Save shape of product to db when place order in Magento

Question

In product page (app\\design\\frontend\\mytheme\\mytheme\\template\\catalog\\product\\view\\addtocart.phtml) I add a drop down box for customer to select shape of product.

But in checkout page (app\\design\\frontend\\mytheme\\mytheme\\template\\checkout\\cart\\item\\default.phtml) How I retrieve the selected shape by customer. Also I want to save the selected shape in database when place order. How can I did this??

Please help me I am using magento 1.9.0.1.

Please refer the images given below for more details.

When place order I have to add the selected attribute to db. I already added the attribute shape for product , it is multiple select type. So in product page the values are displayed. Now user can select their prefered shape and make add to cart. When place order the selected shape should save to db. then only admin can know what shape is selected by user.

Please help me....Any example...links...code snippets...suggestions...

Answer 1

Why not use custom product options? That should give you the functionality you want. This article explains how to create them http://www.templatemonster.com/help/magento-how-to-create-product-custom-options.html