Quotation form (Add up £ as you go)

Discussion in 'Programming' started by tom13, Sep 28, 2009.

0
  1. #1
    I've seen this on a few sites before...

    A webform to get a quote, but instead of submitting the form, and having the website owner mail you back with the quote- it add's the costs up as you fill out the form (Noting the total down the right hand column)

    Can anyone tell me where I'd start with something like this?
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2009
    tom13, Sep 28, 2009 IP
  2. zvezda

    zvezda Peon

    Messages:
    32
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I think is not just like this. IT's something more. I belive you'll find out :) I can't tell you.
     
    zvezda, Sep 28, 2009 IP
  3. shortbusgeek

    shortbusgeek Peon

    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #3
    Yep, it's very do-able. Depends on the language you're using and if you want it to immediately display or post the form and then show the total. If you want a running total as the user is filling out the form as they select the next field, look into AJAX. I usually use a combination of AJAX and PHP to perform these types of functions.
     
    shortbusgeek, Sep 28, 2009 IP
  4. tom13

    tom13 Peon

    Messages:
    30
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #4
    Thanks.

    Yes that's what I imagined... but is there some sort of script, or maybe an add-on for Wordpress that I could use to do such task, or would this need to be coded from scratch?

    I want it to display immediately. This way, if they realise that their total is becoming too much, they can then change it to suit their budget.
     
    tom13, Sep 28, 2009 IP
  5. goliath

    goliath Active Member

    Messages:
    308
    Likes Received:
    11
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    60
    #5
    If you are looking for something common, for instance a mortgage calculator, you can find several online but thses sorts of tools are usually for activities that use the same algorithm no matter who is doing it. I.E. Pretty much everyone would calculate the payments for a 30-year fixed mortgage using the same algorithm.

    Every business model requires different factors for an estimate. Then the business owner has their own calculations to add, in many cases. Weighting and volume-sensitive options (number of rooms or square feet) add to the specificity of each estimator.

    Unless it's something like that or you are working with someone else's exact product/service list, you will probably not find a pre-made estimator script that will serve you well.

    As far as a WP plugin, mostly people who need this stuff have custom sites already.

    Having done this for some client web sites, I can tell you that it's not that hard, though. Well, relatively I mean. Usually I do all PHP though, and give a price after submission of the estimate form. (No waiting for email, yuck)

    I'm pretty sure that Javascript can do enough math to handle a basic estimator in "real-time" though, and an ajax setup could definitely get it done.
     
    goliath, Oct 4, 2009 IP