Newsletter-Only Subscriptions for v1.3x

[NotGoddess]

Thanks for the contribution NG. I am looking to do a mass import of newsletter only subscribers. Is there an easy way to do this?

It would depend upon format of your list (sql, txt, xsl, csv, etc). if you email me a copy of the list (or part of it) I can build something for you.

I'll end with this caveat -not because I think you are intending it, but others might.
admin-added subscriptions are auto-confirmed, but please please do not use this as a way to send people unsolicited spam (like using a list you bought somewhere).

-Ng_

[mocha]

Thanks for the offer NG. The list format is flexible, at the moment it is an excel file with just the username and the email address. Also with the sidebox, I cannot find where to change it so the sidebox title is just "Newsletter" and is not a link.

[NotGoddess]

Okay, well the easiest way (other than having me code an interface :) would be to turn the excel into a sql file:

Copy the email address column and save as a txt file (separate with commas).

Open that file in your favorite text editor.

Add to the beginning of the file (replace tbl_name with your subscribers table name, including prefix):
INSERT INTO tbl_name (email_address) VALUES(

Use the find/replace command:
find: , [that's a comma]
replace with: '), ('

If the editor supports adding newlines you might use:
replace with: '),\n ('

At the end of the file you should have: lastemail@address
Add to end: '); so it is: lastemail@address');

You are trying to end up with:
INSERT INTO tbl_name (email_address)
VALUES([email protected]), ([email protected]),
([email protected]), ([email protected]);

Save the resulting file (as .sql or .txt) and use the sql patches feature in the Tools menu to upload/run it. If you have hundreds of names you may need to break into a few files.

-Ng_

[NotGoddess]

Also with the sidebox, I cannot find where to change it so the sidebox title is just "Newsletter" and is not a link.

? The 'Subscribe' sidebox title is not a link by default. Are your other sideboxes
linked? It might be a feature you have enabled somewhere.

[edit: found it]
edit /includes/modules/sideboxes/YOUR_TEMPLATE/subscribe.php
and add this somewhere:

$title_link = false;

Let me know if that works and I'll include it in the next update.

-Ng_

[KADesign]

Does this work on the latest version of Zen Cart?
I want to make sure I din't miss anything here.

Thanks,
Kelly

[NotGoddess]

Does this work on the latest version of Zen Cart?
I want to make sure I din't miss anything here.

Thanks,
Kelly

Yes, this runs with zencart 1.3.x (1.3.0 and 1.3.0.1).

Make sure you download the updated version from the contributions section, and you .might. need to apply the patch in the post above yours (I'm still seeing if it's needed before I update again).

Please let me know how you like it, if there's anything you'd like changed/added (even if it's a 'well it would be nice if...' because you can bet others are thinking the same thing).

-Ng_

[KADesign]

Thanks for the quick reply.

I had the original and removed it a while back. One feature that I did like was adding a query to send emails to test account only before sending them to actual customers. Will this enable me to do that as well?
If not, that would be a nice addition.

Thank you in advance! :)

Kelly

[NotGoddess]

One feature that I did like was adding a query to send emails to test account only before sending them to actual customers. Will this enable me to do that as well?

I'm not .quite. sure if I understand you. You can of course create a subscription using an email address...you can email them directly, but there is no query set so you have the option to send the newsletter to one address first-I didn't see anything like that in the original, either, although perhaps I worked from a different version than you had.

Is this what you are wishing? I believe it should be easy enough to add-we'd just add a query to pull the admin email address and add that as an option in the 'send to' list.

Let me know if that's what you had in mind.

-Ng_

[KADesign]

I have the sql for it somewhere. If I find it I will email or post it so you can see if it will work. It wasn't included in the original. It was something someone posted as an add on.

Thanks,
Kelly

[KADesign]

Check out these posts. There are a number of various solutions for test accounts. I didn't want to post the code in case someone thought it was okay to use.
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showth...ewsletter+test


Thanks,
Kelly