How to hide categories with no active products?

[Ajeh]

This is being worked into v16 as v154 is close to release and this cannot be added ...

There are 4 files that should be addressed:
/includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_categories.php
/includes/modules/category_row.php
/includes/modules/categories_tabs.php
/includes/classes/site_map.php

to manage hiding the categories when either they are empty or when they only contain Products with products_status = 0 ...

This would be controlled by an on/off switch in the Admin to allow for those who want this feature and those who do not ...

When I have time, I will try to post the changes needed but I need to compare them to v154 vs v151 to see what the differences, if any, may be ...

[DivaVocals]

This is being worked into v16 as v154 is close to release and this cannot be added ...

There are 4 files that should be addressed:
/includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_categories.php
/includes/modules/category_row.php
/includes/modules/categories_tabs.php
/includes/classes/site_map.php

to manage hiding the categories when either they are empty or when they only contain Products with products_status = 0 ...

This would be controlled by an on/off switch in the Admin to allow for those who want this feature and those who do not ...

When I have time, I will try to post the changes needed but I need to compare them to v154 vs v151 to see what the differences, if any, may be ...

Awesome news Ajeh!!! and kudos for making is CHOICE for shopowners.. (not a fan of "one size fits all" features) I do have a few clients who want this (hence why I subscribed to this thread to begin with) so it will be nice to see this make it's way into the core..

[Ajeh]

If you guys want to test this the changes are marked in RED:
/includes/templates/template_default/sideboxes/tpl_categories.php

    if ((CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] == 0) || 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)
       // skip empty or status off categories
    } else {
      $content .= '<a class="' . $new_style . '" 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']) {

/includes/modules/categories_tabs.php

  // create link to top level category
  if (CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && zen_count_products_in_category((int)$categories_tab->fields['categories_id']) == 0) {
    // skip empty or status off categories
  } else {
    $links_list[] = '<a class="' . $new_style . '" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, 'cPath=' . (int)$categories_tab->fields['categories_id']) . '">' . $categories_tab_current . '</a> ';
  }
  $categories_tab->MoveNext();

/includes/modules/category_row.php

    if (CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && zen_count_products_in_category((int)$categories->fields['categories_id']) == 0) {
      // skip empty or status off categories
    } else {

      $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="categoryListBoxContents"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
                                             'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $cPath_new) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $categories->fields['categories_image'], $categories->fields['categories_name'], SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_WIDTH, SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '</a>');

      $col ++;
      if ($col > (MAX_DISPLAY_CATEGORIES_PER_ROW -1)) {
        $col = 0;
        $row ++;
      }
    }
    $categories->MoveNext();

/includes/classes/site_map.php

      $categories = $db->Execute($categories_query);
      while (!$categories->EOF) {
        if (CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && zen_count_products_in_category((int)$categories->fields['categories_id']) == 0) {
          // skip empty or status off categories
        } else {
          $this->data[$categories->fields['parent_id']][$categories->fields['categories_id']] = array('name' => $categories->fields['categories_name'], 'count' => 0);
        }
        $categories->MoveNext();
      }
   }

    if (isset($this->data[$parent_id])) {
      foreach ($this->data[$parent_id] as $category_id => $category) {
        if (CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && zen_count_products_in_category((int)$categories->fields['categories_id']) == 0) {
          // skip empty or status off categories
          continue;
        }
        $category_link = $parent_link . $category_id;
        $result .= $this->child_start_string;
        if (isset($this->data[$category_id])) {

Then add the switch to the configuration table via the Tools ... Install SQL Patches ...

INSERT INTO configuration (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Categories with Inactive Products Status', 'CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE', '0', 'Hide Categories with Inactive Products?<br />0= off<br />1= on', 19, 30, 'zen_cfg_select_option(array(\'0\', \'1\'), ', now());

Setting this new setting in the Configuration ... Layout Settings ... for Categories with Inactive Products Status to 0 or OFF will NOT hide the empty Categories or Categories with all Products set to products_status = 0 and setting this to 1 or ON will hide them ...

[mikeel100]

It was a legitimate question...not intended to upset anyone. (DivaVocals)

I still do not see the point of showing categories when no active products are available. It is like having an empty cookie jar on the counter...very frustrating to open it up and see nothing in it when you were expecting to.

I was not implying that this be a ONE SIZE FITS ALL program...but I have been programming long enough to know that you can option yourself to death if you are not careful.

I fully appreciate the flexibility of this outstanding program and the people who make it possible! That is why I have followed this program steadily since 1.3.7.

Thanks for the code Ajeh and for appeasing everyone! You have been a tremendous help indoctrinating me into this program. Novice...maybe, but at least I am looking for ways to improve.

[DivaVocals]

It was a legitimate question...not intended to upset anyone. (DivaVocals)

I still do not see the point of showing categories when no active products are available. It is like having an empty cookie jar on the counter...very frustrating to open it up and see nothing in it when you were expecting to.

I was not implying that this be a ONE SIZE FITS ALL program...but I have been programming long enough to know that you can option yourself to death if you are not careful.

I fully appreciate the flexibility of this outstanding program and the people who make it possible! That is why I have followed this program steadily since 1.3.7.

Thanks for the code Ajeh and for appeasing everyone! You have been a tremendous help indoctrinating me into this program. Novice...maybe, but at least I am looking for ways to improve.

Not upset.. **SMH** However IMHO this is a place where an option makes sense.. I have clients who have business reasons why they support either option.. glad Ajeh was on the case!

[Ajeh]

You guys are welcome ...

While I would consider the loss of spiders not finding the Category when disabled and good Category description can help get the Products spidered ... I can also see the desire for this feature ...

But, to each their own, hence the switch ...

[DivaVocals]

you guys are welcome ...

While i would consider the loss of spiders not finding the category when disabled and good category description can help get the products spidered ... I can also see the desire for this feature ...

But, to each their own, hence the switch ...

exactly!!!!

[mc12345678]

You guys are welcome ...

While I would consider the loss of spiders not finding the Category when disabled and good Category description can help get the Products spidered ... I can also see the desire for this feature ...

But, to each their own, hence the switch ...

And as provided the switchis currently a simple on/off, it could even be expanded to a multi-level type switch to activate each of the above modifications differently. Though with the number of locations touched I would advise against trying to consider every potentiaal combination of settings as I would aalso guess that some shouldn't be disabled without another...

Anyways, just thinking about how far a "fix" can go. Like it though seems relatively simple. :)

[mikeel100]

Made changes as instructed above.

The Categories Sidebox has no categories showing...I think a closing bracket (}) is missing somewhere but not sure. I have 100,000 products in 2300+ categories with 11 top level categories. None are showing...just the Featured, All, New, and Specials Links.

Site Map - I get a 500 server error.

The center box area categories / subcategories appear to be working.

Category Tabs (top of main page) appears to be working.

I triple checked the code to make sure it is exactly as you suggested :-)

[mikeel100]

if (CATEGORIES_PRODUCTS_INACTIVE_HIDE == 1 && zen_count_products_in_category((int)$categories->fields['categories_id']) == 0) {
//skip empty or status off categories
continue;
}

FYI...If you remove the second code change(quote above) in the includes/classes/site_map.php file, the sitemap does hide the products without any quantities.

Not sure what Ajeh was trying to accomplish with this other code...may affect something I am totally unaware of.

All of Ajeh's recommended code changes are working in 1.5.5a...sideboxes unknown since I do not use them.