Installation Instructions For Google Merchant Center Feeder
Installation (Zen Cart 1.3.7+) Tips Uninstall Help
ABOUT US
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Title:Google Merchant Center Feeder
Author:Numinix
Description:Generates a Google Product Feed for Zen Cart stores.
Installation Level:Easy
Installation Time:< 5 minutes
Author Notes:Zen Cart is the copyright of the Zen Cart Development Team.
DISCLAIMER
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This module is installed at your own risk. If you are unsure of how to complete the installation procedure documented below, please view our help section for additional information. Numinix Web Development LLC takes no responsibility for problems related to the installation of this module.
LICENSE
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Before installing this module, you agree to abide by these license terms.
INSTALLATION (ZEN CART 1.3.8a+)
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  1. Make sure PHP5+ (PHP4 not supported) is compiled with libXML (contact your host if you do not have libXML)
  2. If using attributes to offer variations of your products, install Stock by Attributes (refer to the tips section for more information)
  3. If you're using Zen Cart 1.3.9h or prior convert your Zen Cart files and database to accept UTF-8 characters by following our UTF-8 conversion tutorial.
  4. Unzip and upload all files to your Zen Cart catalog (rename admin folder to your custom folder name)
  5. CHMOD feed and sub-directories 777 or sufficient write permissions
  6. Go to Admin->Tools->Install SQL Patches and patch your database with install.sql by copying and pasting (If you encounter errors, try the upload option)
  7. Go to Admin->Configuration->Google Merchant Center Configuration and setup all parameters
  8. Go to Admin->Tools->Google Merchant Center Feeder and follow instructions to create your feed
  9. Login to your Google Merchant Center account and register the file that was created in the above step. You can also schedule Google to crawl this file.
TIPS
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  • To have this update and automatically upload to Google Merchant Center, you will need to set up a Cron job via your host's control panel.
  • To run it as a cron job (i.e. at 5:00am), put something in your crontab like the following:
    • 0 5 * * * GET 'http://your_http_catalog/googlefroogle.php?feed=fy_uy_tp&key=YOURKEYHERE'
    • 0 5 * * * wget 'http://your_http_catalog/googlefroogle.php?feed=fy_uy_tp&key=YOURKEYHERE'
    • 0 5 * * * curl -s 'http://your_http_catalog/googlefroogle.php?feed=fy_uy_tp&key=YOURKEYHERE'
  • If your host has disabled cron jobs, try webcron services such as http://www.webcron.org/
  • This module supports adding required fields as attributes to your products (you can set them to display only and then modify your template to not show display only attributes). Supported attributes are: Size, Color, Age Group, Gender, Material, Pattern, UPC, ISBN, EAN, and Google Product Category. Please use these exact names when creating your Option Names in Zen Cart.
    1. First, create an attribute option name (i.e. Size)
    2. Next, create an option value for the option name created in step 1 (i.e. Small)
    3. Go to ADMIN->CATALOG->ATTRIBUTES CONTROLLER and assign the option to a product being sure to select display only
    4. When the tool is run, it will automatically use this data
    5. Alternatively, if you have Stock by Attributes (SBA) installed and you need for a single product to support multiple options (i.e. Small, Medium, Large, XL, XXL), create stock combinations in SBA and GMCF will automatically create variants for each stock combination
UNINSTALL
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  1. Delete all uploaded files;
  2. Run the uninstall.sql (if you simply want to deactivate but keep the installation, read tips below);
HELP
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  • If your script is timing out, edit the configurable area of /googlefroogle.php and increase the values as appropriate.
  • If you are seeing constants in the ADMIN->CONFIGURATION or ADMIN->TOOLS (i.e. BOX_GOOGLEFROOGLE), then you are missing a definitions file.
    Reupload the files by overwriting the old ones.
  • If you are having issues with the FTP function, please contact your host to make sure all the required ports for PHP FTP functions are open. It is recommended to set Google to crawl your feed on a schedule rather than submit it yourself (only set the cron to generate the feed in this case).
  • If the FTP function is timing out, as indicated by a timeout error, increase the timeout length in admin->googlefroogle.php near the beginning of the file.
  • Promotional text and shipping information in your descriptions will cause your feed to be rejected. Instead store this information in a custom field (i.e. create new fields with Numinix Product Fields).
  • For additional troubleshooting, please visit the support thread, read the entire thread for existing bugs or installation support before posting your questions.
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