Auction Product Type

[Tanith]

The close, Winner, and loser email is handled by the class file once the auction is closed. The includes\auto_loaders\config.auction.php runs on each page load and calls to includes\classes\class.productauction.php and it handles all the checks and emailing.... if that file is not running, then auctions never close, email never goes. Older versions used an edit to includes\application_top.php to call the class file and do the checks. If the auctions are closing, then the class is running and you may have something up with your email system...

I have the exact same issue. Outbid emails are generated quickly, but auction close is never detected and doesn't show as closed in Extras > Auction Manager.

I've tried it both with and without the cron job, which *seems* to be running successfully according to the cache files, except that it doesn't close any auctions.

\auto_loaders\config.auction.php is in the right place and intact. I have not installed any versions except 1.2b.

[Tanith]

Someone who was supposedly experienced in ZenCart, PHP and setting cron jobs told me that the fix was to comment out line 17 in the cron job:

//require(DIR_WS_CLASSES . 'class.productauction.php');

I think they're mistaken and this is a very bad idea. Doing this achieved successful detection of auction closure once, but only once; further auctions are not detected as closed.

Thoughts please?

[MortalWombat]

Hi

I'm having a bit of trouble with the Auction Product type add-on -- in particular, the divs on the product display.

What's happening is that there seems to be a missing </div>, resulting in the product page being thrown off when the error for a bid that's not high enough shows.

I already fixed one missing div problem doing the same thing on the main display of the product, but I can't locate the div this time.

A little hard to explain, so I've included some screenshots below.

http://www.natureswonderland.com.au/images/auction1.jpg -- This shows the shop with the correct layout (ignore the non-loading images)

http://www.natureswonderland.com.au/images/auction2.jpg -- This shows the shop when the missing div comes in. As you can see, one of the divs isn't closed and everything is 10 times bigger than it should be. Still a little hard to see, but I'm hoping you get the gist.


So, if anyone has any idea where I can find that missing </div> it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Tija

Not having a lot of luck in fixing my problem... Obviously, it will be easier if you can see exactly what is happening...
http://www.natureswonderland.com.au/images/auction1.htm -- This is what the store looks like when you view the Auction product.

http://www.natureswonderland.com.au/images/auction2.htm -- This is what it ends up as after you place a bid that is too low.

Anyone have any suggestions?

- Tija

Anyone?

[Rob Wood]

I think the problem is that the auction module is not fully integrated with the built-in calendar in admin.

I've been testing my close-to-launch site all afternoon, and have discovered that the auction module does know when the auction ends, since it ends the bidding, recognizes the winner, produces a "pay now" button, etc. The problem is that it doesn't inform the auction manager, nor does it send an e-mail to the site administrator. Those functions can be added, but I don't have time right now.

I find these issues irritating, but they don't keep the auction module from working.

I fixed some things I found today, including disabling the display of the reserve price that's been set. That defeats the point of having a reserve price.

If anybody has found a way to set a start date for a product to go up for bid, please sing out.

Rob

[Rob Wood]

I've fixed the weird misalignment in Auctions Manager. Make sure you back up a copy of zc_admin/auctions_manager.php, and then do the following:

1) Looking at code view, find <!-- header //--> and <!-- footer //-->
2) Replace all of the code between those two tags with the following:

<?php require(DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'header.php'); ?>
<!-- header_eof //-->
<!-- body //-->
<table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<!-- body_text //-->
<td width="100%" valign="top"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<tr>
<td width="100%"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td class="pageHeading"><?php echo HEADING_TITLE; ?></td>
<td class="pageHeading" align="right"><?php echo zen_draw_separator('pixel_trans.gif', HEADING_IMAGE_WIDTH, HEADING_IMAGE_HEIGHT); ?></td>
</tr>
</table></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="smallText" width="100%" align="right">
<?php
// toggle switch for editor
echo TEXT_EDITOR_INFO . zen_draw_form('set_editor_form', FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, '', 'get') . '&nbsp;&nbsp;' . zen_draw_pull_down_menu('reset_editor', $editors_pulldown, $current_editor_key, 'onChange="this.form.submit();"') . zen_hide_session_id() .
zen_draw_hidden_field('cID', $cPath) .
zen_draw_hidden_field('cPath', $cPath) .
zen_draw_hidden_field('aID', $_GET['aID']) .
zen_draw_hidden_field('page', $_GET['page']) .
zen_draw_hidden_field('action', 'set_editor') .
'</form>';
?>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tr>
<td valign="top"><table border="0" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2">
<tr class="dataTableHeadingRow">
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_PRODUCT_ID; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_PRODUCT_NAME; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_Product_IMAGE; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_AUCTION_ENDDATE; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_EMAIL_SENT; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent"><?php echo TEXT_TITLE_AUCTION_OVER; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent" align="right"><?php echo TABLE_HEADING_STATUS; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableHeadingContent" align="right"><?php echo TABLE_HEADING_ACTION; ?>&nbsp;</td>
</tr>

<?php
$auctions_query_raw = "select p.products_id, p.products_status,
p.products_image, p.products_type, p.products_price, pd.products_name,
ax.products_id, ax.bid_start_price, ax.bid_expire_date,
ax.bid_expire_hour, ax.bid_reserve_price, ax.bid_buynow_price,
ax.auction_closed, ax.last_auction_winner_email_sent,
ax.auction_closed_email_sent, ax.bid_minimum_increase
from "
. TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, "
. TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd, "
. TABLE_PRODUCT_AUCTION_EXTRA . " ax
where p.products_id = pd.products_id
and pd.products_id = ax.products_id
group by p.products_id
order by ax.bid_expire_date asc ";

$auctions_split = new splitPageResults($_GET['page'], MAX_DISPLAY_SEARCH_RESULTS, $auctions_query_raw, $auctions_query_numrows);
$auctions = $db->Execute($auctions_query_raw);

if(!empty($auctions)) {
while (!$auctions->EOF) {

if ((!isset($_GET['aID']) || (isset($_GET['aID']) && ($_GET['aID'] == $auctions->fields['products_id']))) && !isset($lInfo) && (substr($action, 0, 3) != 'new')) {

$lInfo_array = array_merge($auctions->fields);
$lInfo = new objectInfo($lInfo_array);

}

if (isset($lInfo) && is_object($lInfo) && ($auctions->fields['products_id'] == $lInfo->products_id)) {
echo '<tr id="defaultSelected" class="dataTableRowSelected" onmouseover="rowOverEffect(this)" onmouseout="rowOutEffect(this)"' . "\n";
} else {
echo '<tr class="dataTableRow" onmouseover="rowOverEffect(this)" onmouseout="rowOutEffect(this)"' . "\n";
}
?>
<td class="dataTableContent"><?php echo $auctions->fields['products_id']; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent"><?php echo $auctions->fields['products_name']; ?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent"><?php echo zen_image(DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES . $auctions->fields['products_image'], HEADING_TITLE, 50, HEADING_IMAGE_HEIGHT); ?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent"><?php echo date("m/d/Y",strtotime($auctions->fields['bid_expire_date'])); ?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent" align="center"><?php
if ($auctions->fields['last_auction_winner_email_sent'] > '0000-00-00 00:00:00') {
echo date("m/d/Y",strtotime($auctions->fields['last_auction_winner_email_sent']));
} else {
echo TEXT_NO;
}
?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent" align="center"><?php
if ( $auctions->fields['auction_closed'] == 'Y') {
echo TEXT_YES;
} else {
echo TEXT_NO;
}
?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent" align="right"><?php
if ($auctions->fields['products_status'] == '1') {
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'] . '&action=setflag&flag=0') . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_green_on.gif', IMAGE_ICON_STATUS_ON) . '</a>';
} else {
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'] . '&action=setflag&flag=1') . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_red_on.gif', IMAGE_ICON_STATUS_OFF) . '</a>';
}
?></td>
<td class="dataTableContent" align="right"><?php
$type_handler = $zc_products->get_admin_handler($auctions->fields['products_type']);
if (isset($lInfo) && is_object($lInfo) && ($auctions->fields['products_id'] == $lInfo->products_id)) {
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link($type_handler, 'cPath=' . $auctions->fields['master_categories_id'] . '&product_type=' . $auctions->fields['products_type'] . '&pID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'] . '&action=new_product">') . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_edit.gif', ICON_EDIT) . '</a>&nbsp&nbsp';
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&amp;aID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'].$extra_args) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_arrow_right.gif', IMAGE_ICON_INFO) . '</a>';
} else {
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link($type_handler, 'cPath=' . $auctions->fields['master_categories_id'] . '&product_type=' . $auctions->fields['products_type'] . '&pID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'] . '&action=new_product">') . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_edit.gif', ICON_EDIT) . '</a>&nbsp&nbsp';
echo '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&amp;aID=' . $auctions->fields['products_id'].$extra_args) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icon_info.gif', IMAGE_ICON_INFO) . '</a>'; }
?>&nbsp;</td>

</tr>
<?php

$auctions->MoveNext();
}

?>
<tr>
<td colspan="4"><table border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0"cellspacing="2">
<tr>
<td class="smallText" valign="top"><?php echo $auctions_split->display_count($auctions_query_numrows, MAX_DISPLAY_SEARCH_RESULTS, $_GET['page'], TEXT_DISPLAY_NUMBER_OF_AUCTIONS); ?></td>
<td class="smallText" align="right"><?php echo $auctions_split->display_links($auctions_query_numrows, MAX_DISPLAY_SEARCH_RESULTS, MAX_DISPLAY_PAGE_LINKS, $_GET['page']); ?></td>
</tr>
<?php
if (empty($action)) {
?>
<tr>
<td colspan="2" style="text-align:right;"></td>
</tr>
<?php
}
}
?>
</table></td>
</tr>
</table></td>
<?php
$heading = array();
$contents = array();

$email_pref_text = ('TEXT');

switch ($action) {

case 'delete':
$heading[] = array('text' => '<b>' . $lInfo->products_name . '</b>');
$contents = array('form' => zen_draw_form('auctions', FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $lInfo->products_id . '&action=deleteconfirm'));
$contents[] = array('text' => TEXT_INFO_DELETE_INTRO);
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /><b>' . TEXT_TITLE_PRODUCT_ID . $lInfo->products_id . TEXT_DELETE_AUCTION_BIDS . '</b>');
$contents[] = array('align' => 'center', 'text' => '<br />' . zen_image_submit('button_clear_bids.png', IMAGE_DELETE) . '&nbsp;<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $_GET['aID']) . '">' . zen_image_button('button_cancel.gif', IMAGE_CANCEL) . '</a>');
break;

case 'deletebid':
$bids_id = zen_db_prepare_input($_GET['bID']);

$heading[] = array('text' => '<b>' . $lInfo->products_name . '</b>');
$contents = array('form' => zen_draw_form('auctions', FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $lInfo->products_id . '&cID=' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_id'] . '&bID=' . $bids_id . '&action=deletebidconfirm'));
$contents[] = array('text' => TEXT_INFO_DELETE_BID);
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /><b>' . TEXT_TITLE_BID_ID . $bids_id . TEXT_DELETE_BID . '</b>');
$contents[] = array('align' => 'center', 'text' => '<br />' . zen_image_submit('button_delete_bid.png', IMAGE_DELETE) . '&nbsp;<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $_GET['aID']) . '">' . zen_image_button('button_cancel.gif', IMAGE_CANCEL) . '</a>');
break;

default:
if (isset($lInfo) && is_object($lInfo)) {

$auction_bids = $db->Execute("select a.bid_id, a.customers_id, a.customers_bid, a.products_id,
a.date_of_bid, c.customers_firstname, c.customers_lastname,
c.customers_email_address, c.customers_id
from "
. TABLE_PRODUCTS_AUCTION . " a, "
. TABLE_CUSTOMERS . " c
where a.customers_id = c.customers_id
and a.products_id = " . $lInfo->products_id . "
order by a.bid_id DESC");

$heading[] = array('text' => '<b>' . $lInfo->products_name . '</b><br/>');
$contents[] = array('align' => 'center', 'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS_MAIL, 'mail_to=' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_email_address']) . '">' . zen_image_button('button_email.gif', IMAGE_EMAIL) . '</a> <a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $lInfo->products_id . '&action=delete') . '">' . zen_image_button('button_clear_bids.png', IMAGE_DELETE) . '</a>');
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> BuyNow Price: ' . $currencies->format($lInfo->bid_buynow_price) . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Starting Price: ' . $currencies->format($lInfo->bid_start_price) . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Reserve Price: ' . $currencies->format($lInfo->bid_reserve_price) . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Minimum Increase: ' . $currencies->format($lInfo->bid_minimum_increase) . '<br />');

$contents[] = array('text' => '<hr />');
$contents[] = array('text' => '<b>Current Product Price: ' . $currencies->format($lInfo->products_price) . '</b><br />');
if ($auction_bids->fields['bid_id'] > 0) {
$i=0; //we only want two bids or less to show
while (!$auction_bids->EOF && $i < (int)DISPLAY_AUCTION_BIDS) {
$i++;
if ($i > 1) {
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Bid ID: ' . $auction_bids->fields['bid_id'] . '<br />');
}else{
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Bid ID: ' . $auction_bids->fields['bid_id'] . '&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_AUCTIONS_PRODUCTS, 'page=' . $_GET['page'] . '&aID=' . $lInfo->products_id . '&cID=' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_id'] . '&bID=' . $auction_bids->fields['bid_id'] .'&action=deletebid') . '">' . zen_image_button('button_red_x.gif', IMAGE_BUTTON_DELETE) . '</a><br />');
}
$contents[] = array('text' => 'Customer ID: ' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_id'] . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => 'Current High Bid: ' . $currencies->format($auction_bids->fields['customers_bid']) . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => 'High Bider Name: ' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_firstname'] . " " . $auction_bids->fields['customers_lastname'] . '<br />');
$contents[] = array('text' => 'High Bid Email: ' . $auction_bids->fields['customers_email_address'] . '<br />');
$auction_bids->MoveNext();
}
} else {
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /><b>No Bids yet!</b><br /> ');
}
$contents[] = array('text' => '<br /> Auction End Date: ' . date("m/d/Y",strtotime($lInfo->bid_expire_date)) . '<br />');
}
break;
}
if ( (zen_not_null($heading)) && (zen_not_null($contents)) ) {
echo ' <td style="width:25%;vertical-align:top;">' . "\n";

$box = new box;
echo $box->infoBox($heading, $contents);

echo ' </td>' . "\n";
}

?>
</tr>
</table></td>
</tr>

</table></td>
<!-- body_text_eof //-->
</tr>
</table>
<!-- body_eof //-->


It makes the page at least organized and readable.


Rob

[MarionWante]

I think the problem is that the auction module is not fully integrated with the built-in calendar in admin.


If anybody has found a way to set a start date for a product to go up for bid, please sing out.

Rob

I have an auction site up and running and I also had an issue with the auction manager not sending emails.
There is one very important thing that can mess up the whole auction: there has to be at least ONE DAY difference between the date you put up an article for auction and the ending date. You can never put up an article at let's say 14.00 today and have it end today, it will not close immediately if you do so but in the auction manager it fails to send out e-mails. I encountered the very same problems when configuring the website. Once you make sure that you put up articles for the next day or further in the future your problem is solved.
This means that you can set up an article tonight at 23.00 and have it expire tomorrow at 0.00 or 1.00. There is only 2 hours difference but these are two different dates.

And also pay close attention to this : you can never ALTER or change an article that expires that same day, the system will see it as a new article and you have the same problem as when you put up an article for starting and ending the same day.

I hope this fixes your problem.

Kind regards,

Marion

[Rob Wood]

Hi Marion,

Thanks for those tips! Now, here's a question: When the auction ends, and e-mail is sent to the winners/losers, etc., does the Auction Manager state that the auction is closed?

One other question:

Even if I choose a future start date for an auction, the product becomes available for bid immediately, anyway. I would like to set a future start date, and still have the product appear on the page, but with no "submit bid" field showing. I'd also like to see something like, "This item goes up for bid on November 1st." Has anybody solved this one?

Thanks,

Rob

[Rob Wood]

One last bug to squash, prior to launch:

In the e-mail sent at close of auction, the subject line is supposed to include the name of the product, dynamically generated, just as it is in the body of the e-mail.

While it's working just fine in the body, the subject line says this:

Re: Your Auction Bid for - %s

Anybody else have this problem, or know of a solution?

Thanks,

Rob

[Rob Wood]

Discovered another issue: There is a huge delay between the ending of the auction on the front end (I have the countdown clock working), and the back end recognition of that fact. The front end will count down and state that the auction has ended, and if you are logged in, it will tell you to Pay Now. However, Auction Manager does not reflect that the auction is over, and does not send e-mail, until hours later (or maybe the next day).

Is there any way to make the program send the e-mail as soon as the auction ends?

Thanks,

Rob

[MarionWante]

Hi Marion,

Thanks for those tips! Now, here's a question: When the auction ends, and e-mail is sent to the winners/losers, etc., does the Auction Manager state that the auction is closed?

One other question:

Even if I choose a future start date for an auction, the product becomes available for bid immediately, anyway. I would like to set a future start date, and still have the product appear on the page, but with no "submit bid" field showing. I'd also like to see something like, "This item goes up for bid on November 1st." Has anybody solved this one?

Thanks,

Rob

Hi Rob,

Yes, the Auction Manager states that the auction is closed. But on my website it doesn't close or send e-mails unless someone visits the website since I do not use cronjob.

Regarding setting a future date : I tried using the "expected products" tool, but that doesn't do the trick. Best solution I can come up with is to make a category for upcoming or expected products.