How scalable is Zen-Cart?

[afo]

From the tutorial you just brought:

This is useless to me. My entire post was about not using FTP.

Do you know of an add-on that allows me to upload all 3 images sizes via the Admin console?

Thanks!
Tanya

I realize it talks about FTP, but it also explains the naming convention necessary to make multiple images work.

[tanya3]

You actually can add all of the product images via admin, though it requires a disciplined approach and can be time-consuming for large numbers of images per product.

Say you want a small thumbnail, a different size for the medium and a different image for the large.
In the product editing page, browse to the large image; in "Upload to directory: []" select large and preview and update.
Edit again and browse to the medium image, select the medium directory, preview and update.
Finally, edit, browse to the small image, select Main Directory, preview and update.

The important thing to remember here is that the *last* image you upload this way will become the product's base image, and must be the thumbnail.

If you change the large image or add additional images, you will need to reconfirm the base by selecting the thumbnail on the server.

Glenn, you are a genius. This is exactly what I needed (the book simply doesn't explain this topic well enough). You are correct that it requires a disciplined approach but that may be fine for lack of an alternative (or if we are not ready yet to install an add-on). We upload only a single product at a time so this is OK.

I will also examine Rob's suggestion for "Admin interface for Additional Product Images".

Thanks!
Tanya

[gjh42]

"Glenn, your approach will not work in conjunction with IH2; since it uses its own 'bmz_cache' dir. for all images. "

True, but you would not likely be using this method if you were using IH2.

The method is distinctly slower than FTP, so is generally not a preferred way to upload images. I use it occasionally if I want to change an image and don't feel like going into Filezilla and changing settings to the site I am working on.

[tanya3]

I will also examine Rob's suggestion for "Admin interface for Additional Product Images".

Update: I tried this add-on and aside from the fact that caution must be taken when copying/editing certain files (it you copy admin/includes/modules/category_product_listing.php as is it will ovewrite changes made by the hideCategories add-on), this is one of the MOST HORRIBLE add-ons I have seen:

• There is no documentation of how to USE it.
• When you try to use it, it generates a barrage of warning messages:

  Warning: preg_match() [function.preg-match]: Unknown modifier 'G' in /www/yarnshop-bg.eu/www/root/admin/additional_images.php on line 232

See unanswered posting from a few months ago:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125462

I'll stick with Glenn's instructions.

[tanya3]

Update: Glenn's instructions don't work either.

The reason is that I organize my images in subdirectories of the main, medium and large directories.

It's impossible to use Glenn's instructions unless I flatten the directory structure, as Ajeh and DrByte said:

https://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?p=421680

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...876#post371876

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99542

So much for "Zen"...

Did I say HORRIBLE?

I am now truly sorry that I convinced my peers to go with zen-cart.


Tanya

[barco57]

and your store manager is not capable of using ftp? You know you can give them their own ftp access to the images folder only. If you can't teach them how to use ftp to upload the images then maybe they shouldn't to be the store manager because that job is much more complicated than ftp.

[Merlinpa1969]

So much for "Zen"...

Did I say HORRIBLE?

I am now truly sorry that I convinced my peers to go with zen-cart.

I have to reply to this one....

Zen Cart is NOT Horrible, it dosnt fit your needs, but its not horrible and to say so is unfair to to the rest of this community.....

People have been trying to answer your questions all day,
and you have for the most part sniped, or put down every thing that has been put to you.....

In My Humble Opinion delete zen cart and put your fingers to the keyboard and write your own.....

at least you will know that its NOT Horrible......

[tanya3]

delete zen cart and put your fingers to the keyboard and write your own.....

That's the standard answer whenever someone discovers how amateurish and incomplete this "zen" cart is. In my search for answers I found numerous such "standard answers".

I am not going to write my own. I will buy a commercial package and it will cost me much less than what the "zen" cart "team" is trying to charge people for fixing their bugs while claiming "these are new features".

Bye
Tanya

[afo]

That's the standard answer whenever someone discovers how amateurish and incomplete this "zen" cart is. In my search for answers I found numerous such "standard answers".

I am not going to write my own. I will buy a commercial package and it will cost me much less than what the "zen" cart "team" is trying to charge people for fixing their bugs while claiming "these are new features".

Bye
Tanya

Who asked you for any money? Where is it stated that all the help we tried to give you today cost you anything? Please, be more rude and ungrateful. Don't let the door hit you in the backside on your way out.

[Kim]

cost me much less than what the "zen" cart "team"

As one of "the team" I'd be very interested in knowing who has been charging you for fixing bugs and exactly what those percieved bags are. Just because something doesn't act the way you think it should doesn't make it a bug.

While Zen Cart doesn't suit everyone, it is still one of the most powerful ecommerce programs available.