We make a 3D configurator without programming and layout. Part two

  • Tutorial
In our previous article “ Making a 3D Configurator Without Programming and Layout ”, we discussed the creation of a 3D jewelry store using the Blender and 3ds Max modeling packages.

Today we will update this project and make it a really working store. For this we need to provide it with the following functions:
 
  • Pricing based on user configuration.
  • Sending orders for further processing by the manager.
  • Buttons of social networks (where without them).

In the end, we will have something like this:

image

Click here to start the application.

As usual, you can find the source files (3ds Max, Blender and Puzzles) of this configurator in the latest version of the distribution package of the Verge3D framework.

Plan


The task looks somewhat ambitious. We need to create a 3D store with a configurator (client side) and a server-side order processing system. But in reality, everything is not so difficult, because we have a clear plan:

  1. First we need to set up a server for receiving and processing orders.
  2. The next stage - using the visual editor Puzzles, we calculate the price and add the logic of forming an order and sending it to the server.
  3. Finally, we add buttons to the application to share our application on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

Let's look at the whole process step by step.

Server Tuning


In this tutorial, we assume that you have WordPress content management system installed on your server. Starting from version 2.7, the Verge3D framework (which we used last time to create a configurator) comes with a WordPress plugin. This plugin already contains a simple e-commerce system that can process orders transferred using the “place order” block of the visual logic editor Puzzles (we will discuss this point a little later).

If you don’t have a server or don’t know what WordPress is, don't panic! We google “WordPress hosting”, we study and order a ready server (a hint - more than 100 rubles a month can be not given). To learn how to work with WordPress to be a programmer, a sysadmin or a web designer is not necessary.

Let's continue setting up our store. First install and activate the Verge3D plugin through the "Plugins" menu in the WordPress admin area. This plugin is available in the official WordPress.org directory, so there will be no installation problems.

Next, to teach your website to process orders, add the following short code to any page or post:

[verge3d_order]

This code is replaced with an order form that looks something like this (approximately, because its type depends heavily on the WordPress theme used):

image

All orders sent through this order form, will be available through the menu Verge3D-> E-Commerce in your admin panel:

image

Orders in this list are created automatically after receiving requests from your configurator application. For example, when a certain John (his order is first in the picture) buys a silver ring with three precious stones for $ 180, you can call him back or write a letter, confirm the order and find out additional information, such as a delivery address and payment method.

Actually this is all you need to do on the server. Now it's time to go back to our 3D configurator and teach him how to work with WordPress.

We attach the order form to the 3D configurator


This part is pretty simple. Add the “place order” puzzle to your application, specify the URL for the order form, the name, description and amount of the order. Here's what happens:

image

The logic of the work is rather trivial: when the user clicks the order button, we calculate the price of the ring based on the selected metal and gems. Then we use the “place order” puzzle to send the selected configuration to the server.

Social buttons nets


Have you ever seen a store without buttons for sharing on social networks? Just about, let's correct this misunderstanding with the help of a series of similar puzzles:

image

Here the logic is even simpler. When a user clicks a button, we open the desired social network in a new tab, after informing the title and contents of the post that we want to publish.

findings


The methods described in this article can be used not only for 3D product configurators, but also for other e-commerce applications. For example, you can use them to create a 3D model store or an interactive presentation of something, especially if there is an opportunity to order something in this presentation.

As for social networks, the scope for imagination is simply huge. Instead of a boring flat button, you can make a funny animated character.

Thank you for reading my article to this place. As always, comments are welcome.

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