combining all product types into one category sidebox

[delia]

So the category box code has this: $main_category_tree->zen_category_tree();
The documents category box has this: $main_category_tree->zen_category_tree(3);

The category tree states

function zen_category_tree($product_type = "all") {
    global $db, $cPath, $cPath_array;
    if ($product_type != 'all') {
      $sql = "select type_master_type from " . TABLE_PRODUCT_TYPES . "
                where type_master_type = " . $product_type . "";
      $master_type_result = $db->Execute($sql);
      $master_type = $master_type_result->fields['type_master_type'];
    }
$this->tree = array();
    if ($product_type == 'all') {
      $categories_query = "select c.categories_id, cd.categories_name, c.parent_id, c.categories_image
                             from " . TABLE_CATEGORIES . " c, " . TABLE_CATEGORIES_DESCRIPTION . " cd
                             where c.parent_id = 0
                             and c.categories_id = cd.categories_id
                             and cd.language_id='" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                             and c.categories_status= 1
                             order by sort_order, cd.categories_name"; 

But if I change the categories box code from this $main_category_tree->zen_category_tree(); to this $main_category_tree->zen_category_tree(all); the documents category still does not show in the sidebox.

Then I tried zen_category_tree($product_type = "all") as well. No dice. So how do I get all product types to show in the categories box? I get the feeling this is simple....

[delia]

Uh, the category tabs? Yay!

[mc12345678]

It would appear from the above, that the following was not tried:

$main_category_tree->zen_category_tree('all');

With some sort of quote around the text string 'all'.

Or just use an empty paretheses grouping and it will default to 'all'.

[delia]

nope I did try that and it did not work. Does look to me it should work.

The category tabs module does it in a more complicated fashion and it works. Ah, if it were all so straightforward as just a query!

[mc12345678]

The "issue" is that in at least the template_default version:
includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_categories.php there is a section of code that specifically prevents the display of document type product attributing their display to the document sidebox.

     if (zen_get_product_types_to_category($box_categories_array[$i]['path']) == 3 or ($box_categories_array[$i]['top'] != 'true' and SHOW_CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_ALWAYS != 1)) {
        // skip if this is for the document box (==3)

If you change to:

     if (false && zen_get_product_types_to_category($box_categories_array[$i]['path']) == 3 or ($box_categories_array[$i]['top'] != 'true' and SHOW_CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_ALWAYS != 1)) {
        // skip if this is for the document box (==3)

By anding 'false' to the check against category being 3 (document) then the section below that should apply, though there may be some other issue to address if the expected/necessary data is not available/populated. I hadn't looked beyond this tid bit.

[delia]

oh perfect! Thanks for working with me on this. My coding skills have atrophied over the past few years and I'm now learning and refreshing so bear with me.

Now I want an admin setting to trigger it! My first attempt did nothing, not surprisingly. The config key is ALL_CATEGORIES and true or false unless you have a better suggestion.

[delia]

ah, removing the first part of the if/else statement is the straightforward way to create this without an admin setting

// if (false && $ALL_CATEGORIES == 'false'  && zen_get_product_types_to_category($box_categories_array[$i]['path']) == 3 or ($box_categories_array[$i]['top'] != 'true' and SHOW_CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_ALWAYS != 1)) {
        // skip if this is for the document box (==3)
     // } else {
      $content .= '<li class="' . $new_style . '"><a  href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $box_categories_array[$i]['path']) . '">';

      if ($box_categories_array[$i]['current']) {
        if ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']) {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-parent">' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '</span>';
        } else {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-selected">' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '</span>';
        }
      } else {
        $content .= $box_categories_array[$i]['name'];
      }

      if ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']) {
        $content .= CATEGORIES_SEPARATOR;
      }
      $content .= '</a>';

      if (SHOW_COUNTS == 'true') {
        if ((CATEGORIES_COUNT_ZERO == '1' and $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] == 0) or $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] >= 1) {
          $content .= CATEGORIES_COUNT_PREFIX . $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] . CATEGORIES_COUNT_SUFFIX;
        }
      }

      $content .= '</li>' . "\n";
  //  } 

[mc12345678]

Yeah, so is just adding a false into the line, but whatever works at least to support showing the products assigned to product type 3. Now though, the admin control to hide sub-categories while on a sub-category no longer responds. It would appear that the admin configuration: SHOW_CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_ALWAYS was not set to true (1) and that the category viewed was a sub-category. The setting for that constant which appears to be used only in the categories sidebox is:
Title: Categories - Always Open to Show SubCategories
Description: Always Show Categories and SubCategories
0= off, just show Top Categories
1= on, Always show Categories and SubCategories when selected
Value: 1
Group: ID#19 Layout Settings

Where Value of 1 is the default value on install.