CPC SOL Version 1.2

We pleaseed to annouce the CPCSOL 1.2 release of our Canada Post real-time shipping rate module for Virtuemart.  It is the next revision of the code release in February 2009 (see article). There is a substantial difference between this code and the canadapost.php module that ships VirtueMart 1.1.3. To simplify use and avoid confusion over versions our module is named CPSOL and should be considered a separate shipping method from the original (canadapost.php).

The code is only available to EXPS clients.

Please review the Sell OnLine Resource links (access from admin UI) before attempting to use the module. There are concepts (e.g. boxes, volumetric calculation, handling charges, service levels, free ship,...) that must be understood.

Think of this module as an interface between Virtuemart and Canada Posts Sell OnLine application. This interface structures requests and handles responses from Sell OnLine. Start by configuring a Profile in Sell OnLine, then test HTTP requests, then configure CP-SOL, test VirtueMart order checkout and then finally move to production.

New Features:

(1) Free Ship - Sell OnLine free shipping by region and service level now supported

(2) Error Handling - Sell OnLine statusCode errors and fsopensocket error now handled to such a way to allow script execution to continue.

(3) Optional email error notification when rate calculation fails.

(4) Language (FR/EN) selection parameter in admin UI.

(5) Added links for Profile, SOL Resources and HTTP Request testing in admin UI.

Fixes:

(1) fssocketopen error messages suppressed.

(2) conversion uom forced to lowercase

(3) erroneous html tags that corrupted display removed/corrected

(4) Standard shipping no longer forced - CP SOL can now be only shipping method

(5) Standardize variable naming in english.php

Notes:

(a) Copied calc_order_subtotal( &$d ) function from ps_checkout because there was no method of retrieving order subtotal directly. New instance of ps_checkout retrieved $subtotal, but caused display issue on next checkout step – variables all null.

(b) Would have preferred to split admin functions into separate file for clarity and to reduce file size, but VM code structure mandates single file name (cpsol.php) for list creation.

(c) Postal code error handling would not be neccessary if address input had mask.

(d) Additional functions that might be included; selectable insurance, COD handling, pick up at location and return handling. Although Canada Post offers these additional services it is not clear how might be handled by the cpsol interface.

(e) For large volume shipping it would be benefically if cpsol interface captured shipping data and pushed to Merchant Canada Post tools for; pick scheduling and label printing.