EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

[mc12345678]

I think there is a misunderstanding of what I'm trying to accomplish. I am trying to learn how to take a set of products/categories (including their detailed attributes info) from one store and add them to another store. So, as a first step in learning how to do this, for simplicity I tried in the above example to just go ahead and import all the products/categories including their detailed attributes and I failed.

So, maybe it is less confusing if I ask the direct question . . .

What is the procedure for getting a set of products including their detailed attributes from one store into another store?

Export the database of the old store (phpmyadmin), import the database into a new/equivalent (not older) store, upload zc_install for the version of the destination store. Access the new store using zc_install on the path, provide the admin credentials of the old store. Select database upgrade. That is the basic "upgrade" ones site instruction that is probably better described here.

If the other additional information is not desired, then would still suggest a similar process but use an intermediate "site" on which to upgrade the database, then to export the applicable product table data (multiple tables) and import to the new store (replacing existing content).

Otherwise up to the point of detailing the attributes with the extra data, EP4 at least carries over the "basics" of the product when trying to do such a move. The last step requires a bit of shuffling.

[Zean]

If the other additional information is not desired, then would still suggest a similar process but use an intermediate "site" on which to upgrade the database, then to export the applicable product table data (multiple tables) and import to the new store (replacing existing content).

Thank you. I apologize for not being clearer, but please allow me to continue to try. I asked, "What is the procedure for getting a set of products including their detailed attributes from one store into another store?"

To further clarify, they are both existing stores and both have existing products. So, I do not want to "replace existing content" nor destroy any content in the 2nd store. For clarity, let's call that store, "Store 2" instead of "new store," since it is not a new store.

Definitions -
Store 1 is the store with the desirable subset of products (many of which have attributes). I think of it as the "Donor store."
Store 2 is the store that wants to sell a subset of Store 1's products. I think of it as the "Recipient store."

What is the procedure for getting the set of products including their detailed attributes from Store 1 into another Store 2?

[mc12345678]

Thank you. I apologize for not being clearer, but please allow me to continue to try. I asked, "What is the procedure for getting a set of products including their detailed attributes from one store into another store?"

To further clarify, they are both existing stores and both have existing products. So, I do not want to "replace existing content" nor destroy any content in the 2nd store. For clarity, let's call that store, "Store 2" instead of "new store," since it is not a new store.

Definitions -
Store 1 is the store with the desirable subset of products (many of which have attributes). I think of it as the "Donor store."
Store 2 is the store that wants to sell a subset of Store 1's products. I think of it as the "Recipient store."

What is the procedure for getting the set of products including their detailed attributes from Store 1 into another Store 2?

So, I'm going to stick with describing how one could do this with EP4 at the moment. Another method that comes to mind would be to "simply" export the various attributes related tables and make changes to them to match up with what is available in store 2 and then import the new/revised data. Not what I would consider a quick task.

Regarding EP4. If store 1 has a unique model # for each product and the option names are unique (only one instance of the option name in all of the option names), then the import of the first two files has populated store 2 with all of the attributes of the product from store 1. What is missing though is the detail associated with each attribute. So, to update store 2's attribute details, a file has to be generated such that each of the four primary keys match an existing entry in the attributes table. So, how to accomplish this?

Here's what I see. It is possible at this point to export the detailed attributes from both store 1 (already have) and store 2. Each of these has text versions of the option names and option values names. The model number is whatever it is and the products_attributes_id is expected to be unique to each store.

So what I would do would be to sort the data in both detailed lists on three fields in the same "order" (either ascending or descending but make it the same on both spreadsheets) such that sorted by products_model, then option_name, and then option_value_name.
Then pick the method/location desired, but the goal is to eliminate from the list for store 2 any product that is not in store 1. This would be by a comparison of products_model. For now, also eliminate from store 1 any row that doesn't have a model #. (will have to address that separately because really that product never got uploaded to store 2, but at least the list should be small.)
Then begin moving entire rows as necessary such that the row in store 1 lines up with the row of store 2 by first comparing option names then option value names. Provided nothing "new" has been done with store 2, these should line up exactly.
Then once all have been lined up, copy the primary field data from store 2 over the data of the same field for store 1. Once all four columns are copied, save the file as the csv file to be uploaded and then imported into store 2.

Obviously through this process you'll want to save a backup of the file(s) to minimize any rework. Keep in mind the filenaming convention needed by the plugin.

And with that, the new file when uploaded and imported to store 2 should have store 2 with the same attributes and details of attributes as store 1.

[Zean]

And with that, the new file when uploaded and imported to store 2 should have store 2 with the same attributes and details of attributes as store 1.

Indeed! It worked! I would like to send a little love in the form of Bitcoin. Please let me know when you have a Bitcoin account so I can send it.
Thanks!

[mc12345678]

Indeed! It worked! I would like to send a little love in the form of Bitcoin. Please let me know when you have a Bitcoin account so I can send it.
Thanks!

Will do. And FYI I started an issue on github to try to do this programmatically when a detailed import fails so completely. Error handling will be interesting. considering as the file is parsed the error(s) are generated. The thought though is that if they don't work out in the end to go back and follow the above process "internally".

[Zean]

How do we get EP4 to export, import and update the sort order for categories, products and attributes display?
EP4 is already exporting, importing and updating these items but just isn't including the various sort order fields.
Please see attached spreadsheet which organizes the problem by showing the Zen Cart database fields that should be included in EP4 export, import and updating.
This is an extension of, What is the procedure for getting the set of products including their detailed attributes from Store 1 into another Store 2?

[mc12345678]

How do we get EP4 to export, import and update the sort order for categories, products and attributes display?
EP4 is already exporting, importing and updating these
items but just isn't including the various sort order fields.
Please see attached spreadsheet which organizes the problem by showing the Zen Cart database fields that should be included in EP4 export, import and updating.
This is an extension of, What is the procedure for getting the set of products including their detailed attributes from Store 1 into another Store 2?

For categories, you would need to use the category related downloads which are not in your list of the spreadsheet.

For attributes, ultimately should state please revisit the instructions, but the sort order at least for option values is in a series of 10 value increments for each individual option value added to the option name. I also see in the import code that there are several sort order import fields that are available for the above orders of concern. The products_attributes sort order is primarily important for the store front as it is the sort order applied there that will determine how ZC default attribute handling is controlled when sort order is applied.

[Zean]

This is conceptually trivial. I just want EP4 to include all the SORT ORDER fields which are associated with some of the fields EP4 is already including. That's it.

Let's review.
EP4 exports, imports and updates certain data related to categories, products and attributes. However,
EP4 DOES NOT export and/or import and/or update the complete set of SORT ORDER fields for categories, products and attributes which control the display sort order of categories, products and attributes in the Zen Cart store.

1. Using EP4 "Filterable Exports:" "Download Type" of "Complete Product" EP4 exports a Full-EPyyyymmmdd-tttttt.csv file.
Among the fields (columns) that are exported is v_categories_name_1
Unfortunately (and mysteriously) the SORT ORDER field associated with v_categories_name_1 (i.e., categories.sort_order) is not exported. Therefore, I want it to be exported so when I use EP4 "input" "full data file" the sort order field associated with v_categories_name_1 is also imported.

2. Using "Attribute Export/Import Options" "Basic Products Attributes (basic single-line)" EP4 exports an Attrib-Basic-EPyyyymmmdd-tttttt.csv file.

Among the fields (columns) exported are v_products_options_type, v_products_options_name_1, and v_products_options_values_name_1
Unfortunately, and mysteriously, the SORT ORDER field associated with these 3 fields (i.e., products_options.products_options_sort_order, products_options_values.products_options_values_sort_order, and products_options.products_options_sort_order) are not exported. Therefore, I want them to be exported so when I use EP4 "input" "attrib-basic-ep" the sort order field associated with v_products_options_type, v_products_options_name_1, and v_products_options_values_name_1 are also imported.


3. Using "Attribute Export/Import Options" "Detailed Products Attributes (detailed multi-line)" EP4 exports an Attrib-Detailed-EPyyyymmmdd-tttttt.csv file.

Among the fields (columns) exported are v_products_options_type, v_products_options_name, and v_products_options_values_name
Unfortunately, and mysteriously, the SORT ORDER field associated with these 3 fields are not exported. Therefore, I want them to be exported so when I use EP4 "input" "attrib-detailed-ep" their associated sort order fields are also imported.
Note: Interestingly, EP4 does export the sort order for products_options (i.e., v_products_options_sort_order) but,mysteriously, not the other sort order fields.

I thought I would just add the SORT ORDER fields to the various areas areas of EP4 code in files:
1. easypopulate_4_export.php
2. easypopulate_4_filelayout.php
3. easypopulate_4_attrib.php
4. easypopulate_4_import.php

Alas, I can't figure out how to do it. So I'm going to have to give up on EP4 unless someone comes to the rescue.

How do we get EP4 to export, import and update the sort order for categories, products and attributes display?
EP4 is already exporting, importing and updating these items but just isn't including the various sort order fields.
Please see attached spreadsheet which organizes the problem by showing the Zen Cart database fields that should be included in EP4 export, import and updating.
This is an extension of, What is the procedure for getting the set of products including their detailed attributes from Store 1 into another Store 2?