Printable Price list :: support thread

Since quite some people ask questions about the price list contribution, I decided to setup a new "official" support thread for it.

I would really like to update the price list to clean up the code and such, and also to add some features and options. It is unlikely that I will have time for all that soon though :( . But hopefully this thread will at least bring people asking for support, and all information about the price list, together.

Price list Links:
Download of the current version: http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&cPath=40_47&products_id=276
Archived support thread: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4014 (lots of info there!)

hth,
Paul

(note: of course others are welcome to update and support this contribution as well!)

Thanks for this contribution Paul.

One suggestion, by adding a column for qty to order, then a few lines for customer info and payment type, cc info, this could double as a fax order form and marketing tool to drive more orders.

We still get many phone orders and this would be very helpful.

Thanks for supporting Zen.

Again, thanks for this wonderful contribution. I'd like to throw my hat in the ring by requesting the addition of images to the pricelist.
This is certainly not the first time you've heard this request, I know. (In fact, I believe that you stated in another thread that it was the most requested update.)
I use the pricelist as our automatically updated inventory to be used by my wife and I, as well as our employees in the store. We have a bead, beading supply, craft and designer jewelry store and literally have thousands of products. The pricelist has made it much simpler for me to balance the online inventory with the actual inventory. The only thing that keeps it from being the best module yet presented is the fact that images are not a part of it. The additions of images would be an incredible time-saver for me. I hope that you'll be able to find the time to make this important change.

Thanks so much.

Tim

Some more info about the price list I have written recently:

The (Printable) Price List obviously is a price list that's mainly targeted at printing (obviously ;-) ) the information on paper. Another (non printing related) usage is that it adds quick links to all your products, which is handy for several purposes.

It currently prints (sorted by category):

* price inc tax
* price ex tax
* special price
* category names
* model nr.
* manufacturer
* weight
* stock
* two extra notes columns (empty, for adding written notes after printing)

Most of which columns are optional. It has a basic sorting feature and opttions to show all categories or only one category at the time (the latter is better for speed and memory usage, with large stores).

And more.... An example stylesheet is included for printing on A4 (should be easy to adapt to other formats).

Most wanted (so the the features mentioned below are not implemented yet!) features are:

* custom columns for additional data
* products descriptions
* products images
* hide prices for non approved customers
* show prices to the store owner only

And more?

(As said, I do not expect to have time for all this soon. But, if time permits, I do have some ideas on how to add some of the above features)

@tim and rnet:

In general new columns are added by editting zen-cart\includes\modules\pages\pricelist\header_php.php . One of the columns added a while after the first release was the stock. The modifications that where needed for that are marked by "// stock by bmoroney", this can be used as an example on how to add more columns.

Of course the sql file would need to be editted as well (to switch the new column on/off and set the sort order through admin).

@tim: I think it would be nice to be able to dynamicly add the columns you want. That way adding even more, or other of those "empty columns", later on would be very easy. By dynamicly I mean adding a configuration file for example, which contains an array of column settings for column names, and sort order settings.

Version 1.2:

1. Several minor code changes (trying to clean up a bit of the the old mess ;-) ).

2. Removed the need to overwrite or edit the currencies class. (So no core code changes are needed anymore for this mod!)

3. Merged several files into one. For easier layout edits (I hope). Header, footer and body all moved to pricelist/tpl_main_page.php

4. Some small changes to the stylesheet (screen header, the printing css is unchanged)

For now I will attach the zip to this thread. If more important changes are made, or features are added (hopefully soon), it will be uploaded to the Zen downloads section.

paulm:

2. Removed the need to overwrite or edit the currencies class. (So no core code changes are needed anymore for this mod!)

Oops, I just noticed I left in the currencies.php file. Better remove it form the zip before installing, or else do not overwrite your currencies.php file while installing.

It won't break anything, but the idea was to not overwrite or edit any core file with this version :-)

Great mod, thank you for making my life easier for postal customers!!

One question - is there any way of removing the header logo from each page of the price list. It will save me about 5 pages on the pricelist if this is removed, and I don't really need it as all company info is on each page anyway...

Thanks

Sara

Hi Sara,

maybe I should add switches so that it will be possible to switch headers and footer on and off per listing profile?

But for now you can edit YOUR_TEMPLATE/pricelist/tpl_main_page.php and remove the lines between (latest version only):

<!-- bof Price List page header -->

and:

<!-- eof Price List page header -->

*Or* you can add this to the stylesheet (all recent versions):

.headPL{
display: none;
}

When adding the above CSS to YOUR_TEMPLATE/pricelist/stylesheet.css it wil be hidden from all lists, screen and print. It's also possible to add it to a specific stylesheet (like profile-a4-portrait.css for example), then it will only be hidden from that one (and if you put it between the *media print CSS the headers will only be hidden when printing)

Thanks - the switch sounds like a good idea;-)

But for now you can edit YOUR_TEMPLATE/pricelist/tpl_main_page.php and remove the lines between (latest version only):

<!-- bof Price List page header -->

and:

<!-- eof Price List page header -->

All I have in tpl_main_page.php is this:

 $header_template = 'tpl_header.php';
  $footer_template = 'tpl_footer.php';
  $left_column_file = 'column_left.php';
  $right_column_file = 'column_right.php';
  $body_id = str_replace('_', '', $_GET['main_page']);
  
 // this file can be copied to /templates/your_template_dir/pagename
 // example: to override the privacy page
 // make a directory /templates/my_template/privacy
 // copy /templates/templates_defaults/common/tpl_main_page.php to /templates/my_template/privacy/tpl_main_page.php
 // to override the global settings and turn off columns un-comment the lines below for the correct column to turn off

 // $flag_disable_left = true;
 // $flag_disable_right = true;
?>
<body id="<?php echo $body_id; ?>">



<?php require($body_code); ?>

</body>

so nothing to remove!

I tried change the css file, which worked fine but didn't reduce the number of pages, rather just left a space at the bottom of each as big as the header used to be!

Is there another tpl_main_page I missed!!

Sara

sajiepaj:

I tried change the css file, which worked fine but didn't reduce the number of pages, rather just left a space at the bottom of each as big as the header used to be!

You need to alter the admin settings to take advantage of this empty space.

Is there another tpl_main_page I missed!!

It seems like you are not using the latest version (uploaded to this thread), but it does not really matter the CSS should do (almost) the same trick, just take a look at the admin settings.

Works a treat - thank you so much! I hadn't noticed the admin setting for that - oops!

Sara

Somehow something went wrong with the last update, and a part of the modifications were lost :cry: Attached 1.23 to this post (which +/- is what 1.22 should have been).

Tested on 1.3.6, no need to modify or replace any core files for installation.

Paul do you have some kind of messenger as i would like to talk to you directly on that in regards to the new release and my add-ons ive done so far. How can i disable the proce list from generating 2 tables on the 1 page?

Hallo Paulm,
seems to be a rather usefull mod, thanks, unfortunately it doesn`t run on my 1.2.6 Version.
I allready ried a lot, but getn`t it running. Used the latest install 1.1.1, with teh DB is everything o.k., it appears in admin (profile 1-3) and on my categories box obove right the box(?). Doesn`t matter, where, as I rather liked to get it running.
If I call "http://www.escrevo.de/shop/index.php?main_page=pricelist"

I get this error:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: display_price_nosymbol() in /var/www/web780/html/shop/includes/modules/pages/pricelist/header_php.php on line 573

...................


The txt above I wrote before the gau, but meanwhile everything deteriorated: I have a fatal error on my site and can`t enter any more: "Illegal Access" , and probably nobody else....

Never had this before.

My version is 1.2.6, is this eventually linked with this ...??

I don`t know what to do now.

Do you have any idea, or is this a real hack ?

Thanks for help.

my site is: www.escrevo.de/shop

Walter

@connexhosting:
I can send you my latest version I have if you like, so you can comapare. I never use msn or anything (for free support) though, this already takes way too much of my time as it is now ;-)

@walter:

Fatal error: Call to undefined function: display_price_nosymbol()

The version you have requires some changes to be made to the currencies class file. The error shows that your currencies.php file does not include these changes (a currencies.php isincluded in the zip).

Actually I think you better try the latest version attached to this thread (1.2.3). I have not tested it on 1.2.x versions but I am quite sure it works without any modification.

I would like to upload that newer version to de Zen downloads section, but I am waiting for at least one positive response that that version works without problems. Not that I expect any problems of course :-)

Illegal Access

If this is not happening because of something you did yourself recently, and you can't find the cause, I think you better talk to you host about it. It looks like an .htaccess issue or some hosting panel ip-block.

Note about the

Illegal Access

message. It is (very likely) related to incompatibilty of the currencies.php file of 1.2.x and 1.3.x versions. And the pricelist version you are using includes a 1.3.x currencies.php file.

Price list 1.2.3 does not require edits to this currencies.php file, or to any file, so better try that version instead!

(also see: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?p=290059#post290059 )

paulm:

try the latest version attached to this thread (1.2.3)...

I would like to upload that newer version to de Zen downloads section, but I am waiting for at least one positive response that that version works without problems. Not that I expect any problems of course :-)

Hi Paul,

Just installed your latest v.1.23 mod on a fresh install of zen cart v.1.36.

I couldn't find the link to the pricelist in any of the shop sideboxes or anywhere else (e.g. sitemap) and did not see anywhere in admin to enable it. Then I re-read the readme and noted point 4 in regards to installation ;-)

The 123 archive includes the v.1.20 readme so I assume no changes to the readme were required between 1.20 and 1.23.

I have yet to read this entire thread yet, and it may have already been mentioned on the wishlist. An admin switch to enable a pricelist link in the Info sidebox (and then also display in the sitemap) would be useful. But easy enough to do manually with ez-pages ;-)

My browser title bar meta now shows "Printable Price List:" on EVERY shop page. Is this a signficant bug or I am confused on how to disable this "feature"? ;-)

At the bottom of each pricelist category where the store URL is shown I observe: http://www.mydomain.comDIR_WS_HTTP_CATALOG

Not sure why the define is not called correctly. Not having this issue anywhere else.

The ability to add some basic comments at the top and the bottom of the pricelist would be very useful. e.g. This pricelist does not show "quantity discounts" or reflect "better together" discounts, does not include shipping, prices subject to change, list which credit cards accepted, live phone or office support hours, blah, blah, blah.

At the very top of page, rather than show "Zen Cart! Printable Price List", I would like to show "MY STORE Printable Price List".

And I see someone already requested easy method to disable the logo.

I see five currencies options displayed but the shop is currently configured to support only one currency? When I change from USD to EURO the amount indeed changes/ How could this be? Are currency exchange rates auto converted somehow in the backgrund?

Will read through the rest of this thread and maybe the archived thread to see if I can find answers.

And will be testing more soon. Thanks.

Woody

Thanks for the excellent feedback Woody :-)

Some of the issues can be solved by editting the includs/languages/english/pricelist.php file.

My browser title bar meta now shows "Printable Price List:" on EVERY shop page.

Yeah, cool huh? :smartass:

But, as a quick fix, you can change:

define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Printbare prijslijst'); // acc. to pixxi

to:

//define('NAVBAR_TITLE', 'Printbare prijslijst');

(oops, looks like I am quoting the Dutch file) Then it will not show on the pricelist page either, but I assume thats not a major problem ;-)

Actually I just noticed a version I have called v1.3 on my drive. I have been busy with other stuff and I don't even remeber what the exact differences are, but some of the things you mention are changed/fixed in that version. But for some reason I decided that it was not ready for upload at the time ..... :unsure:

And I see someone already requested easy method to disable the logo.

It's a configuration file setting in 1.3-pre2 (it switches both the logo and text on each page on/off, maybe separate switches should be added for the logo and text).

I remember one of the reasons why I did not upload it: I added *unfinished* code to show products images and desciptions. And maybe there were more reasons.....

I will attach it to this post since I am very unsure about when I will have time to work on it again. So use at your own risk! (as always, but it's a bit more "risky" this time than usual).

About the documentation: sorry, but don't expect to much on that part. It consumes lots of time for me to write docs, and it certainly is not my favorite way to pass the time ;-)