On some sites, I have added an account login form directly on the OCST page. On the left are the login fields, and on the right is a message to new customers that they’ll be given the option to create an account after checkout. So far it seems to work well with little customer confusion.

I’m thinking about implementing this on our site, however I was wondering how you tackled the problem of existing customers trying to log in.

For instance, you have to have a place for customers who already have an account to log in. However, if you have a place to log into an account, but no option to create an account, you’re going to confuse people who want to create an account before placing an order. However, if you have an option to log in, create an account, or place an order without creating an account, that’s what I already have.

The only benefit is that you might get some customers to create an account that wouldn’t have otherwise.

I’m a little puzzled, as I don’t see &mvt:global:customer:ship_fname; anywhere in the code above. Are you referring to this line in the code:

<input type=”hidden” name=”Customer_ShipFirstName” value=”&mvte:order:ship_fname;”>

If so, global variable that is created will be g.Customer_ShipFirstName just like on the
ACAD page. The value &mvte:order:ship_fname is used because on the invoice page, that’s the variable that holds the customer’s first name.

If that doesn’t answer your question, please clarify and I’ll be glad to help.

Yes, global variables can be created in one of three ways:
1. By passing them to the page as a POST variable in a form submission from a prior page
2. By appending them to the URL as a GET variable
3. By creating and assigning them on the current page using one of the “tool” modules

Have you assigned the customer item to your new page?

&mvt:global:customer:ship_fname;

rather than the value statement in ACAD –

&mvte:global:Customer_ShipFirstName;

Might you explain the difference?

I like passing the variable in the form via a hidden input – might this be done with a &MyVariable=’1′ (i.e. as a “GET” variable) in an tag href string?

Enjoy your expertise.

You can create a global variable within a form on any page that will be passed to the next page when the form is submitted. Then you can use that global variable in a conditional to display your custom content.

You create your global variable by putting a hidden input field into your form, for example:
<input type=”hidden” name=”MyVariable” value=”1″>

Then, on the ACAD page, you would write your conditional like so:
<mvt:if expr=”g.MyVariable EQ ‘1′”>
Show my special message.
</mvt:if>

Since the global variable won’t persist past the current page, if you wanted to carry the conditional message through to the ACED page, you would add a second hidden form input inside a conditional (otherwise it will send all of the time), like so:
<mvt:if expr=”g.MyVariable EQ ‘1′”>
<input type=”hidden” name=”MyVariable” value=”1″>
</mvt:if>

Can you suggest what coding I need do the check on the ACAD/ACED to display the special message as you mentioned at the bottom of your response? I’m sure it is an if/else statement but not sure what code is needed to check to see if came from the INVC page after checking the checkbox.

Sure it is. You would make the following changes to the form above.

First, delete this line:
<input type=”hidden” name=”Action” value=”ICST”>

Second, change the screen destination to the ACAD page:
<input type=”hidden” name=”Screen” value=”ACAD”>

Then, remove the inputs for the login name and password:
<label for=”login”>User Name</label>
<input type=”text” id=”login” name=”Customer_Login” value=”&mvte:global:Customer_Login;”>
<label for=”pass”>Password</label>
<input type=”password” id=”pass” name=”Customer_Password” size=”25″ value=”&mvte:global:Customer_Password;”>
<label for=”verifypass”>Confirm Password</label>
<input type=”password” id=”verifypass” name=”Customer_VerifyPassword” size=”25″ value=”&mvte:global:Customer_VerifyPassword;”>

Finally, add your checkbox.
<input type=”checkbox” value=”Account_Create”> Check here to save your information to an account.

If you wanted to get fancy, you could edit the ACAD page to check for the checkbox value, and display a special message to the customer.