[mdhall]

This is not so much a script request as asking for some guidance to accomplish a website feature.

I manage the websites for my company. For one of the sites, we want to incorporate a system so that visitors interested in our products can design custom counter tops on our site, add features like sinks, backsplashes, etc., and get a quote for what the product would cost. ( Also need to incorporate sending the finished info via email and allow online purchase, but that is down the road ).

I started with using php and GD to allow the user to add data via forms, and letting GD create the custom image as the user went through the process, however this only worked for me in pop up windows, and I was having too many problems with GD layering certain aspects of the image as needed.

I then went into the idea of using form input to preselect layouts, add sizes, etc., by using premade images, however the form inputs and sample images became too cumbersome and impractical to follow through all the way to the end, so I'm thinking about scrapping this system altogether.

So now I'm wondering if a custom flash application would work, taking user input and visually creating the customers product as they go through the design options. I have no experience with flash, have no idea how to create something like this, and have $0 budget to get it outsourced or buy high end software.

My questions:
1) Will Flash do what I need?
2) Is it a steep learning curve to get something like this in place?
3) Are there free applications available to build this so that it can be incorporated into our site?

Thanks for any opinions or suggestions.

[bizzar528]

1) Will Flash do what I need?

yes

2) Is it a steep learning curve to get something like this in place?

yes. Lookup actionscripting with Flash.

3) Are there free applications available to build this so that it can be incorporated into our site?

In flash, no (if they exist, the companies providing it usually charge for it)

But I did want to suggest looking into jquery/ajax or any of the other client side DOM manipulation methods. having just worked on a site, i found these to be great tools. There's also things like mootools, yui, and so on. Plus, there's a lot of premade/free scripts via sourceforge or if you do enough googling, you'll find something.