[SOLVED] How do I create a cost calculator

[tonylees]

HELP! I am in the process of creating a online shop selling kitchen cupboard doors, drawer fronts etc, BUT these are bespoke products that are not sold in a standard size! So I need the customer to be able to enter the height and the width and then the website provide the final price. Can anyone guide me in the right direction?

 

I am a newbie to this so I apologize if this is basic information!

 

Thanks for your help (in advance)

 

Tony

[p2grace]

Since you're using a variable cost you're best bet is probably finding the total area and multiplying it by a per square inch cost to find a total cost.

 

Simple example:

 

$width = 16;
$height = 35;
$variable = .5;
$area = $width * $height;
$totalCost = $area * $variable; // will result in $280 for the door

[tonylees]

Thanks for the quick reply.

The cost wouldn't be variable as I can get a fixed price per sq mtr. (Would I put that in a database or can I just work with PHP?)

How do I enter this in to my website?

 

Thanks again

Tony

[p2grace]

A price per square meter is a variable cost, the variable being how many square meters you're buying, so the same theory applies.  If the cost per square meter is ALWAYS the same you could just hard code it into php.  However if the cost per square meter is different depending on the material being purchased, I'd recommend adding it into a database table.

[revraz]

Also, know that prices will change for shipping over time, so account for that and choose a way that you can edit easily, like storing it in a DB.

[p2grace]

revraz makes an excellent point, as far as keeping the system as easily to maintain as possible, having a database driven website is much more effective.

[tonylees]

I think the database would be the best option.

 

As I said I am New to all this so please be patient.... I have just attempted a quick script

 

<label>Width

<input type="text" name="textfield" /> <?php

$width="";

?>

</label><br />

<label>Height

<input type="text" name="textfield2" /><?php

$height="";

?>

</label><br/>

<label>Cost

<input type="text" name="textfield3" />

</label>

<?php

$variable = 1;

$area = $width * $height;

$totalCost = $area * $variable;

 

?>

 

Where am I going wrong?

 

I have the text boxes that I can type the sizes in but i don't get any results

 

Thanks

Tony

[revraz]

You didn't put in code to show a cost

Also, that input area wont work for PHP, you need to submit it with a form to process it.

 

 

$totalCost = $area * $variable;

echo $totalCost;

[ohdang888]

I think the database would be the best option.

 

As I said I am New to all this so please be patient.... I have just attempted a quick script

 

<label>Width

<input type="text" name="textfield" /> <?php

$width="";

?>

</label><br />

<label>Height

<input type="text" name="textfield2" /><?php

$height="";

?>

</label><br/>

<label>Cost

<input type="text" name="textfield3" />

</label>

<?php

$variable = 1;

$area = $width * $height;

$totalCost = $area * $variable;

 

?>

 

Where am I going wrong?

 

I have the text boxes that I can type the sizes in but i don't get any results

 

Thanks

Tony

 

you should use actaul names for the fields, makes less confusion...

 

also, are you wanting to show them the cost on a new rpage, or on the same page?

 

this is pretty much it.... i think.

 

<?php

if (isset($_POST['submit'])) {

$width = $_POST["width"];
$height = $_POST["height"];

$variable = 1;
$area = $width * $height;
$totalCost = $area * $variable;

echo 'Total Cost=';
echo $totalCost;
}

?>

<form name="cost_finder" method="post">
<label>Width
<input type="text" name="width" />
</label><br />
<label>Height
<input type="text" name="height" />
</label><br/>
<input type="submit" name="submit" value="Calculate Cost!"/>
</form>

[tonylees]

Thank you for you help, that is great!

 

The results from the calculation appear at the top of the page, how can I control where the results are shown?

 

Thanks again! what a fantastic community!!

 

Tony

[p2grace]

Do the calculations where they are, but move the echo statement to where you want it shown.  Just remember that you need the "<?" and "?>" around the echo statement.

[tonylees]

Is it possible to change the font type, size and colour for the result?

 

Thanks

Tony

[p2grace]

Of course, when you use echo you're actually printing html code.

 

Simple Example:

 

// All you calculations were done above

echo "<p style=\"color: #ccc; font-weight: bold;\">$totalCost</p>"; // you can have whatever styles you want.  You can display any html, just remember to escape double quotes

[revraz]

Next step, learn CSS.

[tonylees]

Thanks everyone for your fantastic help!! I'll try not to bother you all too much 

[p2grace]

If everything works, could you mark the post as "Topic Solved" 

 

Thank you!