EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

[woody80uk]

Old EP layout:


v_products_model
v_products_image
v_products_name_1
v_products_description_1
v_products_url_1
v_specials_price
v_specials_date_avail
v_specials_expires_date
v_products_price
v_products_weight
v_date_avail
v_date_added
v_products_quantity
v_manufacturers_name
v_categories_name_1
v_categories_name_2
v_categories_name_3
v_categories_name_4
v_categories_name_5
v_categories_name_6
v_categories_name_7
v_tax_class_title v_status
v_metatags_products_name_status
v_metatags_title_status
v_metatags_model_status
v_metatags_price_status
v_metatags_title_tagline_status
v_metatags_title_1
v_metatags_keywords_1
v_metatags_description_1

[chadderuski]

Ah, you didn't say you were using export from old EP.

First off, you need to use OpenOffice to export your CSV. Read the first couple posts in this thread over carefully. Excel will not work correctly.

Second. You first UPLOAD a file, then IMPORT from the link to the right of the file name.

I go into most all of this in the first several posts. Categories done very differently in EP4 since I have mulit-lingual capable category import.

v_categories_1 is for english .... categories names are concatenated with the ^ (caret) So If you have two categories like Barware -> Scoops, you would enter them like "Barware^Scoops"

I hope that helps.

-chadd

[SPH]

Hi Woody,
Did you use OpenOffice to export your CSV file? Excel does not work well for export CSV files, and they don't import correctly with EP4 - something I'll try to address in the future.
Did you do a Full import, and if so, what were the ouput stats at the bottom?

-chaddro

I've been using your EP4 since our email exchange some time ago; using in conjunction with my former EP which allows me to add fields and do attributes the way we're used to. EP4 is my go-to version, especially since it lets me work on specific categories.

Anyway, I haven't had OpenOffice for few years now and have not noticed a problem with excel. Maybe I will?

sph

www.prommart.com
www.fashion-mart.biz

[chadderuski]

I've been using your EP4 since our email exchange some time ago; using in conjunction with my former EP which allows me to add fields and do attributes the way we're used to. EP4 is my go-to version, especially since it lets me work on specific categories.

Anyway, I haven't had OpenOffice for few years now and have not noticed a problem with excel. Maybe I will?

sph

www.prommart.com
www.fashion-mart.biz

That's some good news. Which version of excel are you using and which csv export? I have not had the time to test ALL the versions/platforms to ensure compatibility.

[woody80uk]

Thanks Chadd, looks like there is light at the end of the tunnel. This a lot of hair I have just saved from not pulling it out with frustration! Thanks for your help. I noticed the ^ when i checked in the downloaded csv file. Looks like I need to play about with my database a fair bit now its changed. Its a bit of a paiin keep typing ^ for each next category, looks like ill have to add my columns together in excel each with a ^ not as simple and quick for me now im afraid compared to the old version. Thanks for the info it at least will get my new products on the site.

[woody80uk]

Ah, you didn't say you were using export from old EP.

First off, you need to use OpenOffice to export your CSV. Read the first couple posts in this thread over carefully. Excel will not work correctly.

Second. You first UPLOAD a file, then IMPORT from the link to the right of the file name.

I go into most all of this in the first several posts. Categories done very differently in EP4 since I have mulit-lingual capable category import.

v_categories_1 is for english .... categories names are concatenated with the ^ (caret) So If you have two categories like Barware -> Scoops, you would enter them like "Barware^Scoops"

I hope that helps.

-chadd

I have uploaded without open office and it seems fine (Now I have read the instructions on what to do) :) Ive just used Excel 2003 saved as comma delimited csv.

[chadderuski]

I have uploaded without open office and it seems fine (Now I have read the instructions on what to do) :) Ive just used Excel 2003 saved as comma delimited csv.

If you are converting your category columns from EP 1.2.5.4, you can simply add a new column, then use the concatenate function in excel.

Something like this: =concatenate(A34,"^",B34,"^",C34,"^",D34,"^",E34)

Now insert a new column named v_categories_1 and copy the concatenated column, but paste-special and select "values". This will paste the character data.

Now you will combine all your combined categories, but will also give you some doubled ^^ (or more) for the empty column entries. Hilight your v_categories_1 column and do a search for ^^ and replace with ^. I haven't done this for a while, but you may also have to trim the last column.

Now, better than doing the above.... Install EP4 on your old store (you can have both versions installed without issue) and do your export with EP4 and all the problems you are having are pretty much solved

-chadd

[micmed]

First of all I have to say that this mod is awesomely fast and a pleasure to work with. Having said that I am having an issue.

My first attempt at uploading I used the same column format as earlier EP's. All looked good and normal except of course it only created the first category and ignored v_categories_name_2 etc. I reread the notes and this thread and changed to the category1^category2^category3 format. This fixed the categories but now none of my images work. They worked before I changed the categories format and that was the only change I made.

I have tried both OO and Excel with no difference.

[chadderuski]

First of all I have to say that this mod is awesomely fast and a pleasure to work with. Having said that I am having an issue.

My first attempt at uploading I used the same column format as earlier EP's. All looked good and normal except of course it only created the first category and ignored v_categories_name_2 etc. I reread the notes and this thread and changed to the category1^category2^category3 format. This fixed the categories but now none of my images work. They worked before I changed the categories format and that was the only change I made.

I have tried both OO and Excel with no difference.

How did you delete your "bad data" ??? If you did it from within the Admin categories manager, it ALSO deletes all your images requiring your to once again FTP them to your server.

-chadd

[micmed]

How did you delete your "bad data" ??? If you did it from within the Admin categories manager, it ALSO deletes all your images requiring your to once again FTP them to your server.

Dang, I don't remember that happening before V1.5. Thanks!