Magento Add Custom Option on Product Page

Question

I want to add text area displayed on product page for all products, when a customer enter any data to that textarea, that data will be shown in the order information. I override cart controller but there is a problem. Here is my code:

1. Create a file app/etc/MyExtensions_CommentBox.xml

   <?xml version="1.0"?> <config>
       <modules>
           <MyCommentBox_CommentBox>
               <active>true</active>
               <codePool>local</codePool>
               <depends>
                   <Mage_Checkout/>
               </depends>
           </MyCommentBox_CommentBox>
       </modules> </config>
   

2. Create a file app/code/local/MyExtensions/CommentBox/etc/config.xml

        <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><config>
        <modules>
            <MyExtensions_CommentBox>
                <version>0.1.0</version>
            </MyExtensions_CommentBox>
        </modules>
   
        <frontend>
            <routers>
                <checkout>
                    <args>
                        <modules>
                            <MyExtensions_CommentBox before="Mage_Checkout">MyExtensions_CommentBox</MyExtensions_CommentBox
                        </modules>
                    </args>
                </checkout>
            </routers>
        </frontend>
    </config>
   

3. Create a file app/code/local/MyExtensions/CommentBox/controllers/CartController.php

       require_once 'Mage/Checkout/controllers/CartController.php';
       class MyCommentBox_CommentBox_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();
               $related = $this->getRequest()->getParam('related_product');
   
               /**
                * Check product availability
                */
               if (!$product) {
                   $this->_goBack();
                   return;
               }
               /****************/
               /* Custom Params*/
               /****************/
               //Create custom option
               $additionalOptions = array(array(
                  'code' => 'my_code',
                  'label' => 'This text is displayed through additional options',
                  'value' =>  $this->getRequest()->getParam('textOpt');
               ));
               //Add Custom Option to product
               $product->addOption($item->addOption(array(
                   'code' => 'additional_options',
                    'value' => serialize($additionalOptions),
               ));     
               /****************/
               $cart->addProduct($product, $params);
               if (!empty($related)) {
                   $cart->addProductsByIds(explode(',', $related));
               }
   
               $cart->save();
   
               $this->_getSession()->setCartWasUpdated(true);
   
               /**
                * @todo remove wishlist observer processAddToCart
                */
               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 = $this->__('%s was added to your shopping cart.', Mage::helper('core')->escapeHtml($product->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();
           }
        }
   
       }
   

4. add code to addtocart.phtml
   < textarea rows=4 cols="50" name="textOpt">

When I enter any data to textarea and click the "add to cart" button, it shows "server error 500" on Chrome or Blank page on Firefox. If i remove this code, everything is ok.

/****************/
            /* Custom Params*/
            /****************/
            //Create custom option
            $additionalOptions = array(array(
               'code' => 'my_code',
               'label' => 'This text is displayed through additional options',
               'value' =>  $this->getRequest()->getParam('textOpt');
            ));
            //Add Custom Option to product
            $product->addOption($item->addOption(array(
                'code' => 'additional_options',
                 'value' => serialize($additionalOptions),
            ));     
            /****************/

Is there a problem with this code?

Answer 1

This is Magento default functionality

An example of how to use it:

1. Go to Magento admin panel -> Catalog -> Manage Products
2. Click the "Edit" link in grid.
3. Add the custom option to it(See left navigation): Title - "Text Area name", Input Type - "Area", Sort Order - "1".
4. Click the "Save And Continue Edit " button.
5. Navigate to your product in the Front end.

See screen shot

Admin Side

Frontend