Coding Nudge

[kamelion0927]

I'm trying to turn off certain banner boxes in specific categories. I have achieved part of what I want to do by using

  if ($show_banner_box2 = true && (!in_array($current_category_id, array('1','53','4','2','3','47','55','57','56','54','48','49','50','51')))){
  // show it
  $show_banner_box2 == true;
} else {
  // do not show it
  $show_banner_box2 == false;
} 

in includes/modules/sideboxes/my_template/banner_box2.php,
but was hoping someone would be able to help me reduce the query time on this statement (as it is a very long with the other banner box that I'm using).

I can't figure out how to exclude just a top level category instead of having to exclude the top level category and all the subcategories.

I've tried using $master_category_id, $category_id, $top_category_id as well as $categories_id and I'm outta ideas. I've hunted through other posts, trying to figure out which "$" controls the top level category, but can't seem to find what I'm looking for.

I'm not proficient at coding but I've got google, so feel free to be as technical as necessary.

Thanks in advance!

[Ajeh]

Just as a test, before the start of your IF put in:

echo 'Start banner 2 time: ' . date("D M j G:i:s T Y") . '<br>';

and after the close of the IF put:

echo 'End banner 2 time: ' . date("D M j G:i:s T Y") . '<br>';

now when you refresh the page you will see by banner_box2 the start and end time ...

How much time is actually being used?

[kamelion0927]

Oh fine - now it's not being slow. It must have been my server. I really appreciate your help, though and now I know how to check the query time on my banners.

If you have a sec, I'd still like to know what specifies the top category - I looked for it for a few hours yesterday and must have missed it somewhere. (Sorry - I'm a little OC about knowing what I was doing wrong.)

If you don't, it's all good - I'm sure I'll come across my mistake somewhere when I'm looking for something else.

Thanks again!

[Ajeh]

The top category is cPath= 0 ...

You could do something similar to echo the $current_category_id so you can see what it is as you navigate ...

[kamelion0927]

Thanks so much - that was driving me nuts... Have a great night!