Shipping by Percentage or Flat Rate

    This module lets you set up your shipping methods to calculate the rate as a percentage of the order's subtotal. It also offers the option, on a method by method basis, to use a flat rate instead. In addition, rates for each method can be set on a category and product basis. If rates are configured for the category the product is in or specifically for the product, those rates will be used instead of the rates configured for the method in the main administration. There is also a flag so that individual products (or all products in a given category) can be provided with free shipping. A domestic country may be selected and each method chosen to be available for domestic and/or international shipping destinations.
Installation instructions can be found here

The Module's Main Admin screen (from the "Shipping by Percentage and Flat Rate" tab):

When you first configure the module no shipping methods will have been set up and you'll see the following empty table:
Domestic country:
  Shipping Method Min. Fee Rate %?
Add:
     Domestic?      International?
     At the top of the page (below the header, not shown here) is the country selection list for the domestic country. This determines what country is to be considered the "domestic" country when determine which shipping methods are available to what shipping countries. By default this is the country designated as the "owner's" country in the store admin.
    The leftmost empty field, next to add, is where you enter the shipping method's name. This is the name that will be displayed to the customer when they check out. For example, you might choose the name Airmail to represent shipping by air (naturally).
    The Min. (short for Minimum) and Fee columns are where you can add an additional handling charge. If the subtotal is not above the Minimum set here, the fee is added to the shipping charge. If a 0 (zero) is entered into the Min. column, NO additional handling will be added. If a -1 is set in this column, then the Fee will be added to EVERY order.
    The Rate column is where you set the rate to be charged for that shipping method. If the % column is checked (the default), then the rate will be charged as a percentage of the subtotal. Be sure to enter the percentage as the actual percentage rather than as a decimal. In other words enter 20 for 20% and NOT .20. If the % column is NOT checked, then the amount entered in the Rate column will be charged as a flat rate. So if you enter 20 for the Rate and the % column is checked, then shipping will be charged as 20% of the subtotal. If the % column is NOT checked, then shipping will be charged as $20.00.
    After you fill out the information for the new shipping method, click on the update button and the method will be added. After the method has been added, you will see it listed (with all other methods that have been set up) above the form to add a new method. However, next to these methods you will now see a check box under the "Remove" heading. To delete a method, check this check box and click on the"update" button.

    Once method(s) have been set up on the main administration screen (the one discussed immediately above), you will have the option to configure rates for these methods specific to categories and products. You will see a tab "Shipping by Percentage and Flat Rate" on the individual product and category screens. The configuration for the two screens are identical and looks like this (assuming you have two methods set up and they are named without much creativity):
Shipping Method Rate %? free?
first method
second method
    You will see a list of all of the methods that have been set up. In each row there are fields for Rate, %, and Free. The rates here are entered as they were for the main method. And, as with that configuration, if the % option is selected (default), the rate entered will be treated as a percentage, otherwise it will be charged as a flat rate. If the Free option is selected, even if a rate has been entered, then NO shipping will be charged for this item. However, keep in mind that if a handling fee has been configured for the method that fee will apply even if all products in the basket are configured to have free shipping.
    NOTE: Rates which have been set up for an individual product will have precedence over rates which have been set up for the category. So if a rate is set up for a product AND for the category the product is in, the rate that is set for the product is the one that will be used.

Installation

This module installs like any typical shipping module.
To install the module:
1. If you prefer to ftp the module file (prcntshp.mv) to your server, do so now. For convenience, place it into the Merchant2/modules/shipping directory. Note that your Merchant scripts might NOT be installed in a directory called Merchant2/. Although most setups use this directory. If your's uses a different directory, make sure you put the module there
2. Enter into admin and expand >Modules in the left frame.
3. Click on the link to "Add Module"
4. In the right frame, you'll see a text entry field with an "upload module" button next to it. If you ftped the prcntshp.mv file to your server, enter the path to that file into the text field (usually modules/shipping/prcntshp.mv). Click on the "add" button. If you did not ftp the file to the server, click on the 'upload' icon next to the text entry field. This will pop up a small window. Enter the path to the file on your local computer or click on the "browse" button to browse your hard drive to find it. After you have the path in the text entry field click on the "upload" key. When you're back to the right frame, click on the "Add" button. After a short delay, you should see a notification that the module was installed and you will see it at the bottom of the list of installed modules in the left frame.
5. The module is now installed into your "mall", but still needs to be installed into your store. Expand your store. Then Expand >Shipping Configuration. In the right frame, you will see the module listed near the top with a check box next to the name. Check that box, and click on "update".
6. The module is now installed into your store. You will see a new tab in the right frame, Shipping by Percentage or Flat Rate. Clicking on that tab takes you to the module's administration screen.
To return to the top, click here

[mike@mikeworks.com]