Problem with attribute with option type 'text' being added to option name list.

[Janelyn]

Hi, I've recently installed Zen Cart v1.5.1 and Ashley pink template. I seem to be having a problem adding attributes with option type 'text'. The name of the attribute is not added to the option name drop down lists, so I don't see how I can link the attribute to any product. I can edit the text attribute, as in choose its size and width etc. I have tried adding other attributes with all of the other option types, and found that 'file' doesn't get added to the option name list either but all the others are added.

Please can anyone tell me why this might be happening, any help is much appreciated, thank you :)

[Janelyn]

Hi again, I've also noticed that although my categories are display in the lists on the option names manager page, my products in those categories in the 'select a product' list are not showing either. Can anyone tell me what might be wrong? I've looked through the forum, faqs and even googled it, but haven't found anything that's helped me solve this. Thanks.

[Ajeh]

Check your Products, do they all have a master_categories_id set?

NOTE: you can check that by editing the Products ...

[swguy]

On the first issue, I wonder if you have installed a mod which has clobbered the text option. See:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=170483

[Janelyn]

Hi, thank you for the replies.

Ajeh - All of the products are showing the master category, so that is set.

Swguy - I looked at the post and ran the test that you suggested there, but I did get the 3 rows returned in my database, so it seems I don't have that problem.

This actually seems to be an old issue, as I set up a Zen cart for my daughters site about 3 years ago, and after just taking a look at her attribute controller, and testing option type 'text' on it, it has exactly the same problem, also her products do not show on the select a product list either. I never had to use attributes for her products so never noticed it back then. The Zen cart versions are different as mine is the latest version. The carts are both on the same server though, so could it in some way be a server issue? I have tried reinstalling all of the admin files, but that didn't alter anything. I'm going to try a complete fresh install, and will check to see if I have the same problem immediately after installation before anything is added or changed on it.

[Janelyn]

Hi,

I did a fresh install of zen cart, but this time installed the demo products too, which I didn't do before. The problem actually still exists, the only difference seems to be that the demo products do show in the attributes controller lists, but new products didn't show when I tried adding them and still doesn't add option name of any option type 'text' attributes.

I might have found a way of working around the problem but only if I rename the categories and use the demo products and 'text' attributes already there. I only have about 15 products to add to the cart, so it might work for me. I found that in the database, in products_options_values_to_products_options, all the option type 'text' attributes are listed with the products_options_values_id of '0', instead of an id number as the rest have, I found that if I changed the '0' to say '31', I could actually add the text attribute to the product, although the system gave it the option name of 'silver' after I renumbered it and was adding it to the option values list, so there must be a number associated with the attribute option name silver somewhere on the system, but it did show up on the product as a text box and the text entered in the box was taken through to the customers account and delivered to the admin email.

I would still like to get it working right if possible, so if anyone knows of anything else I could try, I'd appreciate any suggestions still. I don't think its a server issue because I had access to the php.ini, and changed the settings to suit the Zen Cart installation.

[Ajeh]

Let's work through the issue slowly ...

Go to phpMyAdmin and in your database, look for the table:
products_options_values

Now browse the table and sort it on the field:
products_options_values_id

Do you see 1 or more records that contain the value 0 for:
products_options_values_id

Are you able to do a screen shot of that and post it?

[Janelyn]

Hi Ajeh, thank you for helping me with this.

I don't know how to do a screenshot, do I need to find a program that does it or can I do it through windows somehow?

I do have 1 record in products_options_values which is for 'TEXT' that has the value '0' for products_options_values_id.

[Ajeh]

Okay ... might be related to a problem on Attributes regarding TEXT ...

You might read through:
http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.p...32#post1153132

regarding post #2 and what I have there to see if this helps on the issue ...

It sounds like you have the TEXT value setup in the table:
products_options_values

Then, once those changes are made from the post I listed, you shuld be able to go to the Option Name Manager and make an Option Name for your Option Type of TEXT and then add that Option to your Attribute in the Attributes Controller ...

[Janelyn]

That's brilliant Ajeh, it's solved the problem! Thank you very much for your help :)