Category descriptions on Main Page

[webrob]

Hi everyone,

I am looking to add the category descriptions to teh right of the categories on the main page.

You can see my site here: http://www.inkjetoutput.com/new_store/

I already have the space for the description and I have twaeked with this file: /includes/modules/category_row.php but i can not get it to work. I have modified line 40 from:

                                           'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $cPath_new) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $categories->fields['categories_image'], $categories->fields['categories_name'], SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_WIDTH, SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '</a>'); 

To:

                                          'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $cPath_new) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $categories->fields['categories_image'], $categories->fields['categories_name'], SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_WIDTH, SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '</a><br />' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '<br>' . $categories->fields['categories_description'] . '<hr>'); 

Notice the last line where I tried to call for

$categories->fields['categories_description'] 

It is not grabbing the description though. What can I do to have this grab the description?

Thanks in advance!

[gjh42]

Since it is not used here, I expect that $categories->fields[] is not built to include 'categories-description', so there is nothing to grab.

I think you will need to find where it is built and add and populate that field before you can retrieve it here.

[webrob]

$categories->fields[] is used here as $categories->fields['categories_name'] but not the fields. They are both in the same table but when I call for the descriptions it doesn't work. I need to find the function or class that is used but I can not figure it out.

[gjh42]

Clearer wording:
Since 'categories-description' is not used here, I expect that $categories->fields[] is not built to include it...

[gjh42]

/includes/functions/functions_categories.php, lines 370-405:

// categories pulldown with products
  function zen_draw_products_pull_down_categories($name, $parameters = '', $exclude = '') {
    global $db, $currencies;

    if ($exclude == '') {
      $exclude = array();
    }

    $select_string = '<select name="' . $name . '"';

    if ($parameters) {
      $select_string .= ' ' . $parameters;
    }

    $select_string .= '>';

    $categories = $db->Execute("select distinct c.categories_id, cd.categories_name " ."
                                from " . TABLE_CATEGORIES . " c, " .
                                         TABLE_CATEGORIES_DESCRIPTION . " cd, " .
                                         TABLE_PRODUCTS_TO_CATEGORIES . " ptoc " ."
                                where ptoc.categories_id = c.categories_id
                                and c.categories_id = cd.categories_id
                                and cd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                                order by categories_name");

    while (!$categories->EOF) {
      if (!in_array($categories->fields['categories_id'], $exclude)) {
        $select_string .= '<option value="' . $categories->fields['categories_id'] . '">' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '</option>';
      }
      $categories->MoveNext();
    }

    $select_string .= '</select>';

    return $select_string;
  } 

This looks like the place, but I don't know enough to safely edit it.

[webrob]

That is not it. That is for a category pull down menu. I still can not find it either

[webrob]

That is not it. That is for a category pull down menu. I still can not find it either

Does anyone know if this comes form a function or a class file at least??

[webrob]

No one has done something like this? I really need to figure this out!!! Please help someone!!

[blag]

Yep

I'd like to know how to do that, too!! If you find out, let me know!!

[splieg]

I'm looking to do the same thing..... add the Category description to the category list page. I'm using Zen-Cart 1.3.8a and have edited the category_row.php page to show the category picture, then the cat name and I want the description placed below the name for each category. I've can't seem to determine which function i must edit so that the $categories->fields['categories_description'] would work. I'm assuming it's one of the functions within functions_categories.php. Can someone please offer some assistance???

Thanks