[dan_s8]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone is building a store with the intention of using Fedex, or if the LemonStand team had any plans for adding a Fedex module? My client wants is planning on using Fedex for distribution, and I have been told they operate a fuel surcharge system that fluctuates daily, on top of regular shipping charges.

I guess Fedex are a pretty popular service, so was curious as to whether some form of integration was planned?

Otherwise, is there any chance someone could point me in the direction of how I might do something similar myself?

Huge thanks,
Dan

[Danny]

Hi Dan - we do have plans to add a FedEx module, but it's not high on our priority list at the moment. It could be very soon after release, but right now we are knocking away at the final updates so we can hit version 1.

You could look into the UPS module to see how they are organized and then attempt at creating your own FedEx module. We don't have a specific section in the Wiki on shipping modules yet, but you can probably find helpful information there

Aleksey might have some more pointers for you as well. Thanks!

[Aleksey]

Hi, Dan!

Please let me know if you want to implement the FedEx module by yourself. I will provide you with all necessary information.

Aleksey

[dan_s8]

Hi Danny and Aleksey,

My coding chops aren't as good as I'd like, but if I don't have a go myself then another developer will be dealing with it, so if you could give an idea of what's involved that would be great.

As Danny suggested, I will also have a look at the UPS module and see if I can get my head around that!

Thanks again,
Dan

[Aleksey]

Hi, Dan!

Shipping modules are PHP classes, which should be defined in PHP scripts placed to the modules/shop/shipping_types directory. There are currently two files - shop_uspsshipping.php and shop_upsshipping.php

PHP classes for shipping methods should have the following name structure: Shop_[Shipping Service]Shipping. For FedEx the class name should be Shop_FedExShipping. But, as you are going to develop a third-party module and we will most likely develop a native implementation in the future, it would be better if you add some extra marker to the class name, for example Shop_DanFedExShipping

A file name containing the class should be match the class name, but written in lower-case: shop_danfedexshipping.php

Shipping module classes should extend the Shop_ShippingType class. Please look how the existing classes are organized to get the idea. Any shopping module class should implement at least 4 methods defined in the base class:

public function get_info();
public function build_config_ui($host_obj, $context = null);
public function validate_config_on_save($host_obj);
public function get_quote($host_obj, $country_id, $state_id, $zip, $city, $total_price, $total_volume, $total_weight, $total_item_num);

The get_quote() method should contact a shipping service gateway and request quotes. Then it should return them as array. The Shop_ShippingType class contains comprehensive documentation for all required methods. Also, you can learn much by exploring the existing modules.

Feel free to ask me if you need help.

Thank you

[dalberts]

Thank you for this information I will be using it to implement a FedEx module as well as a Canada Post one.

[Danny]

Great! Let us know when you have those modules completed :)

[SoccerGuy3]

Dan or Aleksey or anyone else,

Anyone managed to get a Fedex module going? I am amazed that there isn't one already. Never even thought to check. I am in the final stages of releasing a site, went in to put in the Fedex info and BAM - no FedEx?!?! Bad me for not checking I guess, but I figured it was a given.

Help!

[Danny]

Not that we are aware of.

As you know, there are many shipping and payment services one could use. While LemonStand is in beta, we opted to develop a limited number of these so we can focus on core functionality. We certainly can't satisfy everyone's requirements, and so those things needed to take a back seat.

As we described above, they could be developed internally for your own use, or you could share them with the community. That's up to you.

But we likely won't be able to start getting into these various shipping services (and more payment services) until shortly after launch.

[SoccerGuy3]

Aleksey,

Anyway to contact Dalberts to find out if they ever wrote that module? I would be willing to purchase if they did. I took a look at the code and am not sure I can handle it on my own (not a PHP guy).

[Aleksey]

Hi, SoccerGuy3!

I just emailed him and asked to let us know about his progress.

Thank you

Aleksey

[SoccerGuy3]

Thanks!

[dalberts]

Yah I have built/implemented the fedex module and willing to sell it.

[SoccerGuy3]

Quote

Yah I have built/implemented the fedex module and willing to sell it.

I PM'd you for info...

[dan_s8]

Hi,

I'd be interested to know what a FedEx module (whether that's dalberts' version, direct from LemonStand, or otherwise) can/would do.

I'm currently sifting through a FedEx transaction reference guide, as my client is being steered towards some desktop software that seems to deal with paperwork (invoices, packing slips etc), tracking codes, and fuel surcharge etc. It seems like this would deal with all the necessary processes, although simplifying things, it looks like the software needs data formatted in a certain way.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that the above seems like a real pain, and if a FedEx module could deal with all this but be more directly linked to LemonStand then I'd be very interested to know more.

Thanks,
Dan

[Aleksey]

Hi, Dan!

We still have not implemented a native FedEx module for LemonStand and we do not know any details about the dalberts's implementation.

Thank you

[Aleksey]

Hi, guys.

If you use any custom shipping modules please note that we just updated the get_quote method declaration in the Shop_ShippingType class. This class is a parent class of all shipping methods. We added the $cart_items parameter to the method. Below is the updated method declaration:

public function get_quote($host_obj, $country_id, $state_id, $zip, $city, $total_price, $total_volume, $total_weight, $total_item_num, $cart_items)
{
...
}

Please update the get_quote method in your custom modules.

Thank you