EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

Kevin205,

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1- To revert back, can I just re-install the database files, or do I have to re-install the entire site?

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The database is not truly "files"
Just use phpmyadmin and select the database and drop all tables
Then import your database backup sql

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2- Also I am not getting "Easy Populate" under "Configuration", It is under the "Tools". How can get that to show?

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If you are not seeing ep under config and tools - you have not installed it correctly

BTW: How did you upload the csv if not through the admin??

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Originally Posted by kobra

The database is not truly "files"

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Sorry tables.

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Originally Posted by kobra

BTW: How did you upload the csv if not through the admin??

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As I mentioned, I do have and see "/Admin/Tools/Easy Populate" , but do not see "/Admin/Configure/Easy Populate" . I uploaded through "tools/Easy Populate".

Please ignore my prior 2 posts as I messed up.

I had installed "easy_populate_csv_for_zencart_v1.5.x_v1.2.5.7c" instead of "EasyPopulate-4.0-master" plugin.

I am really sorry for that!

Hi All, I have largely succeeded with one minor problem. Some of my product descriptions have been cut short (I think by Excel, not by EP). So, my question is, can I use an EP full product import to update these fields, or does it only insert new entries?

Hey Gurus,

I am using:
EP 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012
ZC 1.5.1
Open Office

1. After install, EP4 shows under dropdown "configuration", but not within tools... I have to manually type in the full URL to get to easypopulate_4.php

2. Once I downloaded the "Complete Products" CSV file, I opened it, added in my test products and categories and such, then uploaded again ... I used FTP to bring it in, refreshed my cache, and received "File Import Completed!" But all I have are categories, but no products.

I attached a screen shot that shows both points, as well as my CSV file.

Thanks to all you... impressive support within this thread.
Chad

Attachment 11810
http://www.chadaustin.com/garagebook...n21-115952.csv

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Originally Posted by ChadAustin

Hey Gurus,

I am using:
EP 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012
ZC 1.5.1
Open Office

1. After install, EP4 shows under dropdown "configuration", but not within tools... I have to manually type in the full URL to get to easypopulate_4.php

2. Once I downloaded the "Complete Products" CSV file, I opened it, added in my test products and categories and such, then uploaded again ... I used FTP to bring it in, refreshed my cache, and received "File Import Completed!" But all I have are categories, but no products.

I attached a screen shot that shows both points, as well as my CSV file.

Thanks to all you... impressive support within this thread.
Chad

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The most likely scenario is that you did not install EP 4 properly.

For ZC1.5.x, you need to make sure that you FIRST load the " admin " elements, into your "admin" folder (which is named differently).

SECONDLY, you need to load the elements in the folder called: zencart 1.5 extra files You DO NOT just load this folder... ! Open it, and see what directory PATH is involved.

Then, read the README file for activation instructions.

EP will not function properly simply by appending easypopulate_4.php to your admin URL

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Originally Posted by WebweaverD

Hi All, I have largely succeeded with one minor problem. Some of my product descriptions have been cut short (I think by Excel, not by EP). So, my question is, can I use an EP full product import to update these fields, or does it only insert new entries?

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Yes, you can re-run the import and it will update the entries. If you have more than 256 characters in your description, Excel will cut this off. Use Open Office to retrain your long descriptions.

I don't know if any of the newer versions of Excel ever fixed this.

Thanks Chad,

I will do that, I am still having trouble with open office though, it's better now I've update Java but still crashes a lot - must have some issue with my setup. Hopefully is will stay open long enough for another product import. Thanks again for all your help in this thread... and of course for the plugin.

When importing categories, is there an option to specify a specific sort order?

Just started a thread related to this mod, thought I would put it out there..

http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.p...ate-any-takers

Hey Chadderuski

Been using EP4 to export data very successfully and this weekend I started a script to convert data into CSV's . Now I have some questions about the upload process . I am trying to upload a Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv and reading the thread I notice that I need to upload a Attrib-Basic-EP.csv first .

So I am just guessing that EP4 uses the v_products_model field as a unique identifier to update the fields of the product. Also that all three CSV files need to be uploaded Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv , Attrib-Basic-EP.csv and Full-EP.csv to get all product details and attributes.

Also looking at a the Admin/Tools/Easy populate 4 . There is a report to download : "Complete Products (with Metatags)" . But on opening it there is no metaTags included in it . Is there a way of uploading metatags with the CSV files and if so what are the column header names ?

Also with v_products_attributes_id and v_products_id in the Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv file . Are these auto number generated in ZC and I leave out those columns . Or do I need to provide some input ? I noticed on my site that there is a split in numbers between each column.

Thanks for a great product and hope you can help with the questions above :smile:

Paul

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Originally Posted by Hasher

Hey Chadderuski

Been using EP4 to export data very successfully and this weekend I started a script to convert data into CSV's . Now I have some questions about the upload process . I am trying to upload a Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv and reading the thread I notice that I need to upload a Attrib-Basic-EP.csv first .

So I am just guessing that EP4 uses the v_products_model field as a unique identifier to update the fields of the product. Also that all three CSV files need to be uploaded Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv , Attrib-Basic-EP.csv and Full-EP.csv to get all product details and attributes.

Also looking at a the Admin/Tools/Easy populate 4 . There is a report to download : "Complete Products (with Metatags)" . But on opening it there is no metaTags included in it . Is there a way of uploading metatags with the CSV files and if so what are the column header names ?

Also with v_products_attributes_id and v_products_id in the Attrib-Detailed-EP.csv file . Are these auto number generated in ZC and I leave out those columns . Or do I need to provide some input ? I noticed on my site that there is a split in numbers between each column.

Thanks for a great product and hope you can help with the questions above :smile:

Paul

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Hey Paul,

Carefully read through the docs, I think it will answer some of these questions. Also, if you read back a few pages, I covered this again. Please read these and I'll clear up any questions. But real quick, the BASIC import is for CREATING your attribute names/values and assigning to a product id, the DETAILED is a 1-to-1 UPDATE for EXISTING attributes. You first upload the BASIC, then download the DETAILED (edit to your liking, but do not modify the first several columns), and then upload the DETAILED to set values on existing.

Start with only 1 product with 1 attribute option name/values. Import the basic, download the detailed and this should make sense.

Note that you cannot use the DETAILED attribute file to CREATE attributes. This is only done at the BASIC stage. Oh, yes, you first need to import your FULL csv to create the actual products.

If you are not getting the Meta-tags, go to Configuration -> Easy Populate 4 and there should be an option to enable them. Not everyone needs them and it simplifies the file.

I am trying to modify the Categories MetaTags using ZC 1.50 and EP4.0.19 - Beta 1-28-2012. I downloaded the file, CategoryMeta-EP2013Jan28-114334.csv, sorted it, and then added in MetaTags and uploaded and imported back in and got all my categories and subcategories recreated at a top level. No tags were entered. So if I had originally:

Category A
---->Brand A
--------->Model A
--------->Model C
---->Brand B
--------->Model B

I ended up with the following structure:

Brand A
Brand B
Category A
---->Brand A
--------->Model A
--------->Model C
---->Brand B
--------->Model B
Model A
Model B
Model C

I ended up having to go in a deleting these new "extra" categories (which were empty). Any idea what I might have done wrong? I uploaded the same file name as I downloaded, as I know this is important to getting it to work properly. I recall getting this to work at one point and the regular product upload function works flawlessly.

Thanks!
Brian

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Originally Posted by Brian Anderson

I am trying to modify the Categories MetaTags using ZC 1.50 and EP4.0.19 - Beta 1-28-2012. I downloaded the file, CategoryMeta-EP2013Jan28-114334.csv, sorted it, and then added in MetaTags and uploaded and imported back in and got all my categories and subcategories recreated at a top level. No tags were entered. So if I had originally:

I ended up having to go in a deleting these new "extra" categories (which were empty). Any idea what I might have done wrong? I uploaded the same file name as I downloaded, as I know this is important to getting it to work properly. I recall getting this to work at one point and the regular product upload function works flawlessly.

Thanks!
Brian

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Brian,

Did you modify any categories after you download the catetories meta file? This should have only worked on the v_categories_id and sort order should not have mattered, but I'll have to look at the code (it's been ages since I've looked at this section).

I recommend that you install Dr. Byte's MySQL backup tool ... ALWAYS do a backup before running imports. It makes fixing these issues easy.

Also, under Store Manager you should optimize your data bases. Just deleting a category doesn't remove it from the database.

-chadd

I installed EasyPopulate 4.0 Beta to Zen Cart 1.5.0. When I try to download a file I exported, a "Authentication Required" box comes up. I assume this has something to do with permissions of the temp folder I created (which, as suggested in the readme, I renamed "merges")? Or, is that supposed to happen? If so, what user name and password should I use? The cPanel ones? or, the site admin ones?

Here is what the module shows on the Configuration Settings on the right:

Configuration Settings
Upload Directory: merges/
Verbose Feedback: TRUE
Split Records: 2000
Execution Time: 60
Convert Curly Quotes: No Change
Convert Char 0x92: Basic
Enable Products Metatags: 1
Enable Products Music: 0

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Originally Posted by seattleannie

I installed EasyPopulate 4.0 Beta to Zen Cart 1.5.0. When I try to download a file I exported, a "Authentication Required" box comes up. I assume this has something to do with permissions of the temp folder I created (which, as suggested in the readme, I renamed "merges")? Or, is that supposed to happen? If so, what user name and password should I use? The cPanel ones? or, the site admin ones?

Here is what the module shows on the Configuration Settings on the right:

Configuration Settings
Upload Directory: merges/
Verbose Feedback: TRUE
Split Records: 2000
Execution Time: 60
Convert Curly Quotes: No Change
Convert Char 0x92: Basic
Enable Products Metatags: 1
Enable Products Music: 0

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Hi Annie,

Well, are you sure you have my version? I don't think I ever said to rename the temp folder to merges...

What is the title of the page when you go to Tools -> Easy Populate 4? My version is only on github.com at this time:

https://github.com/chaddro/EasyPopulate-4.0

Brian,
Do you think you could zip and then attach your csv? I was looking at the code for the categories meta-tags and it SHOULD NOT be importing anything new. The code IS in there with the note that it should never get called. What this make me think is that your categories_id is somehow getting misinterpreted.

Here is one test for your. Export your categories csv, then (without downloading/editing/modifying) import it. There should be no changes...

-chadd

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Hi Annie,

Well, are you sure you have my version? I don't think I ever said to rename the temp folder to merges...

What is the title of the page when you go to Tools -> Easy Populate 4? My version is only on github.com at this time:

https://github.com/chaddro/EasyPopulate-4.0

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Sorry if I wasn't clear. I thought the readme recommended renaming the temp folder. Not to "merges" specifically - that was *my* idea. Anyway, yes. I am, using your version, Chadderuski. But would naming the folder cause this authorization verification issue?

~anne

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Brian,
Do you think you could zip and then attach your csv? I was looking at the code for the categories meta-tags and it SHOULD NOT be importing anything new. The code IS in there with the note that it should never get called. What this make me think is that your categories_id is somehow getting misinterpreted.

Here is one test for your. Export your categories csv, then (without downloading/editing/modifying) import it. There should be no changes...

-chadd

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Nope. On further investigation, there is no provision for adding a new category_id... specifically, it displays an error if it doesn't find that particular category_id...

Now i'm really puzzled!

It is in your install.txt file:

Now go to Configuration -> Easy Populate 4 and edit the Uploads Directory. The default directory is "temp/"
This assumes you have a directory "temp" in the root of your website. I highly recommend that you
move your temp directory into your admin, or change the name to something that is obscure for security reasons.

Found the problem! Password protection for that directory was added to the htaccess file accidentally by cPanel. All resolved!

OK, I give up. Tried 3 times to install EZ-4, same result "server 500". Nothing in Apache2.2 logs. Last attempt was a fresh ZC install, renamed "admin" to "sam", verified ZC OK. Renamed "EasyPopulate-4.0-master->admin" to "EasyPopulate-4.0-master->sam" and uploaded "sam" to my ZC. Renamed "EasyPopulate-4.0-master->zencart 1.5 extra files->admin" to "EasyPopulate-4.0-master->zencart 1.5 extra files->sam" and uploaded to my ZC. I checked the site, it appears all the "easypopulate_4" files are in thier correct locations. I get an admin->tools->Easy Populate menu but there is nothing under admin->configuration. When I try to run the EzP4 from the admin menu all I get is the SERVER 500 Error.

Running Apache2.2 with PHP 5.2.17 on my WIn XPsp3 sandbox. Are there PHP config requirements I don't know about? Any other ideas why this has not worked?

Probably should've uploaded the files/subdirectories IN the 1.5-extra-files folder to your "sam" folder, using the same structure of subfolders already under "sam".
While I've not used the module, I can pretty much guarantee that the 1.5-extra-files folder isn't meant to be uploaded to a "1.5-extra-files" folder on the server ... instead, it should be considered to be extra files that ought to be considered part of the rest of the files, but only if you're using v1.5.

Did that. The "reg_easypopulate_4.php" file from "zencart 1.5 extra files\sam\includes\functions\extra_functions"
is what I assume to be properly located inside "Apache2.2\htdocs\zencart\sam\includes\functions\extra_functions".

That's where it belongs, right?

OH, btw I'm running ZC 1.5.1

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Originally Posted by CaptCuervo

Did that. The "reg_easypopulate_4.php" file from "zencart 1.5 extra files\sam\includes\functions\extra_functions"
is what I assume to be properly located inside "Apache2.2\htdocs\zencart\sam\includes\functions\extra_functions".

That's where it belongs, right?

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Probably.

Update Thursday 1/31/13
Did a fresh ZC 1.5.1 install on my hosting site, uploaded EP4, everything worked as expected/documented.
Still does not install on local WinXPsp3 sandbox with apache 2.2.6 and PHP 5.2.17.

Does anyone have experience with ZC 1.5.1 and/or EP4 on a windows box?

Hey Chadderuski

Very happy made a script to make my import files into CSV with full downloadable product attributes .

Only thing I cant find is the option to turn on metatags in the config . Below is a list of the options in my Configuration >> Easypopulate 4 menu . Nothing seems to be useful for enabling meta tags.

Uploads Directory
Upload File Date Format
Default Raw Time
Upload/Download Prices Include Tax
Verbose Feedback
Make Zero Qty Products Inactive
Smart Tags Replacement of Newlines
Advanced Smart Tags
Debug Logging
Maximum Quantity Discounts
Split On Number of Records
Script Execution Time

Hope you can help with this one :smile:

Lovin EP4 !

Paul

Think I'm having an Import Issue.
I'm transferring all my products from one store (1.3.9a) to my new store (1.5.1). Download from original store goes fine. I upload the CSV to the new store via EP4, which also goes ok. It's a large file, so I split it. Ends up splitting into 5 files. When I IMPORT the first of the split files, it appears to be running, but then goes from the EP4 screen to a blank screen. I let it run for a while, just in case it is still working in the background, but nothing ever happens.

Anyone have any ideas?

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Originally Posted by seattleannie

Sorry if I wasn't clear. I thought the readme recommended renaming the temp folder. Not to "merges" specifically - that was *my* idea. Anyway, yes. I am, using your version, Chadderuski. But would naming the folder cause this authorization verification issue?

~anne

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Hi Anne,

Sorry I missed your reply yesterday... NO, changing the name of the temp folder would not cause this. You did set the temp name under Configuration -> Easy Populate 4 .... there is a testing for the temp folder path.

Also, depending on your server's setting/hosting, you MAY need to change permissions to 777 ... most servers are okay with 644, but this all depends on how php is running...

-chadd

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Originally Posted by CaptCuervo

Update Thursday 1/31/13
Did a fresh ZC 1.5.1 install on my hosting site, uploaded EP4, everything worked as expected/documented.
Still does not install on local WinXPsp3 sandbox with apache 2.2.6 and PHP 5.2.17.

Does anyone have experience with ZC 1.5.1 and/or EP4 on a windows box?

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Capt,

Are you using a WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) package, and if so, which one?

I have not tested EP4 under WAMP, but I have used MAMP (I work mostly on the mac) before and it worked okay.

-chadd

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Originally Posted by Hasher

Hey Chadderuski

Very happy made a script to make my import files into CSV with full downloadable product attributes .

Only thing I cant find is the option to turn on metatags in the config . Below is a list of the options in my Configuration >> Easypopulate 4 menu . Nothing seems to be useful for enabling meta tags.

Lovin EP4 !

Paul

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Paul,

Which version do you have... latest is: Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

If you upgraded, did you do click un-install (on the right side of the EP4 Tools page) and then Install (to update configuration settings)??

You are missing a LOT of configuration options...

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Originally Posted by RFree190

Think I'm having an Import Issue.
I'm transferring all my products from one store (1.3.9a) to my new store (1.5.1). Download from original store goes fine. I upload the CSV to the new store via EP4, which also goes ok. It's a large file, so I split it. Ends up splitting into 5 files. When I IMPORT the first of the split files, it appears to be running, but then goes from the EP4 screen to a blank screen. I let it run for a while, just in case it is still working in the background, but nothing ever happens.

Anyone have any ideas?

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Howdy,

Do you have EP 4 installed on BOTH websites, or do you have 1.2.5.4 on the old site? What kind of hosting do you have? You may be getting a script time-out. Some shared hosting environments only give you a SHORT amount of script time.

Also, check your server for debug files... 1.3x had them in the cache folder, but 1.5x moved them to their own location...

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Howdy,

Do you have EP 4 installed on BOTH websites, or do you have 1.2.5.4 on the old site? What kind of hosting do you have? You may be getting a script time-out. Some shared hosting environments only give you a SHORT amount of script time.

Also, check your server for debug files... 1.3x had them in the cache folder, but 1.5x moved them to their own location...

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Yes, EP4 on both sites.
Shared hosting on Hostgator. I think the memory_limit is set at 64M.
I don't see any debug files in my cache folder.

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Originally Posted by RFree190

Yes, EP4 on both sites.
Shared hosting on Hostgator. I think the memory_limit is set at 64M.
I don't see any debug files in my cache folder.

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Hmm... I just (yesterday) helped someone with a hostgator install. They had 11,000 records which I split into breaks of 4,000. These ran in about 20 seconds each. Not bad.

Here is something you may want to do: When importing LARGE amounts of data, go to Configuration -> Easy Populate 4 and set VERBOSE to OFF.

You DO NOT need EP to tell you that a record successfully imported. No sense in filling the HTML page with 4,000 lines of this. HOWEVER, even with VERBOSE OFF, you will still get ERROR printed to the screen so you'll know what they are.

Doing this will save you a VAST amount of memory and CPU time.

Let me know if this helps. Oh, also check your script execution time on the configuration page. Give it 60 seconds. You may need to check your php.ini setting for memory and execution time. A lot depends on how PHP is configured by your host.

Run time over-rides (like the one in configuration), and PHP.INI can still be trumped by core level php settings. You'd need terminal access to the server and an intimate knowledge of PHP to change settings here. I went through that with a person with 900,000 records... we broke these into 50K chunks and import went pretty smoothly after that.

-chadd

I see this is still being classed as in 'Beta' testing but has been for about 1.5yrs... Do you think a 'final' version will be released and put on to the add-on's site??

Howdies!

I'm currently using Zencart 1.5.0 and Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012 to handle a CSV feed from a supplier, we've had issues in the past that're fixed now (for example, the first column in the CSV was read incorrectly fairly frequently), but a problem has arisen that I just can't fix.

The issue is that some products simply have no price listed despite the supplier providing them, though I did find that the offending products that I checked out weren't contained within the most recent CSV. This leads me to believe that during the importing the prices are being overwritten, and the products no longer in the CSV feed are obviously not receiving a v_products_price input with which to populate the database.

We'd be happy just having the products dropped if they're not on the feed, but the ideal solution would be to have stock set to 0 as opposed to price.

-Nathan

Thank you Schoolboy... you were absolutely correct... the zencart 1.5 extra files I had missed... Thank you for the point in the right direction!

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Capt,

Are you using a WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) package, and if so, which one?

I have not tested EP4 under WAMP, but I have used MAMP (I work mostly on the mac) before and it worked okay.

-chadd

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No, everything was installed separately. I installed XAMPP and everything worked. Finally turned on error reporting in ZC and found the problem in the logs. Call to undefined function mb_internal_encoding(). PHP needs the mbstring extension installed (or compiled).

Thanks for the help

Hi, this was a bit over a year ago.

Has been there any "Dual Pricing" development with EP4 since the Group Pricing per Item is an abandoned project today?

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Have you checked your file to be sure you haven't listed a product twice at two different prices? What item number are you referring to? As I recall, you had quite a few errors in your data. Missing categories, duplicate entries... v_products_status was also not set.

At my count, you have 7 duplicate entries, and 85 records missing categories information...

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Originally Posted by ideasgirl

Hi, this was a bit over a year ago.

Has been there any "Dual Pricing" development with EP4 since the Group Pricing per Item is an abandoned project today?

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Not specifically. If "Dual Pricing" only adds fields to the products database, then you can use the "User defined products fields" on the Configuration -> Easy Populate 4 page to add them.

At some point I will probably do some clean-up of the custom products fields in favor of user defined. It will clean up the code some.

-chadd

Hi guys-

ZC v1.5.1
Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

Could someone look at this csv file please?
Attachment 11899

It doesn't upload the products and their associated information (pricing, etc).

Thanks so much folks. You're extremely appreciated.

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Originally Posted by ChadAustin

Hi guys-

ZC v1.5.1
Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

Could someone look at this csv file please?
Attachment 11899

It doesn't upload the products and their associated information (pricing, etc).

Thanks so much folks. You're extremely appreciated.

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Chad,

I tested your file, and it DOES upload and import correctly for me. HOWEVER, your product status is "0", so these products will not show in the store's front end, but DO show in the admin.

Also, you cannot use offsite image links with zencart (at least not easily). This has been discussed recently in other threads.

Another point: Are you sure you have products name and products model correct? Your products models look like names, and your product names look like UPC numbers....

-chadd

Thanks for the quick reply Chadd,

So which column in the CSV file relates to Product Status?

I have Image handler 4 installed, I just haven't started working with it yet. But thanks for that information... I think I had read about that in this massive thread somewhere :)

Yes, you may be correct about the product names and such... ideally, I may have to modify some variables and templates, as I want the result to look something like this screenshot of an older version of Zen CartAttachment 11900

Once I can get the CSV file and Image Handler 4 working in tandem together, I will work with the templates.

Can "EasyPopulate 4.0" move a set of existing products from one category to another?

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Originally Posted by ChadAustin

Thanks for the quick reply Chadd,

So which column in the CSV file relates to Product Status?

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That would be v_status

I have found out about the following in v_status
1 = Product is active and visible
0 = Product is inactive and hidden (such as when product is out of stock)
9 = Delete product

What is the command to move??

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Originally Posted by Kevin205

Can "EasyPopulate 4.0" move a set of existing products from one category to another?

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Hi Kevin,

No. But there is a work around that I don't suggest except for new installs. You can list the product TWICE. The first time in it's existing category, with v_status = 9 (request a delete product), and then again in the target category with v_status = 1 for normal active.

So what happens is the product is first deleted and then re-added to the store. Note that this breaks the product_id, and that may affect things like your sitemap, feeds, etc.

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Hi Kevin,

No. But there is a work around that I don't suggest except for new installs. You can list the product TWICE. The first time in it's existing category, with v_status = -9 (request a delete product), and then again in the target category with v_status = 1 for normal active..

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Thanks for the reply.

Is it 9 or -9 to delete?

What is the difference if you delete products from admin one by one vs. deleting using v_status = 9?

This would be a pretty useful tool. (Not that it already isn't)

I can only imagine there will be instances that you add 100s of products by mistake to a category. And then you have to delete them from one category and add them to the correct one!

It's 9 ... I edited the post to fix it... too early :p

Deleting should be no different.

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Originally Posted by chadderuski

Hi Kevin,

No. But there is a work around that I don't suggest except for new installs. You can list the product TWICE. The first time in it's existing category, with v_status = 9 (request a delete product), and then again in the target category with v_status = 1 for normal active.

So what happens is the product is first deleted and then re-added to the store. Note that this breaks the product_id, and that may affect things like your sitemap, feeds, etc.

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I know, I am trying to inject coffee to myself also.

Since you mentioned you do not recommend except for new installs. You can list the product TWICE

If you are deleting products from table first (v_status = 9), and then adding new products to a different category via (v_status = 1). Whys is it that the product ID is broken? Why should it? Product ID should be deleted in the tables. Aren't they?


Please excuse me if I asking dumb questions like that.

ps. By product IDs i meant v_products_model.

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Originally Posted by Kevin205

This would be a pretty useful tool. (Not that it already isn't)

I can only imagine there will be instances that you add 100s of products by mistake to a category. And then you have to delete them from one category and add them to the correct one!

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This is ONE of the many potential screw-up that can occur, and the reason I always ALWAYS recommend doing a database backup with Dr. Byte's Backup MySQL tool before doing any import.

I've been using EP for 8 years, and even with MY coded version, I still do a DB backup before an import.

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---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

I know, I am trying to inject coffee to myself also.

Since you mentioned you do not recommend except for new installs. You can list the product TWICE

If you are deleting products from table first (v_status = 9), and then adding new products to a different category via (v_status = 1). Whys is it that the product ID is broken? Why should it? Product ID should be deleted in the tables. Aren't they?


Please excuse me if I asking dumb questions like that.

ps. By product IDs i meant v_products_model.

---

when you browse your store, look at your URL. It is made up of category ID's and your product's ID, NOT the model. So if you feed google, bing, or some other place, you will throw a wrench in your bot's indexing ...

Hope that makes sense.

OK now I understand. My #1 rule is to always make backups.

What my concern is when you populate the database with 100s of records and in a month or two after adding hundreds more, then if the category name has to be changed for any reason whatsoever, manufacturer definitions, management decision to change location and or mistakes or any other reason, then this is something that has to get done and backups will not help. The product tree has to be changed. Search engine bots, SEO and etc. could be re-established.

As long as the action of deleting a series of products with v_status = 9 (request a delete product), and then adding the same series of products in the target category via v_status = 1, does not interfere with database integrity. I would not care about bots or indexing.

Do you think the above action might damage the database integrity itself?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

OK now I understand. My #1 rule is to always make backups.

What my concern is when you populate the database with 100s of records and in a month or two after adding hundreds more, then if the category name has to be changed for any reason whatsoever, manufacturer definitions, management decision to change location and or mistakes or any other reason, then this is something that has to get done and backups will not help. The product tree has to be changed. Search engine bots, SEO and etc. could be re-established.

As long as the action of deleting a series of products with v_status = 9 (request a delete product), and then adding the same series of products in the target category via v_status = 1, does not interfere with database integrity. I would not care about bots or indexing.

Do you think the above action might damage the database integrity itself?

---

I see no reason for the databases to suffer. Although you may want to optimize your databases if you delete *hundreds* of item, etc. as these are not physically deleted from the database (only marked as deleted) until you do so.

So how would you physically delete them?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

So how would you physically delete them?

---

From zencart admin: Tools > Store Manager > Optimize Databases

I can download "Full" and turn right around and import it back. But if I open with Calc and save file unedited I get this error msg.

No model field in record. This line was not imported

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by chadderuski

From zencart admin: Tools > Store Manager > Optimize Databases

---

Chad - Thank you for all the help.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Razzinator

I can download "Full" and turn right around and import it back. But if I open with Calc and save file unedited I get this error msg.

No model field in record. This line was not imported

---

When you first save a CSV in Open Office, you have to do a SAVE AS, Select TEXT CSV, and be sure to CHECK "Edit filter Settings"....

Click Keep Current Format, Set your Field Delimiter to the COMMA, and Text Delimiter to DOUBLE QUOTE

I believe the defaults are TAB, which is why your import failed.

When the SQL mode was set to strict. There would have a SQL error --> "Incorrect integer value". In most case, the database setting is out of our control. So, suggest chadderuski to modify the code.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by su35

When the SQL mode was set to strict. There would have a SQL error --> "Incorrect integer value". In most case, the database setting is out of our control. So, suggest chadderuski to modify the code.

---

Su35,

Thanks for the feed back. But could you elaborate more and perhaps give a specific example of this problem?

Thanks,
chadd

version: Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

if sql-mode="STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION" (my.ini)
on the EP4 working page, export a completed products file, and then import it. you will get a error message in the log file as
MySQL error 1366: Incorrect integer value: '' for column 'products_tax_class_id' at row 1
.....
product_is_always_free_shipping = '0',
products_tax_class_id = '',
products_date_available = NULL,
....
I think the problem is that some default values for integer had not been set correctly(have not been set, set to empty...).

if sql-mode=
everything is OK.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by su35

version: Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

if sql-mode="STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION" (my.ini)
on the EP4 working page, export a completed products file, and then import it. you will get a error message in the log file as
MySQL error 1366: Incorrect integer value: '' for column 'products_tax_class_id' at row 1
.....
product_is_always_free_shipping = '0',
products_tax_class_id = '',
products_date_available = NULL,
....
I think the problem is that some default values for integer had not been set correctly(have not been set, set to empty...).

if sql-mode=
everything is OK.

---

I've seen something similar to this with IIS ... didsn't know it was because sql mode was strict.

Thanks.

-chadd

Could you set the default values in the code?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by su35

Could you set the default values in the code?

---

Next release will address this issue.

chadderuski,

Why isn't this in the plugins area??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kobra

chadderuski,

Why isn't this in the plugins area??

---

Hey Kobra,

Actually, I'm in the process of putting everything together now, creating a detailed readme file, and some additional work on the code. Hopefully I can submit this within a couple weeks.

-chadd

Just wondering....

Zen cart v1.5.1
Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

I understand the Model Number, but is there a way to add the "SKU" so that appears not only on the product listing, but within EP and the invoice? I realize there will be template edits... any point in the right direction Gurus?

Thanks for your help,
Chad

Hello, I can change the delimiter "between fields.
I'm having trouble with my management.
thanks

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ChadAustin

Zen cart v1.5.1
Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012

I understand the Model Number, but is there a way to add the "SKU" so that appears not only on the product listing, but within EP and the invoice? I realize there will be template edits... any point in the right direction Gurus?

Thanks for your help,
Chad

---

Hey ChadAustin,

Not sure what you mean by sku. Zencart has a products_id (internal key) and products_model ... most people would consider that the SKU... perhaps you mean UPC?

-chadd

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brancasalvo

Hello, I can change the delimiter "between fields.
I'm having trouble with my management.
thanks

---

Bran,

Please read the documentation over, and the first several posts in this thread. That should get you going.

-chadd

When I first installed ZenCart, I loaded the sample data. I would like to get rid of all that data so I have a clean start for Easy Populate 4.0. I opened up phpMyAdmin and looked at each table to see which ones I think I need to clear out. Here's the list I came up with:

Quote:

---

zencart_categories
zencart_categories_description
zencart_customers
zencart_customers_info
zencart_group_pricing
zencart_manufacturers
zencart_manufacturers_info
zencart_media_clips
zencart_media_manager
zencart_media_to_products
zencart_media_types
zencart_meta_tags_categories_description
zencart_meta_tags_products_description
zencart_music_genre
zencart_products
zencart_products_attributes
zencart_products_attributes_download
zencart_products_description
zencart_products_discount_quantity
zencart_products_options
zencart_products_options_values
zencart_products_options_values_to_products_options
zencart_products_to_categories
zencart_product_music_extra
zencart_product_types
zencart_product_types_to_category
zencart_record_artists
zencart_record_artists_info
zencart_record_company
zencart_record_company_info
zencart_reviews
zencart_reviews_description
zencart_salemaker_sales
zencart_specials

---

Are there any tables in there that I don't need to empty and are there any that aren't in the list that I do need to empty. I don't really want to run zc_install because I've also installed a few modules that have database entries, in particular localSalesTaxMod2.5.2.

I wish this information was included in the readme for the module. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has struggled with this and the thread is so long that it's really hard to find answers to these type questions.

Thanks,
Alisa

Easy Populate is a great module and if I could just figure out how to use it, would make my life a lot easier. I have some programming background, but am used to being the one laying out the fields and deciding what values go in which fields and what the value options are. I see fields with 0 or 1 or 2 in it and I don't know what those values mean. The only field that is clearly explained is the v_products_option_type in Attrib-Basic-EP and Attrib-Detailed-EP.

I've spent the last 2 days trying to figure out which .csv file are needed to add categories & products & meta data to my site and what each field means in each csv file. I finally figured out where the files from my current site were late yesterday [ Tools > Easy Populate 4 ], but am having trouble making sense of them. Is there any documentation to tell me how to set these files up to load product data the way it needs to be loaded?

I wish this information was included in the readme for the module. The only thing I found was an explanation on how to set up Attrib-Basic-EP. The attributes for my products are a little complicated, so I think I will need to use the Attrib-Detailed-EP file, but here again, are both used or one or the other? Also, not sure how to set up any of the other files. Also, I have 2 options that increase the price of an item. Not sure how to make that happen.

here's the list of files I think I need to modify for Easy Populate 4.0:

Quote:

---

Attrib-Basic-EP
Attrib-Detailed-EP
Category-EP
CategoryMeta-EP
Featured-EP
FULL-EP
Options-EP
OptVals-EP
PriceBreaks-EP
PriceQty-EP
Values-EP

---

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has struggled with this and the thread is so long that it's really hard to find answers to these type questions.

Thanks,
Alisa

I am using Zen 1.5.1 and installed Easy Populate 4.0 v1.2.5.7. When I click on the Easy Populate under the tools menu I get the following error.

1 partially deleted product(s) found! Delete this dross to prevent unwanted zencart behaviour by clicking here.
You are seeing this because there are references in tables to a product that no longer exists, which is usually caused by an incomplete product deletion. This can cause Zen Cart to misbehave in certain circumstances.

When i click on clicking here i get the error below

Deleting of product data debris failed! Please see the debug log in your uploads directory for further information.

I get the error regardless of using empty files or after i add a product.

Does anyone have any idea for fixing the error?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jodean

I am using Zen 1.5.1 and installed Easy Populate 4.0 v1.2.5.7. When I click on the Easy Populate under the tools menu I get the following error.

1 partially deleted product(s) found! Delete this dross to prevent unwanted zencart behaviour by clicking here.
You are seeing this because there are references in tables to a product that no longer exists, which is usually caused by an incomplete product deletion. This can cause Zen Cart to misbehave in certain circumstances.

When i click on clicking here i get the error below

Deleting of product data debris failed! Please see the debug log in your uploads directory for further information.

I get the error regardless of using empty files or after i add a product.

Does anyone have any idea for fixing the error?

---

You have the wrong version (it's not EP 4.0) ... this thread is for my version currently only on github:

https://github.com/chaddro/EasyPopulate-4.0

-chadd

This is an awesome contribution bro. Awesome work. Question though....

First I am creating a site and my suppliers are all drop shippers. All the cvs/xls files I'm getting are different, ie names, descriptions, ext ext. I am an amature coder, I created a PHP (page really) that takes the file and edits the fields to create the columns I want. For example the one suppliers cvs file had 4 columns that I needed into 1. Only one column had <HTML> tags so I had to move the data where I wanted it with in the Description and add the <HTML> tags I wanted, lastly save the file as a CVS.

I downloaded the complete products list from my site using Easy Populate. Deleted all the data. Then C&P'ed all the data into the respective fields. Uplaoded it. (after a little messing around) it worked great.

My question for you is: My next step will be to have my custom PHP page create the appropriate cvs file that will upload into Easy Populate in order to update or add new products. What are the fileds I need for sure? Ones I leave out will they get the default value in the database??

Thanks

Trying to import Attributes via the Basic Products Attributes (basic single-line).
Started with:
Attachment 12053
Revised and added the following record to the excel sheet
v_products_model
50165
v_products_options_type
5
v_products_options_name_1
Color
v_products_options_values_name_1 Pink
Attachment 12054
When I imported the csv file, not only Color Pink was not attached to Product Model 50165, color Pink was not added as an "Option Values".

What did I do wrong? How else would you add the attributes via EP4?

And also following is the result from the upload.

Import Results
.
.
.
UPDATED! - Model: 50165 | 5 | Color | Pink |
.
.
.
Finished processing the the import file
Updated records: 13
New Imported records: 0
Errors Detected: 0
Warnings Detected:0
.
.
.

I think I found out where the problem started from.

After reading the "attribute_types.txt" in the mod, I realized I had changed the name of the csv file to "test.csv".
In the read me, it is stated that Basic Attribute Import file name must begin with "Attrib-Basic-EP" plus any other text you want

As soon as I changed the file name it updated the attribute.
NEW ATTRIBUTE! - Model: 50165, Option: Color, Values: Pink

Questions:

Was this the only thing I did wrong?

Does this rule apply to all other imports for EP4?

Kevin: You should be on the right track now. Some imports have file naming conventions because they act as switches to what the import script does.

This applies to category, attribute and pricing sheets. I have not yet put a restriction on the full sheet, but that may come...

Thank you for all you are doing.

How hard is it to add yet another field such as UPC/ISBN, to the scheme of import and export of products in EP4?

A lot companies are using UPC along with their model number.

Thank you for all you are doing.

How hard is it to add yet another field such as UPC/ISBN Product Fields to the scheme of import and export of products in EP4?

A lot of companies are using UPC along with their model number.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

Thank you for all you are doing.

How hard is it to add yet another field such as UPC/ISBN Product Fields to the scheme of import and export of products in EP4?

A lot of companies are using UPC along with their model number.

---

Agreed. Hopefully UPC will make it into core.

You can add a field "products_upc" to the products database via phpMyAdmin. Then use the User Defined Product Fields option under Configuration > Easy Populate 4. Just add the name of the field name with no quotes or spaces. You can add multiple name separated by a comma (no spaces):

products_upc,products_price_uom

-chadd

I can't figure out what I did wrong?

I exported the "Attrib-Detailed-EP2013Mar07" file and added one line of attribute information to the following fields. I was trying to add an attribute to an existing drop down option

v_products_attributes_id ( did not place any thing here. I figured SQL will generate the ID)
v_products_id (Placed the product ID 229, identical to the existing product ID)
v_products_model (Placed the model #, identical to the existing product #)
v_options_id (placed 8 for option id, matching the existing option id/name)
v_products_options_name (placed the the option name)
v_products_options_type (placed 0 for, thinking this is used for a drop down)
v_options_values_id (added 1 to the highest number of 16 and wrote 17)
v_products_options_values_name (added a new name)
v_options_values_price (added the price)
v_options_values_price v_price_prefix (added a +)
the rest of the fields were unchanged.

The reason why you see all the below error message and not just once, is because I believe I re imported "Attrib-Detailed-EP2013Mar07" about 4 times. I did not place any IDs as I figured program will assign appropriate ids.

Code:

---

MySQL error 1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AND
                                products_id =  AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id =
                ' at line 3
When executing:
SELECT * FROM zen_products_attributes
                                WHERE (
                                products_attributes_id =  AND
                                products_id =  AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id =
                                ) LIMIT 1
MySQL error 1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AND
                                products_id = 229 AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id = ' at line 3
When executing:
SELECT * FROM zen_products_attributes
                                WHERE (
                                products_attributes_id =  AND
                                products_id = 229 AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id =
                                ) LIMIT 1
MySQL error 1064: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'AND
                                products_id = 229 AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id = ' at line 3
When executing:
SELECT * FROM zen_products_attributes
                                WHERE (
                                products_attributes_id =  AND
                                products_id = 229 AND
                                options_id = 8 AND
                                options_values_id = 17
                                ) LIMIT 1

---

Sorry for re-post on the same issue. I had these questions and forgot to ask. :D

Can "Attrib-Detailed-EP***.csv" be used the same way as "Attrib-Basic-EP***.csv"?

If yes, would EP4, Zen or SQL comes up with the ID values for the following fields or you have to manually keep adding IDs in "Attrib-Detailed-EP***.csv" before the import?

v_products_attributes_id
v_products_id
v_options_values_id

Also when you get an error as above, does that mean the database tables are corrupted and they have to be reverted back to the backup set?

I know to many questions. Sorry for that. Thanks.

Sorry here is another hint.

Attachment 12102

Kevin,

The BASIC import is for ADDING attributes. The DETAIL import only modifies EXISTING attribute information.

You cannot use the DETAILED report to ADD more fields. Note that the first couple columns are actual indexes into the databases: EP finds the indexed value and updates it.

Used properly the BASIC and DETAILED sheets will let you build extremely complex attribute layout, and allow you to edit everything just like the admin.

-chadd

Getting errors as such, is the database damaged? Do you think I should go back to previous backup or not necessary?

Thank you.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

Getting errors as such, is the database damaged? Do you think I should go back to previous backup or not necessary?

Thank you.

---

You should be using Dr. Bytes MySQL Backup tool any time you are working with EP. This ensures that your can easily roll back your databases.

The databases would not be damaged, but I cannot determine what you did. Looks like I'll have to add some additional error handling to prevent these kind of user errors.

-chadd

I always backup!

Got it thanks. Chad

Attachment 12106

Chad - Why is the value of v_products_options_type field is different in the Attrib-Detailed-EP than Attrib-Basic-EP CSV?

I have used Radio buttons for Size and Drop down for Material.

The v_products_options_type in Attrib-Detailed-EP for product model 53 is 2 for Size and 0 for Material, but in Attrib-Basic-EP the value for Size and Material are both set to 2.

Shouldn’t it be 2 (Radio Button) for Size and 0 (Drop Down) for Material in Attrib-Basic-EP also?

I would appreciate it if you would explain the difference. Thanks.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

Attachment 12106

Chad - Why is the value of v_products_options_type field is different in the Attrib-Detailed-EP than Attrib-Basic-EP CSV?

I have used Radio buttons for Size and Drop down for Material.

The v_products_options_type in Attrib-Detailed-EP for product model 53 is 2 for Size and 0 for Material, but in Attrib-Basic-EP the value for Size and Material are both set to 2.

Shouldn’t it be 2 (Radio Button) for Size and 0 (Drop Down) for Material in Attrib-Basic-EP also?

I would appreciate it if you would explain the difference. Thanks.

---

I just created a test using your same BASIC data, and when I down load the DETAILED it is correct: v_products_options_type match.

Are you using the products_options_name "Material" more than once with DIFFERENT products_options_type (drop box vs radio button)?

Check your options names/values through the admin...

I thought I had messed up again, so I went ahead and installed a fresh install of 1.5.1 with clean database. The only plug-in installed is EP4 (Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012).

I then created two products:
Prod 1
Shirt A (Model: SHIRT_200), with 1 attributes:
Size: Small, Medium, Large
Prod 2
Shirt B (Model: SHIRT_100), with 2 attributes:
Size: Small, Medium, Large
Color: Blue, Red, Green

As you can see when I exported the "Attrib-Basic-EP" and "Attrib-Detailed-EP", I am still getting “0” in v_products_options_type in the Attrib-Basic-EP (on record#3 of spreadsheet).

Shouldn’t that value be a “2” for Radio Button? Same result as before. Am I missing something Here?


Attachment 12107

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevin205

I thought I had messed up again, so I went ahead and installed a fresh install of 1.5.1 with clean database. The only plug-in installed is EP4 (Easy Populate 4.0.22 - Beta 6-10-2012).

I then created two products:
Prod 1
Shirt A (Model: SHIRT_200), with 1 attributes:
Size: Small, Medium, Large
Prod 2
Shirt B (Model: SHIRT_100), with 2 attributes:
Size: Small, Medium, Large
Color: Blue, Red, Green

As you can see when I exported the "Attrib-Basic-EP" and "Attrib-Detailed-EP", I am still getting “0” in v_products_options_type in the Attrib-Basic-EP (on record#3 of spreadsheet).

Shouldn’t that value be a “2” for Radio Button? Same result as before. Am I missing something Here?


Attachment 12107

---

PM Sent...

Congratulations Kevin, you found a bug in the Basic Attribute EXPORT (not import).

A same product with different types of options was not exporting correctly.

Thank you for your diligence!

-chadd

Chad – Please do not congratulate me as I do not deserve any. You deserve all the congratulations and recognition yourself with all of your hard work helping others.

Thank you again for an amazing module.

Here is the result. Perfect.


Attachment 12109


I will test with other options tomorrow and keep you posted. Thanks.