[ic] Backend order entry

[interchange-users@interchange.redhat.com]

Quoting cfm@maine.com (cfm@maine.com):
> On Wed, Sep 19, 2001 at 12:15:42PM -0400, mheins@redhat.com wrote:
> > Quoting Donal H. (donalh@online.ie):
> > > Hi,
> > > 
> > > Is there an API for entering orders from an external source i.e. other than
> > > directly accessing the ASCII file(s) or SQL database?
> > > 
> > > If not, are there any recommendations (or major "do'"s or "don't"s) for
> > > doing this - I'd want to avoid any possible problems when upgrading to a new
> > > release of IC.
> > 
> > I can't fathom why you would do this, but it really is just a question
> > of making sure the order number is unique (probably just a different
> > number sequence) and inserting the entries in orderline, transactions,
> > and userdb.
> 
> It's useful for a client that might take **all** their orders 
> through their online catalogs, eg including phone, fax, email, 
> whatever orders.  The benefit for them is "single stream"; 
> everything gets handled the same way. They can get order reports, 
> shipping, inventory all via intranet/web.

Aha. The ERP-less business system. I am afraid I always think of
Interchange as the front end to an accounting package.....

It is definitely possible to format a single HTTP request to 
order a series of items and complete the order. For example:

<A HREF="[area
		href=ord/checkout.html
		form='
		    mv_action=submit
		    mv_order_item=FOO_SKU
		    mv_order_quantity=1
		    mv_order_item=BAR_SKU
		    mv_order_quantity=2
		    payment_method=po
		    fname=Milton
		    lname=Bear
		    address1=...
		    etc=etc
		'
	]">Order something</A>

-- 
Red Hat, Inc., 3005 Nichols Rd., Hamilton, OH  45013
phone +1.513.523.7621      <mheins@redhat.com>

Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing.
-- Wernher Von Braun