Master Blocks - Multiple product selection - General Overview

Master Blocks - Multiple product selection

The new master block product allows you join multiple products together in order to create one user interface with an option of selecting one of the products.

Scenario 1: Company has multiple sized flyers, user needs the ability to input information but select only one size to add to cart.

Scenario 2: Company has multiple sized flyers, user needs ability to enter their information and select which sizes they want to purchase. User proofs all the selected sizes at one time and add to cart. The same scenario would be applicable to a set of stationery like letterhead, business cards and envelope.

Under these scenarios the user can input their information once and select their proper size(s) using the master block product.

 
The difference between scenario 1 and scenario 2 is that in scenario 1 the user can only select 1 size using either a dropdown or radio button control. In scenario 2 they can select all the products to proof using checkboxes.

Instructions:
Step 1 create block product as you would do usually (upload block file, enter fonts in the font load section etc...).
Step 2 create a block product for each size. Test product to make sure it works.

Step 4 Once all products are created create a new Master Block product (if you do not see master block as a product like static, blocks, associate contact support).


Step 5 On the design tab select all the products you want to include in the Master Block product.



Step 6 Select the product type (check box, radio button or dropdown).

Step 7 IMPORTANT: Because each version of the master block product looks different after you select which version of the master block product you want click save and then go to Options -> Layout. Choose the default CSS skin on the right side and click save. If you change the master block type again you will need to come back to this page and click on save again. The two pages actually work and look differently.

Step 8 For scenario 1 whenever the user selects a different option the input controls change to that product therefore there is no need to actually upload a block pdf file in the main setup page since the form changes to that of the actual product. For scenario 2 you must create a new block product that will have all the block names that will be contained in each of block products. In our case since all the fields are identical in all of the products the pdf that was used for created the 8.5 x 11 flyer was also uploaded to the master block product. If for example you were doing a business card, envelope and letterhead master block product, if the business card pdf contained all the blocks that were being used between all three products then that file would be uploaded to the master block product. If for example the envelop uses a field that the letterhead doesn't use then you can create a very simple pdf with all the possible blocks and upload it to the product setup. The main thing to remember is that you need to create the web form for the user to input their information. The form must contain all the blocks used in all the products. That form is created by uploading a pdf to the master block Block File area in the main set up page.

User Experience: The main difference to the user between the checkboxs and the dropdown/radio button is that for the radio button/checkboxes the user will only proof one product (in our case 1 sided pdf).
In the case of the check boxes the user would proof all the products he selected in one long pdf. In our case if he selected all three sizes he would proof a 3 page pdf. When he accepts and adds to cart it will break it up into 3 products and add 3 different products to their shopping cart.