Windows Live Product Search Contribution Support Thread

Thanks to the support of a few individual Zen Cart members, I've decided to write a script for Windows Live Product Search in XML 1.0.

I've currently written:

eBay Turbo Lister 2.0 Exporter in CSV format,
ePier Bulk File Generator in tab delimited format,
Google Base Feeder in RSS 2.0 format,
and other non-feed modules

This script will be very similar to the Google Base Feeder as it also supports automatic FTP to Live Product Search.

Once the script has been written, an official support thread will be created and link to from this thread.

For now, please use this thread for suggestions and questions regarding the script or information on how you can help to support its creation.

The script is coming along quickly and smoothly. I spent the day writing it and am now in the testing phase. It outputs the file in XML 1.0 and I changed the FTP function to upload to Windows Live. It also includes most of the optional attributes.

A new feature is that if you aren't using the UPC/ISBN module, you will not receive SQL errors as I've added conditional statements to avoid this. This will be added to the next version of the Google Base Feeder as well since not everyone uses the UPC/ISBN mod.

Expect a working release within the next 24 hours!

We are now beta testing the script on multiple Zen Cart installations.

If you would like to beta test as well, please contact webmaster AT numinix DOT com

The script will not interfere with your site and includes no core file modifications. The FTP function has been tested to work and uses port mode instead of pasv to connect to Live's FTP server. The timeout length has also been increased as the server is slower than Google Base's FTP. If you have issues with the FTP function of any of the feeders, please also report your PHP version number for your server.

The beta tests have been successful and the feeds are accepted by Windows Live Product Upload. Once I've completed the documentation, I will start a support thread and provide a link to it from here.

v1.0.1 WINDOWS LIVE PRODUCT SEARCH FEEDER

Windows Live Product Search is a free service similar to Google Base which allows store merchants to list their products in the marketplace and link customers to their stores.

This Script generates a Live Product Search data feed as described here: http://productupload.live.com

The main advantage of this script is that Zen Cart merchants can effortlessly add their products to Windows Live Product Search and have the products automatically updated through the use of cron jobs.

Affected files
==============
none

Affects DB
==========
Yes (creates new records into configuration_group, and configuration tables)

DISCLAIMER
==========
Installation of this contribution is done at your own risk.
Backup your Zen Cart database and any and all applicable files before proceeding.

Features:
=========
- supports Search-Engine Safe URLs
- could be accessed by http or command line
- auto-upload to Live Product Search FTP
- full zen-cart compatibility

Install:
========
1. Unzip and upload all files to your store directory (except .sql files);
2. Chmod feed directory to 777
3. Go to Admin->Tools->Install SQL Patches and install lps.sql by copying and pasting (do not upload);
4. Go to http://productupload.live.com and create/sign to your account. To use the FTP function select FTP as your method of upload and create an FTP account.
5. Go to Admin->Configuration->Live Product Search Feeder Configuration and setup all parameters;
6. Name your bulk upload .xml the same as in step 4.
7. Go to Admin->Tools>Live Product Search Feeder and follow instructions to create, view, and upload feed file.

Update:
=======
1. Upload/Overwrite all files;
2. Install current version update_#_#_#.sql by copying and pasting (do not upload);
3. If no update.sql file available, then no SQL updates required;

Tips
====
To have this update and automatically upload to Google Base, you
will need to set up a Cron job via your host's control panel.
To run it as a cron job (at 5:0am like you wanted), put something in your crontab like the
following:

0 5 * * * GET http://your_http_catalog/lps.php?feed=yes&upload=yes
or
0 5 * * * wget http://your_http_catalog/lps.php?feed=yes&upload=yes
or
0 5 * * * curl -s http://your_http_catalog/lps.php?feed=yes&upload=yes
If your host has disabled cron jobs, try webcron services such as http://www.webcron.org/

Troubleshooting:
================
When I select FTP, it returns "Upload Failed" without any explanation.
- Please contact your host for possible solutions.

After uploading the file by FTP, I get "Post-processing failed. Upload failed."
- Your file name does not match the name registered with Windows Product Live. Login to your account and correct the file name.

When I try to send the file by FTP, it times out.
- Increase the timeout length in admin->googlefroogle.php near the beginning of the file.

When I create the feed file, the script stops in the middle of creating the script.
- Increase the script execution time in your stores ADMIN->CONFIGURATION->MY-STORE.
- Create/open a file called php.ini found in your server's root directory (not store root) and add/edit the following lines:

PHP Code:

---

max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 90
memory_limit = 32M 


---

Constants (i.e. BOX_LPS) are appearing instead of definitions.
- You are missing the appropriate admin definition files. Please reupload ALL of the included files and overwrite any existing files.

History
=======
v 1.0.0 08/08/2007
1. Live Product Search Feeder beta version created for testing;
v 1.0.1 09/08/2007
1. Bug fix;

The current release is stable and is accepted by Windows Live Product Search within 36 hours.

Separate threads are not needed. The two threads have been merged.

Please close the original thread or rename it to Support

Hello Numix,

thank you for this great Script. I have same issues using it.

On a MySQL5 / PHP5 Server I get the following error:

Code:

---

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in lps.php on line 69
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 'ORDER BY p.products_id ASC' at line 11
in:
[SELECT p.products_id, p.products_model, pd.products_name, pd.products_description, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, p.products_price_sorter, s.specials_new_products_price, s.expires_date, GREATEST(p.products_date_added, p.products_last_modified, p.products_date_available) AS base_date, m.manufacturers_name, p.products_quantity, pt.type_handler FROM zen_products p LEFT JOIN zen_manufacturers m ON (p.manufacturers_id = m.manufacturers_id) LEFT JOIN zen_products_description pd ON (p.products_id = pd.products_id) LEFT JOIN zen_product_types pt ON (p.products_type=pt.type_id) LEFT JOIN zen_specials s ON (s.products_id = p.products_id) WHERE p.products_status = 1 AND p.product_is_call = 0 AND p.product_is_free = 0 AND pd.language_id = ORDER BY p.products_id ASC]

---

I am on a German Shop so it would be great to include the language_id to the configuartion_group statement in you lps.sql.

Anyway on a PHP4 / MySQL 4 Server it works perfect. Thank you.

Stefan

I´m not a native english speaker so apologize for mistakes.

Numinix,
As with all your work, I've managed to get this up and running in moments and it seems to be working as advertised. Just got to wait those pesky 36 hours for MSN to make it go live .....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fastserv

Hello Numix,

thank you for this great Script. I have same issues using it.

On a MySQL5 / PHP5 Server I get the following error:

Code:

---

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in lps.php on line 69
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 'ORDER BY p.products_id ASC' at line 11
in:
[SELECT p.products_id, p.products_model, pd.products_name, pd.products_description, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, p.products_price_sorter, s.specials_new_products_price, s.expires_date, GREATEST(p.products_date_added, p.products_last_modified, p.products_date_available) AS base_date, m.manufacturers_name, p.products_quantity, pt.type_handler FROM zen_products p LEFT JOIN zen_manufacturers m ON (p.manufacturers_id = m.manufacturers_id) LEFT JOIN zen_products_description pd ON (p.products_id = pd.products_id) LEFT JOIN zen_product_types pt ON (p.products_type=pt.type_id) LEFT JOIN zen_specials s ON (s.products_id = p.products_id) WHERE p.products_status = 1 AND p.product_is_call = 0 AND p.product_is_free = 0 AND pd.language_id = ORDER BY p.products_id ASC]

---

I am on a German Shop so it would be great to include the language_id to the configuartion_group statement in you lps.sql.

Anyway on a PHP4 / MySQL 4 Server it works perfect. Thank you.

Stefan

I´m not a native english speaker so apologize for mistakes.

---

Thank you for notifying me of this problem. I'll have to take a look at the differences between PHP4/5 and MySQL4/5.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Because it takes so long for Windows Live Product Search to process the list, and there are no product id's included in the XML file as WLPS doesn't support this attribute yet, if you reupload your file, the processing will start over! This is a huge setback in this marketplace and I will be writing to them immediately to resolve this issue.

fastserv's note brings up a common mistake often only uncovered in non-english shops ... the language value in the query isn't sufficiently forced to proper datatype.

Code:

---

AND pd.language_id = ORDER BY p.products_id ASC

---

Note that the language_id is missing. This often occurs when the default language is being used and there hasn't been a need to explicitly set one.

It's usually best to at least use (int) before listing $_SESSION['language_id'] in the query parameters.

ie: [FONT="Courier New"](int)$_SESSION['language_id'][/FONT]

I'll include that in all future updates of my feeders. It's strange because that portion of the code was written by a_berezin who's primary shop language is Russian :p

I've just written to WLPS and requested them to add a new attribute called <OfferID>.

Having problems with this contribution and your Google Base one as well...same issue actually...

When I click on Step 1 it throws the popup and then immediately stops. Nothing displayed in the window...nothing saved in the feed file.

Added the changes to my php.ini and changed the script execution time in Admin.

Still nothing.

Any ideas?

Is this a hosting issue? If it is what do I need to have my host change to allow this to work?

Thanks for providing such killer add-ons. :clap:

I get the following error while trying to run the .sql patch, Please advise:

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 'true', 'false'),'), (NULL, 'Uploaded date', 'LPS_UPLOADED_DATE', '', 'Date and t' at line 1
in:
[INSERT INTO configuration (configuration_id, configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, date_added, use_function, set_function) VALUES (NULL, 'Live FTP Username', 'LPS_USERNAME', 'ftp_username', 'Enter your LPS FTP username', @configuration_group_id, 1, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Live FTP Password', 'LPS_PASSWORD', 'ftp_password', 'Enter your LPS FTP password', @configuration_group_id, 2, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'LPS Server', 'LPS_SERVER', 'ftp.productupload.live.com ', 'Enter Live Product Search server
default: ftp.productupload.live.com', @configuration_group_id, 3, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Default Currency', 'LPS_CURRENCY', 'USD', 'Only USD currently supported', @configuration_group_id, 5, NOW(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_pull_down_currencies('), (NULL, 'Output File Name', 'LPS_OUTPUT_FILENAME', 'lps.xml', 'Set the name of your Live output file', @configuration_group_id, 19, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Compress Feed File', 'LPS_COMPRESS', 'false', 'Compress Live Product Search file?', @configuration_group_id, 20, NOW(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array('true', 'false'),'), (NULL, 'Uploaded date', 'LPS_UPLOADED_DATE', '', 'Date and time of the last upload', @configuration_group_id, 21, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Output Directory', 'LPS_DIRECTORY', 'feed/', 'Set the name of your feeds output directory', @configuration_group_id, 20, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Use cPath in url', 'LPS_USE_CPATH', 'false', 'Use cPath in product info url', @configuration_group_id, 20, NOW(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array('true', 'false'),'), (NULL, 'Max products', 'LPS_MAX_PRODUCTS', '0', 'Default = 0 for infinite # of products', @configuration_group_id, 24, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Included Categories', 'LPS_POS_CATEGORIES', '', 'Enter category names separated by commas
(i.e. computers,software,televisions)
Leave blank to allow all categories', @configuration_group_id, 30, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'Excluded Categories', 'LPS_NEG_CATEGORIES', '', 'Enter category names separated by commas
(i.e. computers,software,televisions)
Leave blank to deactivate', @configuration_group_id, 30, NOW(), NULL, NULL), (NULL, 'UPC', 'LPS_UPC', 'false', 'Include products UPC?', @configuration_group_id, 32, NOW(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array('true', 'false'),'), (NULL, 'ISBN', 'LPS_ISBN', 'false', 'Include products ISBN?', @configuration_group_id, 32, NOW(), NULL, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array('true', 'false'),');]
If you were entering information, press the BACK button in your browser and re-check the information you had entered to be sure you left no blank fields.

Try copy-and-paste the file contents into the SQL Patch window instead of simply browsing for the file.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrByte

Try copy-and-paste the file contents into the SQL Patch window instead of simply browsing for the file.

---

Yes, please read the included readme.txt file for instructions on how to properly install and use this script.

Doh, thanks numinix for reminding me what readme files are for. ;)

It took this time.

One more little snag.
All went well up to step 7.
"7. Go to Admin->Tools>Live Product Search Feeder and follow instructions to create, view, and upload feed file."

I don't see the Live Product Search Feeder link it the Tools list
(strange, because step 5. was OK)

Am I doing something stupid again?

Hello,

I am glad to see that you made the MSN Product Live. I was manually having to modify the output of your Google Feeder to get the correct feed style for MSN.

I really appreciate it. I made a small contribution for your efforts. Its all I could afford at the the moment.

Thank you
avel

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aPurpleMonkey.com

Having problems with this contribution and your Google Base one as well...same issue actually...

When I click on Step 1 it throws the popup and then immediately stops. Nothing displayed in the window...nothing saved in the feed file.

Added the changes to my php.ini and changed the script execution time in Admin.

Still nothing.

Any ideas?

Is this a hosting issue? If it is what do I need to have my host change to allow this to work?

Thanks for providing such killer add-ons. :clap:

---

Do you have wordpress installed? The gzip_compression() in that mod can cause this problem.

DrByte, this is the code from wordpress if you have any ideas:

PHP Code:

---

if(isset($_GET['feed'])){
wp();
gzip_compression();
require_once('./wp-includes/template-loader.php');

exit();
} 


---

Hey Numinix

Just setup the mod and it output was excellent.

Thank you,

Just curious when do you think you will be tackling Yahoo Shopping? Just a thought. I could send you links about what they need which like I said before isn't much different from what you already have. I could send you information if you were interested.

They are a pay service correct?

The next mod I will be developing is the Auction Lister Attributes module which is a general mod for storing auction specific data in the products table for use in future and existing modules (i.e. eBay category, etc). Once that is complete, I have been hired privately to complete an Amazon mod which will then be released publicly thanks to the gracious supporter. And then I will complete the long awaited eBid module that I have been talking about for quite some time.

Yahoo, and other shopping comparison sites have no direct interest to me which is why I haven't given them priority. Although I do get some donations thanks to a few members, such as yourself, the mods are written 95% out of my interest to write them for my own Zen Cart store, Numinix.com. That said, I am capable to create those mods and will get to them eventually :)

The output was fine but I got this error when I tried to upload to live product search "Catalog rejected: Not in the expected XML format.
Correct the format, and then try your upload again. Learn more about catalog formats "

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Send me your feed file to webmaster AT numinix DOT com

If your feed has all of the required attributes, try sending it again. It will normally be instantly rejected if there is an error.

I had this error when <OfferCollection> was not included in the feed file, but this was added in v1.0.1 and shouldn't be an issue anymore.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

Send me your feed file to webmaster AT numinix DOT com

If your feed has all of the required attributes, try sending it again. It will normally be instantly rejected if there is an error.

I had this error when <OfferCollection> was not included in the feed file, but this was added in v1.0.1 and shouldn't be an issue anymore.

---

I sent you the feed file, if you did not get it because it's too big please let me know and I will resend.

Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

Do you have wordpress installed? The gzip_compression() in that mod can cause this problem.

DrByte, this is the code from wordpress if you have any ideas:

PHP Code:

---

if(isset($_GET['feed'])){
wp();
gzip_compression();
require_once('./wp-includes/template-loader.php');

exit();
} 


---

---

Well....I commented out all instances of gzip_compresion(); in that mod and still nothing.

It doesn't break the site but it doesn't fix it either.

Even turned off the WP sidebox....no go!

AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!

Any other ideas?

Try commenting out that entire section of the code

PHP Code:

---

/*if(isset($_GET['feed'])){ 
wp(); 
gzip_compression(); 
require_once('./wp-includes/template-loader.php'); 

exit(); 
}*/ 


---

Ok...getting closer. Feed seems to be created correctly now at least.

Now I get

Code:

---

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.0.1 09.08.2007 13:54 started 2007/08/13 20:43:43
Feed file - /home/apurplem/public_html/a1webshopping/feed/lps.xml
Processing: Feed - No, Upload - Yes
Upload started...
Connection failed: ftp.productupload.live.com
Warning: ftp_connect() [function.ftp-connect]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known
Upload failed...

---

when I click on step 2.

:oops:

You'll have to upload your file manually. Contact your host about the error.

Tried this...still no luck.

Get the following error from live...

Code:

---

Upload file type: Product Search XML (.xml)

Upload error!
HTTP error, 404 occurred.

---

Changed the feed type to be uploaded via browser.
File exists and appears to be uploaded by the amount of time it takes (it's only 300k or so).

Any other ideas?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aPurpleMonkey.com

Tried this...still no luck.

Get the following error from live...

Code:

---

Upload file type: Product Search XML (.xml)
 
Upload error!
HTTP error, 404 occurred.

---

Changed the feed type to be uploaded via browser.
File exists and appears to be uploaded by the amount of time it takes (it's only 300k or so).

Any other ideas?

---

I meant upload manually using a client FTP program.

Also, Live will show the feed as processing or rejected almost immediately after upload.

My bad.....:oops:

That worked.

Thanks a million for the help. :clap:

Hi,

Used the module, works excellently; however, Live products generated a "warning" message: "MerchantCategory removed: Does not conform to the correct format." I suspect that it is because a slash "/" character in my category description (category and sub-category shown here): " Friendship / Encouragement | General". This is from live product's help:

I guess since MerchantCategory is optional, the reader just took it off from those products.
I should be able to fix it right now by changing the "/" for a "&" or "-".

Quote:

---

MerchantCategory

Type: Optional


Description: The category and sub-categories that the product for sale belongs to.

Field name (.txt catalog files): MerchantCategory

Field tag (.xml catalog files): <MerchantCategory>

Corresponding Goggle Base field name: none

Character limit: 256

Allowed characters:

* 0-9, a-z, A-Z
* Space
* Ampersand (&)
* Apostrophe (')
* Dash (-)
* Underscore (_)
* Separate multiple categories with a pipe (|)

---

Thanks very much for the module

The next release will have a feature allowing you to set the merchant category by the top level only or include all sub-categories.

It's not important because there is no browse feature on Live and at the moment I think Live isn't ready for use without <OfferID> or some similar attribute to distinguish the products uniquely each time the feed file is updated. I currently have my cron job set to daily and each time it uploads it goes back into processing and none of the products are live. With Google Base, the products stay live and all updates to the products are in processing mode. This is a major advantage of Google Base. I suggest everyone turn their cron jobs off for Live until <OfferID> is implemented as I have requested to them.

Hello Numinix,

This is totally unrelated but the microsoft graphic is really skewed in my admin because the image size outputed is 110 x 48 px and the image size is larger than that. So I found a new image and made it to the size required. i hope this was fine anyhow I am submitting it to you if you would like to use it.

as well a google image but I will post it in the google thread

avel

You are officially the new image processor for my mods. Thank you.

Do any of the other images need resizing?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

Send me your feed file to webmaster AT numinix DOT com

If your feed has all of the required attributes, try sending it again. It will normally be instantly rejected if there is an error.

I had this error when <OfferCollection> was not included in the feed file, but this was added in v1.0.1 and shouldn't be an issue anymore.

---

Did you get the file I emailed you? I am still unable to upload my file. Thanks!

The following is taken from the Live Product Upload help file concerning the missing images:

Quote:

---

Product images don't display correctly

Images of your products may not display correctly on Live Product Search after you successfully register with Windows Live Product Upload Beta and publish a catalog. This problem may occur if you or your Internet service provider use a robots.txt file to block robots from crawling your website. This blocks the MSNBOT user-agent from crawling the directory that contains the images of your products.

To allow the MSNBOT user-agent to crawl your website, add the following lines of text to the end of your robots.txt file:

User-agent: msnbotDisallow:

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BlessIsaacola

Did you get the file I emailed you? I am still unable to upload my file. Thanks!

---

Send it again [email protected]

Any idea why I don't have the Live Search option in the Tools dropdown?
I do have the Live Product Search Feeder Configuration in the Configuration dropdown.
I'm running latest Zen Cart.
Also in the process of installing Wordpress, could that have anything to do with it?

Did you upgrade all of the files? The TOOLS menu requires the admin files uploaded in order to be detected.

Yes, I double checked that all the files were on my server in the correct location.

I'm using Live Product Search v1.0.1

Is this the latest version?

reupload the folder "/admin/" again just to be sure.

I uploaded the entire 'Admin' folder and still don't see anything under 'Tools'.
Are there any config files you would like to examine?

Hi Great Mod.

I am getting this error when i try to do step 2.

Any Ideas what I done wrong, If i did?

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.0.1 09.08.2007 13:54 started 2007/08/19 09:04:24
Feed file - /home/iwacbiz/public_html/electronics/feed/lps.xml
Processing: Feed - No, Upload - Yes
Upload started...
Connection failed: ftp.productupload.live.com
Warning: ftp_connect() [function.ftp-connect]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known
Upload failed...


Thanks in advance
Rob

Sorry its step 2 when i upload the xml file via FTP in admin.

Sorry for all this guys and gals.

I had a space in the ftp.upload etc address its uploaded and is processing now.

Just waiting for the 36 hours to pass.

Thanks Numinix for another great mod

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...d=1#post421035

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dssprogrammer

I was able to resolve this issue on my own. I had forgot that I have my store locked down pretty good which included renaming the default admin directory.
LOL, what an oversight.
Anyway, thanks for a great contrib. I'm heading over to your donation area now so I can give back.

---

Found a bug in the script. Rather than release a new version, I will release a patch here. The version on my website will include the patch.

Hello, numinix ... looking forward to using your contrib, but i'm having a little problem here.

Today I DL'd the zip from your site, extracted the members, changed the admin folder name to match my test shop, and installed to a ZC 1.3.7 test shop on my localhost.

I completed the config information in Configuration->Live Product Search Feeder Configuration.
Then went to Tools->Live Product Search Feeder and did STEP 1: Click [HERE] to create / update your product feed.

When the pop-up came up, it showed me this:

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.0.1a 29.08.2007 13:50 started 2007/09/04 16:33:11
Feed file - d:/wamp/www/GS137A/feed/LPS_OUTPUT_FILENAME
Processing: Feed - Yes, Upload - No
Live Product Search File Complete In 0.126477 Seconds 0 Records

I had changed the Output File Name originally, so I put it back to lps.xml and tried again, but got the same results.

I then found that it had created a file named LPS_OUTPUT_FILENAME with 1 item in that was:
<DataFeed xmlns="urn:merchant-schema">
<OfferCollection></OfferCollection>
</DataFeed>

I've gone over the the install steps several times, but haven't been able to pinpoint any problem there.

Any idea what the problem could be? Would appreciate any input. Also appreciate the contributions you've made to ZC.

Thanks much,

You are missing some admin definitions.

As for the empty feed file, you'll need to list your lps configuration settings and any other installed modules.

Good morning Numinex ...

Missing some admin definitions? So should I try re-installing and see what happens?

The Live Feed Configuration values are:
Live FTP Username XXXXXXXXXXX
Live FTP Password XXXXXXXXXXX
LPS Server ftp.productupload.live.com
Default Currency USD
Output File Name lps.xml
Compress Feed File false
Output Directory feed/
Use cPath in url false
Uploaded date
Max products 8000
Included Categories
Excluded Categories
UPC false
ISBN false


Installed modules are:
Edit Orders 2007-03-04
User Tracking v.1.3.6.2 2007-03-26
Sales Reports 2007-04-16
Shipping Insurance 2007-07-27
Zen Light Box 2007-07-27
Simple Google Analytics 2007-07-31
GoogleFroogle 1.5.2 2007-09-01

Thanks for taking a look at this, it's appreciated.

Any one can help me with this issue.

When I go to live.com to upload my product I don’t get any error, just a white pop up page and nothing happen, after a long time I close it and see it said “File not uploaded! Sep 05, 200712:25:32 AM
Am I suppose to enter the path of my lps.xml file some where?, I only click on upload

Thank you

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by inovermyhead

Good morning Numinex ...

Missing some admin definitions? So should I try re-installing and see what happens?

The Live Feed Configuration values are:
Live FTP Username XXXXXXXXXXX
Live FTP Password XXXXXXXXXXX
LPS Server ftp.productupload.live.com
Default Currency USD
Output File Name lps.xml
Compress Feed File false
Output Directory feed/
Use cPath in url false
Uploaded date
Max products 8000
Included Categories
Excluded Categories
UPC false
ISBN false


Installed modules are:
Edit Orders 2007-03-04
User Tracking v.1.3.6.2 2007-03-26
Sales Reports 2007-04-16
Shipping Insurance 2007-07-27
Zen Light Box 2007-07-27
Simple Google Analytics 2007-07-31
GoogleFroogle 1.5.2 2007-09-01

Thanks for taking a look at this, it's appreciated.

---

I don't see any problems with the information you posted. The fact you have GBF installed and working properly means you've simply not uploaded all of the files. Reupload the admin files and make sure that each file overwrites successfully.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

I don't see any problems with the information you posted. The fact you have GBF installed and working properly means you've simply not uploaded all of the files. Reupload the admin files and make sure that each file overwrites successfully.

---

Okay, I'll do that and see what happens.

Thanks for the help, I was in over my head again.

Numinix, what a great mod and other feeder mods that you've worked on.
However, I'm having problem LPS is rejecting my upload.
Error message they've sent me via email is:

1. Invalid Offer format:
-One or more of required fields are missing
-The delimiters provided in the file don't match the catalog settings
2. Data Errors

I'm sending you an email with attached feed file.
Please take a look.

Thanks!

There is no error within the products themselves, but your feed file doesn't appear to be complete. Perhaps it is timing out before including all of the products. Add the following manually to the end of the file each time, or find out what is causing the script to not complete.

PHP Code:

---

</OfferCollection>
</DataFeed> 


---

Also, check that all of your products are included (your newest additions would be at the end of the file). You can also use MAX PRODUCTS to limit the number of products included in the feed.

I'm having an odd ftp_connect() problem.

The feed appears to be created fine, and I have the parameters set correctly in admin, but when I hit the upload link I get:

Quote:

---

Upload started...
Connection failed: ftp.productupload.live.com
Warning: ftp_connect() [function.ftp-connect]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known
Upload failed...

---

The reason this is odd, is that I also use Numinix's Google Base feeder contrib which I understand uses the same ftp_connect() code. That ftp upload works perfectly.

If it makes a difference, I put the "feed" folder for this inside of the "feed" folder for Google Base, as they both have index.html files. So the xml file path is feed/lps/ which I updated in Admin.

Any thoughts?

-Roger

I would use the same folder for all of the feed files.

They are slightly different FTP scripts as I had issues with LPS. I can do private work (by donation) for anyone wishing to fix the FTP connect which currently works for the majority of users and may be tweaked on an individual basis for those having issues.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

There is no error within the products themselves, but your feed file doesn't appear to be complete. Perhaps it is timing out before including all of the products. Add the following manually to the end of the file each time, or find out what is causing the script to not complete.

PHP Code:

---

</OfferCollection>
</DataFeed> 


---

Also, check that all of your products are included (your newest additions would be at the end of the file). You can also use MAX PRODUCTS to limit the number of products included in the feed.

---

Thanks for the fastest reponse!

I've set the max product to 300 and it took 301 seconds to complete with DataFeed bracket at the end successfully.

But my question now is, where can I go and change this execution time limit higher? My php.ini's max_execution_time is set to 180 (but how would this particular script pass 180 and take 301 seconds?)

Thanks,

SK.

You are on a very slow server, I would recommend moving to a better host ASAP.

I'm not sure why but you may want to increase it in both the php.ini and you in your store configuration.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

You are on a very slow server, I would recommend moving to a better host ASAP.

I'm not sure why but you may want to increase it in both the php.ini and you in your store configuration.

---

I've got it resolved and it would be better to post it here for future references.
Modify following:

Go to Admin Configuration->My Store->Admin Set max_execution_time for processes

Thanks!

Since I upgraded from LPS 1.0.1 to 1.02 ive been getting an error uploading:

Quote:

---

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.02 19.08.2007 17:02 started 2007/09/21 14:19:58
Feed file - /home/goth/public_html/feed/lps.xml
Processing: Feed - Yes, Upload - Yes
Live Product Search File Complete In 0.048855 Seconds 29 Records
Upload started...
Upload Failed
Connected to: ftp.productupload.live.comLogin ok:Current Directory Is: /Warning: ftp_put() [function.ftp-put]: Transfer complete but post processing FAILED. 21522 bytes transferred. 21522 bps.

Upload failed...

---

Thinking it may have been part of my problem, I carefully uninstalled UPC/ISBN and installed Auction Site Attributes v1.05, but it hasen't helped. oddly enough ebay exporter, and google base are working fine.

I noticed that LPS does not have a config option for ASA. Could that be part of the problem?

Turning on the UPC or ISBN configurations will activate ASA so no that is not an issue.

What is happening is actually nothing to do with the script at all. If you were to try FTPing the file you'd get the same message. Windows Live Product Search is either not accepting the file for processing, or the file name is incorrect. They are definitely not as stable as Google Base, but if you set your script to run every 2 days, it should be fine.

I moved to a new site. The feed worked fine on the old hostig site but after I moved to the new host I get the following error:

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.0.1a 29.08.2007 13:50 started 2007/09/22 16:00:29
Feed file - D:/Inetpub/mccampingsupplies/home/feed/mccamp.xml
Processing: Feed - Yes, Upload - No

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in D:\Inetpub\mccampingsupplies\home\lps.php on line 169

I have added a php.ini file in my website root (i do not have access to the php.ini file) with only the following:

max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 140
memory_limit = 32M

I have alse increased the session timeout in the admin section.

Any suggestions?

I also have froogle feeder (old version that i need to upgrade) and that takes longer to give an error but does com up with an Access Violation error.

I am running on IIS server
PHP Version: 5.2.1
MySQL 5.0.27
Zen Cart 1.3.7

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by n8pbm

I moved to a new site. The feed worked fine on the old hostig site but after I moved to the new host I get the following error:

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.0.1a 29.08.2007 13:50 started 2007/09/22 16:00:29
Feed file - D:/Inetpub/mccampingsupplies/home/feed/mccamp.xml
Processing: Feed - Yes, Upload - No

Fatal error: Maximum execution time of 30 seconds exceeded in D:\Inetpub\mccampingsupplies\home\lps.php on line 169

I have added a php.ini file in my website root (i do not have access to the php.ini file) with only the following:

max_execution_time = 300
max_input_time = 140
memory_limit = 32M

I have alse increased the session timeout in the admin section.

Any suggestions?

I also have froogle feeder (old version that i need to upgrade) and that takes longer to give an error but does com up with an Access Violation error.

I am running on IIS server
PHP Version: 5.2.1
MySQL 5.0.27
Zen Cart 1.3.7

---

Read #61 and #63 above.

Thanks but I have already tried changinge the settings in the admin section.

This appears to be a setting on the host. I can sucessfully extract 1200 products before getting the timeout. Any more and I have the time out. The hosting company will not change the timeout settings.

I am sure there is a way to execute the script for every 1000 products and then restart the script and append to the file for the next 1000. That way I will not hit the timeout issue. The problem is I do not know much PHP.

I was hoping there was a setting that I was missing.

Try moving the php.ini file to your store root rather than your site root. I believe it will override settings in that folder

Moving the php.ini file did not help.

If you'd like, there is a feature in the ePier exporter that you can copy to the Google Base Feeder. It is a conditional statement near the beginning of the output section (after the products_query) that starts writing at 'X' number of products. So, you'd first put start = 1, max_products = 1000, then start = 1001, max_products = 2000 and so on.

Hi

Please help with wlps. I've error

Live Product Search Feeder v.1.02 19.08.2007 17:02 started 2007/09/28 02:29:21
Feed file - /....../public_html/feed/livesearch.xml
Processing: Feed - Yes, Upload - No

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in /....../public_html/lps.php on line 69

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in /......../public_html/lps.php on line 177
Live Product Search File Complete In 0.293991 Seconds 70 Records

Please help:oops:

Change the permissions of the feed folder to 777, then delete the livesearch.xml file and let it create a new one itself.

:blush: it's not what you think

All permission was install before, it's not first feed in the folder

Follow the second part of his advice.

Thank you !!! Everything OK!!! :clap:

Do you have contribution for import from AMAZON and eBay. I want feed it to Google and yahoo or ....

Do you have any idea ?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

If you'd like, there is a feature in the ePier exporter that you can copy to the Google Base Feeder. It is a conditional statement near the beginning of the output section (after the products_query) that starts writing at 'X' number of products. So, you'd first put start = 1, max_products = 1000, then start = 1001, max_products = 2000 and so on.

---

I'll take a look at that and try to modify the script.

Currently I backup the store to my local computer and then run the script locally. Of course I have to modify the output to add the correct urls and manually upload the file but it works.

If I can get this to work on the server then I can use a cron job to do this automatically. My php skills are minimal but may try the epier solution.

Any plans to integrate it into a future release (thought I had to ask :))?

I've got a lot of contributions to support now, probably too many. I'm going to most likely integrate the feeders into a single universal script, and at that time I will definitely have maximum features.

At this time I have no plans to add that functionality just yet...

Good afternoon Zenners ...
I have a question about when the items in a catalog become searchable.

Yesterday, I finally managed to get a shop's catalog to FTP up and to start processing. I promptly followed the same procedure on 3 other stores, and left them in 'processing' status. This morning they were still in 'processing' status, but this afternoon, all 4 showed a published status, 1 with a yellow triangle and !, and 3 with a green circle and check mark, though all 4 had some errors.

From what I've turned up in the doc, I thought when the catalog status became published, all the items not in error would be searchable on products.live.com, but there are no items at all showing up. Maybe I still have to wait 36 hours? Any input would be appreciated, as I feel in over my head again <grin>.

Thanks!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by inovermyhead

From what I've turned up in the doc, I thought when the catalog status became published, all the items not in error would be searchable on products.live.com, but there are no items at all showing up. Maybe I still have to wait 36 hours?
Thanks!

---

Well, apparently my assumption wasn't accurate, this morning the items are showing up in the Products Live Search. So even though the catalog showed up as published yesterday, the items were not yet to the point of being searchable. There is a quirk or two. If I search for the URL, as the doc suggests, only 40 or 50 items show up, but if I search with specific key words, many more items show up. Is that copacetic ?

Thanks,

Ok i tryed to create that live product feed file and i got these errors

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in /home/addisc5/public_html/lps.php on line 69

Warning: chmod() [function.chmod]: Operation not permitted in /home/addisc5/public_html/lps.php on line 177

But i think that it did create the file

But when i tryed to upload it with windows live they rejected the catalog

Please help.

Hello, Dashizna ... what is the size of your output file ? If it's 0, you probably need to check the permissions on the file, and make it writeable.

ok got it thanks

I am having a problem with my LPS.XML file not completing - this is what I get in the very end when viewing it after it fails. What do I need to adjust? {I may nothave the below in the correct brackets}

Code:

---

[FONT=Courier New]-[/FONT] <Offer>
<DIV> <OfferName>Crain CR-4.0 Metric Series Rod Replacement Section</OfferName>
 
<DIV class=e><DIV style="MARGIN-LEFT: 1em; TEXT-INDENT: -2em"> <Brand>CRAIN</<FONT color=#990000>Brand
 
The XML page cannot be displayed
Cannot view XML input using XSL style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later. A semi colon character was expected. Error processing resource 'http://www.stakemill.com/store/feed/lps.xml'. Line 6123, P...
<ReferenceImageURL>http://www.stakemill.com/store/images/57-NMB100&CH1000.jpg</ReferenceImageURL>---------...PAN class="m">></SPAN>
 <MerchantCategory>Grade Rods | Replacement Parts Rods | Crain Rod Replacement Parts</MerchantCategory>
 
 <ReferenceImageURL>http://www.stakemill.com/store/image...nt_section.jpg</ReferenceImageURL>
 
 <ActionURL>http://www.stakemill.com/store/index...n&currency=USD</ActionURL>

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by seanscully

I am having a problem with my LPS.XML file not completing - this is what I get in the very end when viewing it after it fails. What do I need to adjust? {I may nothave the below in the correct brackets}

---

It is timing out before completing the feed. Follow the instructions for increasing the php max execution time on your server and in the zen cart admin. You may also want to use the max products feature.

Somehow it fixed itself - I did change the max products to 2000, adjusted the time to 360 but I wonder if the ampersand had anything to do with it? That is where the page broke when viewing in a browser, it was fine in Crimpson Editor.

HTML Code:

---

images/57-NMB100&CH1000.jpg</ReferenceImageURL>---------...

---

me done good

Image Size - my catalog is published and now searchable on http://products.live.com It shows some of my listings without images, do they have a image size limit.

Thanks for the great mods Numinix

This mod breaks my site, I tried both v. 1.01 and 1.04 :(

lps.sql loads OK upon installation, the product feed file is also generated OK. But if I refresh my website after the feed has been generated, it shows only logo and the following text:

Quote:

---

Warning: Variable passed to each() is not an array or object in /home/matrecom/public_html/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php on line 114
Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cache limiter - headers already sent (output started at /home/matrecom/public_html/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php:114) in /home/matrecom/public_html/includes/functions/sessions.php on line 108
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/matrecom/public_html/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php:114) in /home/matrecom/public_html/includes/init_includes/init_templates.php on line 78
"Beauty will save the world"
- Dostoevsky Home
Russian Matryoshka Dolls
New Products For NovemberFeatured ProductsMonthly Specials For November
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 'EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT limit MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUC' at line 7
in:
[select p.products_id, pd.products_name, products_date_available as date_expected from zen_products p, zen_products_description pd where p.products_id = pd.products_id and p.products_status = 1 and pd.language_id = '1' and p.products_date_available >=20071103 order by EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_FIELD EXPECTED_PRODUCTS_SORT limit MAX_DISPLAY_UPCOMING_PRODUCTS]

---

I am not sure what I am doing wrong? Any ideas are much appreciated!

Many thanks,
Alex

I am not sure what is happening, but nothing in that quote relates to any of the feeders/exporters...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

I am not sure what is happening, but nothing in that quote relates to any of the feeders/exporters...

---

Are there any known incompatibilities with other mods?
Any ideas at all on how I should approach the issue?

Many thanks,
Alex

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by AlexT

Are there any known incompatibilities with other mods?
Any ideas at all on how I should approach the issue?

Many thanks,
Alex

---

For those with the same problem, here is the fix:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DrByte

The *real* fix/resolution is here:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...357#post378357

---

v1.05 WINDOWS LIVE PRODUCT SEARCH FEEDER

updated to use Magic SEO URLs.

Hi,

Sorry if this is slightly off topic. Been looking at this very nice mod and I was wondering if windows live product search has a UK version so i can use this Mod.

I can't see anything about a UK version on the web. Anyone know how to contact MS to find out about this?

Thanks.

I installed v1.05 and I get this error message when trying to upload to the windows ftp site:

Upload started...
Connection failed: ftp.productupload.live.com
Warning: ftp_connect() [function.ftp-connect]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known
Upload failed...

I have, I believe anyway, everything set up correctly in the config. Any ideas?

Here are my config settings:

Live FTP Username xxxxxxxx
Live FTP Password xxxxxxxx
LPS Server ftp.productupload.live.com
Default Currency USD
Magic SEO URLs true
Output File Name lps.xml
Compress Feed File false
Output Directory feed/
Use cPath in url false
uploaded date
Max products 0
Starting Point 0
Included Categories
Excluded Categories
UPC true
ISBN false
Product Type top


Thanks!

Matt

Thanks for the contribution. I get this error when I click on step 1 under the feeder option.

Error 404 - File Not Found

The file you are trying to reach could not be found on the server.
Please make sure that you type the URL correctly.



what could be the problem?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lankeeyankee

I installed v1.05 and I get this error message when trying to upload to the windows ftp site:

Upload started...
Connection failed: ftp.productupload.live.com
Warning: ftp_connect() [function.ftp-connect]: php_network_getaddresses: getaddrinfo failed: Name or service not known
Upload failed...

I have, I believe anyway, everything set up correctly in the config. Any ideas?

Here are my config settings:

Live FTP Username xxxxxxxx
Live FTP Password xxxxxxxx
LPS Server ftp.productupload.live.com
Default Currency USD
Magic SEO URLs true
Output File Name lps.xml
Compress Feed File false
Output Directory feed/
Use cPath in url false
uploaded date
Max products 0
Starting Point 0
Included Categories
Excluded Categories
UPC true
ISBN false
Product Type top


Thanks!

Matt

---

I'm getting the same error. Did you figure it out?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hyperlite635

I'm getting the same error. Did you figure it out?

---

I got this from another thread dealing with another feeder by the same author, he thinks that it's because we don't have a dedicated IP and our server won't allow php to execute the script from a shared IP. Do you have a shared IP or a dedicated IP?

Matt

I'm not sure what the reason is (whether shared IP or not, this is something you have speculated), but it seems to be very common that store owners cannot use the FTP functions.

In fact, way back when someone first brought this forward, I took a very general FTP script off the net and uploaded it to one store's website, executed it, and had the exact same error return. So, don't think that I haven't tested this. It works 100% on 95% of stores with a handful of others unable to use it.

Out of curosity, who do you use for hosting? Maybe we can find a pattern.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by numinix

I'm not sure what the reason is (whether shared IP or not, this is something you have speculated), but it seems to be very common that store owners cannot use the FTP functions.

In fact, way back when someone first brought this forward, I took a very general FTP script off the net and uploaded it to one store's website, executed it, and had the exact same error return. So, don't think that I haven't tested this. It works 100% on 95% of stores with a handful of others unable to use it.

Out of curosity, who do you use for hosting? Maybe we can find a pattern.

---

I have exactly the same problem on dedicated IP (hosted with Jumba, the server is in Australia). Interesting that the Google Base Feeder does not cause similar problems.

Thanks,
Alex

I have a dedicated IP and I also have the google base feeder and it works fine. I think there is something wrong with this module. I also tried downloading the xml file and uploading it manually and I get an error.