How to add simple product to cart instead of configurable product

Question

I want to prevent configurable products from ending up in the cart. I want to add their simple product equivalent to the cart.

Despite this being a fairly normal request, I haven't found anything that is doing this.

I currently have an observer set up to work on checkout_cart_add_product_complete checkout_cart_add_product_complete

I'm able to manipulate the cart from here (add, remove items), but I can't remove a configurable product (nor its options).

Does anyone know how this is possible?

Observer.php

class Mymodule_Addtocartredirect_Model_Customizablereplace {
    public function replaceItems($observer) {
        $quote   = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session')->getQuote();
        $storeId = Mage::app()->getStore()->getStoreId();

        foreach ($quote->getAllItems() as $item) {
            $result = array();
            Mage::log("We have a product! " . $item->getSku(),null,"test.log");
            if($item->getOptionByCode('simple_product')) {
                $childProduct = $item->getOptionByCode('simple_product')->getProduct()->getId();
                Mage::log("We have ".$childProduct,null,"test.log");
            }

            if ($option = $item->getOptionByCode('simple_product')) {
                $cartHelper = Mage::helper('checkout/cart')->getCart();
                $quantity = $item->getQty();
                $childProduct = $option->getProduct();
                Mage::log("Child Product: ".$childProduct->getSku()." (".$childProduct->getId().")",null,"test.log");
                $cartHelper->removeItem($item->getId());
                $cartHelper->addItem($childProduct->getId(),$quantity);
            }
        }
        $quote->collectTotals()->save();
    }
}

Answer 1

Few days back,I did the same,by creating a custom module Create a module and in the CartController.php file, create the following:

<?php 
    require_once 'Mage/Checkout/controllers/CartController.php';
    class Yourname_Mymodule_CartController extends Mage_Checkout_CartController
    {
        public function addAction()
        {
            if (!$this->_validateFormKey()) {
                $this->_goBack();
                return;
            }
            $cart   = $this->_getCart();
            $params = $this->getRequest()->getParams();
            try {
                if (isset($params['qty'])) {
                    $filter = new Zend_Filter_LocalizedToNormalized(
                        array('locale' => Mage::app()->getLocale()->getLocaleCode())
                    );
                    $params['qty'] = $filter->filter($params['qty']);
                }

                $product = $this->_initProduct();
                $child = $product->getTypeInstance(true)->getProductByAttributes($params['super_attribute'], $product);
                $related = $this->getRequest()->getParam('related_product');


                if (!$child) {
                    $this->_goBack();
                    return;
                }

                $cart->addProduct($child, $params);
                if (!empty($related)) {
                    $cart->addProductsByIds(explode(',', $related));
                }

                $cart->saveSpecial();

                $this->_getSession()->setCartWasUpdated(true);


                Mage::dispatchEvent('checkout_cart_add_product_complete',
                    array('product' => $product, 'request' => $this->getRequest(), 'response' => $this->getResponse())
                );

                if (!$this->_getSession()->getNoCartRedirect(true)) {
                    if (!$cart->getQuote()->getHasError()) {
                        $message = $this->__('%s was added to your shopping cart.', Mage::helper('core')->escapeHtml($child->getName()));
                        $this->_getSession()->addSuccess($message);
                    }
                    $this->_goBack();
                }
            } catch (Mage_Core_Exception $e) {
                if ($this->_getSession()->getUseNotice(true)) {
                    $this->_getSession()->addNotice(Mage::helper('core')->escapeHtml($e->getMessage()));
                } else {
                    $messages = array_unique(explode("\n", $e->getMessage()));
                    foreach ($messages as $message) {
                        $this->_getSession()->addError(Mage::helper('core')->escapeHtml($message));
                    }
                }

                $url = $this->_getSession()->getRedirectUrl(true);
                if ($url) {
                    $this->getResponse()->setRedirect($url);
                } else {
                    $this->_redirectReferer(Mage::helper('checkout/cart')->getCartUrl());
                }
            } catch (Exception $e) {
                $this->_getSession()->addException($e, $this->__('Cannot add the item to shopping cart.'));
                Mage::logException($e);
                $this->_goBack();
            }
        }
    }

Create a new save function

<?php
class Yourname_Mymodule_Model_Cart extends Mage_Checkout_Model_Cart
{
    public function save()
    {
        Mage::dispatchEvent('checkout_cart_save_before', array('cart'=>$this));

        $this->getQuote()->getBillingAddress();
        $this->getQuote()->getShippingAddress()->setCollectShippingRates(true);
        $this->getQuote()->collectTotals();
        $this->getQuote()->save();
        $this->getCheckoutSession()->setQuoteId($this->getQuote()->getId());
        Mage::dispatchEvent('checkout_cart_save_after', array('cart'=>$this));
        foreach($this->getQuote()->getAllItems() as $_item)
        {
            $_item->setCustomPrice($_item->getPrice());
            $_item->setRowTotal($_item->getPrice()*$_item->getQty());
            $_item->setBaseRowTotal($_item->getBasePrice()*$_item->getQty());
            $_item->setOriginalCustomPrice($_item->getCustomPrice());
            $_item->setCalculationPrice($_item->getCustomPrice());
        }
        return $this;
    }

    public function saveSpecial()
    {
        Mage::dispatchEvent('checkout_cart_save_before', array('cart'=>$this));

        $this->getQuote()->getBillingAddress();
        $this->getQuote()->getShippingAddress()->setCollectShippingRates(true);
        $this->getQuote()->collectTotals();
        $this->getQuote()->save();
        $this->getCheckoutSession()->setQuoteId($this->getQuote()->getId());

        Mage::dispatchEvent('checkout_cart_save_after', array('cart'=>$this));
        return $this;
    }
}

Done!!

Answer 2

Despite this being an almost 3-year-old question, I figured I'd add my own answer since I was trying to do this myself and hopefully someone will find my solution useful.

All I did was add a plugin to Magento\Checkout\Controller\Cart\Add

<?php
namespace Vendor\Module\Controller\Plugin\Cart;

class Add
{

    public function beforeExecute(
        \Magento\Checkout\Controller\Cart\Add $subject
    ) {
        $params = $subject->getRequest()->getParams();
        if (isset($params['selected_configurable_option']) && $params['selected_configurable_option'] !== '') {
            $params['product'] = $params['item'] = $params['selected_configurable_option'];
            $params['selected_configurable_option'] = '';
            unset($params['super_attribute']);
            $subject->getRequest()->setParams($params);
        }
    }
}

Answer 3

I know this is not the answer you are looking for but it may be a solution for you.

My suggestion

I would change my products visibility section for each config item.

If you look at product editing section in admin, you will find field called visibility.

1. You need to set each parent config item's visibility as Not visible individually.
2. Then set each associated product (child product)'s visibility as 'Catalog Search`.

This will make sure all your parent item not displayed at site but all associated (child) products are and when user add them to cart, they all will be simple products.

Then your ERP will handle it as required.