hideCategories

[rmjr]

Willing to test and sent you a PM. Thanks!

[Berserker]

Interested in testing the mod.
Regards

[DivaVocals]

........

If you are interested in testing, please PM and I'll get you a copy of the new fileset.

[jkwalz]

Alright, I hate to ask this because it has probably already been asked but I can't find the answer.

Here is goes:

I will have only hidden products at my store. How do I figure out what the URL is for the hidden product so I can sent it to the customer?

I've set up one hidden category and one product but I can't for the life of me figure out how to compose a simple URL for the product.

Thanks,

Jason

[s_mack]

make a non-hidden one for testing purposes, then navigate to that product in your browser. Look up at your address bar and you'll see the format for how a product URL looks and in that will be an identifier with that product's ID. So that's the format, and then you just have to change the ID to suit the other products. Their ID numbers can be seen in your admin. If you just came to your store, however, keep in mind that a session ID will be tagged on.. be sure not to use that. For example, here's a url from a real store:

http://www.smartieparts.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=149&zenid=cfb4a133ac5e3192da149ac987953fa3

The grey part is the session ID that you want to delete. It may or may not be in your address bar but if it is, do NOT include it in your links.

The red part is the product ID. That's what you change depending on the product.

Hope that helps. I can't really think of a situation where you'd want a completely hidden shop! And because that is your situation, I have to say that using this mod probably isn't the best way to go about it... but if you find it useful then I wish you the best!

- Steven

[DivaVocals]

<rant>Unfortunately most of the folks who've downloaded this new version have not provided ANY feedback (which I NEED to troubleshoot problems before submitting this to the Zen Cart downloads).. The closest thing I've gotten to feedback is the proverbial "it didn't work" **sigh**</rant>

That said, I wanted to publicly thank X@vier for REALLY testing the new version of hideCategories.. He will be along to post his feedback soon I hope..

So if you are interested in trying out the updated version of hideCategories, PM me and I will guide you through where to get it..

PLEASE POST FEEDBACK (positive or negative) here.. I need to hear from folks to KNOW if there are any issues..

So I've compiled a new version of hideCategories. Here's the changelog:

• updated files to reflect changes in Zen release 1.3.9d.
• Incorporated the following posted modifications in to the codebase:
  
  • Add Hidden Categories code to What's New sidebox
    
    • http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=256
    
    
  • Add Hidden Categories code to Site Map & Customers Who Bought center box
    
    • http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...2&postcount=94
    
    
  • Add Hidden Categories code to Categories Tab
    
    • http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=195
    
    
  • Included a modified includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_document_product_info_display.php template specifically for hidden products. This template removes the top and bottom "Next" and "Previous" navigation buttons as well as the category link/image without compromising regular products. Requires using "document-product" product type to create your hidden categories.
    
    • http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...1&postcount=96
    • http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=258
    
    
  
  

I've tested it on my own site and it works great, but I'd like other folks to test it before I submit it to the downloads section.. If you are interested in testing, please PM and I'll get you a copy of the new fileset. I may also include files and/or instructions for using hideCategories with the Improved Sitemap module..

[X@vier]

Thank you, DivaVocals, for the compliment.

Hereby my report:

* installed it on zc 1.3.9d (PHP5). the final installation will be on 1.3.9g. I don't know if that makes a big difference?
* this installation http://www.collectors.room.eu/zc is already very much customized. It's a dev and testing site;
* The installation goes very well. The two parts are clear in use;
* The readme file is clear and better than the original one;
* After the installation none of the categories in the top navigation bar where visible.
* They are only visible after you resave the existing categories;
* on this site I've also installed a module products in columns. Here's a conflict. The file was overwriten. Need to be merged;
* changed the document type to product - hidden;
* created category and hide it (http://collectors-room.eu/zc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4);
* added product to category;
* the category and product aren't visible in sitemap, new product, all products, featured products.
* The base template I use is ZJ-Template-pack. A special feature is the box with the tabs at the right hand site. There is a tab called "new". There the hidden product is visible.

It's a great module. You have done a great job. Thank you very much.
The next great feature would be that the hidden category should only be visible for registered users....

Greetings,
xavier

[DivaVocals]

Thank you, DivaVocals, for the compliment.....

It's a great module. You have done a great job. Thank you very much.

You are very welcome.. Thank you for posting your feedback.. VERY helpful!!!

* installed it on zc 1.3.9d (PHP5). the final installation will be on 1.3.9g. I don't know if that makes a big difference?

You'll just need to compare your store files to the 1.3.9g files and incorporate any changes between the two..

* After the installation none of the categories in the top navigation bar where visible.
* They are only visible after you resave the existing categories;

This is required for stores with existing categories to add the correct flags that identify a category as hidden or visible.... on a fresh install where you've not yet created categories the mod should have the right flags in place which identify them as visible or hidden categories.. I'll have a looksee at the readme.. I thought I made this clear in the instructions..

* on this site I've also installed a module products in columns. Here's a conflict. The file was overwriten. Need to be merged;
* changed the document type to product - hidden;
* created category and hide it (http://collectors-room.eu/zc/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4);

You'll need to compare the files this add-on has in common with your "Products in Columns" add-on.. Merge in the hideCategories changes needed..

* The base template I use is ZJ-Template-pack. A special feature is the box with the tabs at the right hand site. There is a tab called "new". There the hidden product is visible.

Suggest looking at the sideboxes included in the hideCategories package for guidance on the changes needed for your template's sidebox..

The next great feature would be that the hidden category should only be visible for registered users....

This is probably very doable.. Just a little over MY paygrade to make happen..

[s_mack]

Actually, its not that tough to make it visible only to registered AND LOGGED IN users. Registered but not logged in would be impossible. I don't recall specifics, as its been a long time since i've done any work on Zen, but there is a very simple check to see if the current customer is logged.

[X@vier]

That would be a great marketing tool...