November 2007 Archives

If Total Order Weight is selected, the shipping rate will be calculated upon the total order weight (as if all items were to be packaged in one container). If you want the shipping rate to be calculated as though items are going to be packaged in separate containers, select Packing Algorithm.

If you intend on using the freight service types, then you must select the Packing Algorithm as your Quote Basis, and your products must have dimensional values (such as Length, Width and Height). See your FedEx documentation for more information on Freight specifications.

If you select Packing Algorithm, and you want the algorithm to determine which containers should be used for each order, you must then define shipping containers. Otherwise, the algorithm assumes that each product has a container of "Self" (one product per container). In addition, it is recommended that you enter the weight and dimensions for every product to ensure an accurate quote at checkout.

If you have products that are large in volume, but do not weigh much, then you may want to use the Packing Algorithm as your Quote Basis to get an accurate rate quote. Federal Express uses a "Dimensional Weight" (L x W x H / 194). If the Dimensional Weight is greater than the actual weight of the package, then it will be used for the rate quote. For example, if you have a product that is 14 inches long, 15 inches wide, 16 inches tall and weighs 2 pounds, then the algorithm will use the Dimensional Weight of 17.3 pounds, rather than the actual weight of 2 lbs., to calculate the rate quote. (See the Federal Express guidelines for more information).

The FedEx shipping processor rounds package length, width and height to the nearest whole number.

Thanks so very much for your help. You know your stuff. Your articles are very helpful, by the way!

— Diane Porter, Birdwatching Dot Com

This code can be used on the display the total number of items that are in a cart. For example, if the cart contains five of one line item, and three of another line item, this code would display Total items in cart: 8.

<ss:set name="math" value="$system.getMath('0')"/>
<ss:foreach item="detail" within="$cart.details">
  <ss:directive source="$math.set($math.add($detail.quantity))"/>
</ss:foreach>
Total items in cart: <ss:value source="$math.get()"/>

If you use this code on the Cart template, you can just add the ss:set tag before the existing ss:foreach, add the ss:directive tag anywhere within the ss:foreach, and then add the Total Quantity line to the end (after the close ss:foreach).