincoln Lawyer
Books > John Grisham > Playing for Pizza

2. Have Authors as Manufacturers
Would the author name (as a brand) show up in categories where it shouldn't ?

3. Product Specifications
Use specifications to assign to Products. One of which might be Author.

4. Product Groups
Make each Author a "group". Assign products (the books) to that Group

There is probably more that can be added to this list. Of those, considering you're on a very old Phoenix...#1 is the simplest and safest bet I think. If you were on a recent version, I like #4, which would give each Author their own page.