Easy Populate 1.2.5.4 support

[akalsha]

Hello,
I'm trying to import items using ep. I got a file from a site called Inventory Source that's supposed to work with ep and OSC, so I assumed it would work with Zen as well. When I try to import, I get this error:
SKIPPED! - Model: - Category name(s) too long (max. 32)
I don't know enough about these txt files to be able to figure out what the problem is, or to build my own from scratch. Is there an easy fix for this? Thank you.

[lmassia]

I downloaded EP 1.2.5.4 yesterday and everything was going fine, but I noticed when I try to use the "search" in my admin catalog that no products show up. How can I fix this?

[awhfy99]

Hello,
I'm trying to import items using ep. I got a file from a site called Inventory Source that's supposed to work with ep and OSC, so I assumed it would work with Zen as well. When I try to import, I get this error:
SKIPPED! - Model: - Category name(s) too long (max. 32)
I don't know enough about these txt files to be able to figure out what the problem is, or to build my own from scratch. Is there an easy fix for this? Thank you.

On your site, download a full EP text file and compare the top line of it to the top line of what you are trying to upload (you will need a spreadsheet program like Excel 97). The v_product_model is the first field (not an option) and is limited to 32 characters and it cannot be left blank. In osCommerce, there is a default of 18 (if I remember correctly) and your upload would not work there either. I can see a description being larger than 32 char. but not a model. If the fields are not in the correct sequence, use a spreadsheet and paste the data into their correct locations and save as a tab delimited text file before uploading.

If all else fails, go back to the website and look for some instructions.

[james739]

Hi, whenever I download my store file, some of the product descriptions get cut off. This mostly happens to descriptions with bullets. How can I fix this problem?

Thanks

[awev]

Hi, whenever I download my store file, some of the product descriptions get cut off. This mostly happens to descriptions with bullets. How can I fix this problem?

Thanks

Hello James,
What program are you using to open the file with? Crimson Editor can open a file with a line of up to 32K in length. Other programs, such as spreadsheets, may have a 256 charter limit per entry. A database program, such as MySQL, can declare a entry (field) as being the type of TEXT, what will allow up to 32 or 64K of data (text). Look a couple pages back on this forum for info on programs that don't have small limits, like 2K per item (one page of text). The issues where that EP inserts all of the attribute info for each item, and so the spreadsheets like Excel and OpenOffice would run out of rows.

One question - when you use bullets, do you use the html code to create the list with bullets, or do you use <tab>* so you don't have to type in 4 or 5 spaces, and still have it indented? The tab key inserts a tab charter, and a lot of times that is used as a field separator, and so EP may be putting the rest of the description in the next field, or discarding it - thinking that you have two or more items described, and only using the first.

[tj1]

I downloaded EP 1.2.5.4 yesterday and everything was going fine, but I noticed when I try to use the "search" in my admin catalog that no products show up. How can I fix this?

After adding new items you should go to Admin>Tools>Store Manager and use 'Reset ALL Products Master Categories ID'. You should also use Update ALL Products Price Sorter, so that price is sorted correctly.

[SteveKim]

Hi all, I have written a tutorial explaining the steps and processes involved with importing Attributes using easy populate - I hope it helps.

If there are miss understanding on my part leading to errors please forgive me, correct me then sue me ;)

• on that not I would like to say, BACKUP! then BACKUP AGAIN! any loss of data remains your loss NOT mine - I accept no liability whatsoever for any damage, harm or act of god resulting from you following this tutorial (Phew - close one)....
• ...Also, for a pretty version with tabular examples CLICK HERE

HOW TO: prepare and import an Attribute file using easy populate...

Login in to the backend of your website.

You should ensure that all options and attributes that may be used by any of the products you wish to import, have been created and are correct.

Select from the top menu: tools > Easy Populate

From the right column under Data Files, select Attributes - this will export the current attribute data from your site.

Select Save from the newly created attributes row within the table to save the attributes file to your computer.

You now have a popup window asking you to open/save the file… Save this file to a location on your computer then import this file into Excel (or equivalent) as a tab delimited file.

Reading and understanding the file format, row & columns….

Note: Within the new excel worksheet you will now see a set of headers on the first row (these should never be altered). Each subsequent row is the attribute details of a single product.

For each row, the columns read as follows…

PRODUCTS….

v_products_id = The products ID number... e.g: 375
v_products_model = The products Model number... e.g: 123987

The first two columns v_products_id & v_products_model identify the product you wish to add the attributes to. These columns are the products ID and the products model number.
The product ID is required, the model number is not – however it is a safeguard and should be included where possible.
.
.
.
.
Jayenne

Thanks Jayenne for your thoughtful effort to document all this.
I found your tutorial in search for the 'symtom' that I'm having that is, (please follow sequences below)
1. I've been successfully using Easy Populate to bulk upload all products fine.
2. Now I am trying to add 'size' attribute to all products, which I thought would be very simple.
3. Zen cart's Option Name Manager would not let me add to All products except when those All products have at least one option value already set.
4. So I decide to use Easy Populate to 'set' Size Option Name to all products. (I haven't read your tutorial yet to this point) I've linked v_products_model field from step #1 above and set v_attribute_options_id to 2, v_attribute_options_name_1_1 to size, v_attribute_values_id to 19, and v_attribute_values_name to 7. As I upload to my server, it gave updates were successful message.
5. But step #4 is not working regardless of the message. Products don't show the attribute, and it's not there from the Admin.
6. Now I have read your tutorial, and see that v_products_id is a requirement. Downloading from the admin panel of my current products did not give me the field.

Now my question is, does your tutorial applies only to the Advanced version? If so, is attributes functionality not available in standard version? Is there any workarounds?

Thanks in advance,

Steve Kim.

[awev]

Hello Steve Kim,
The advanced version of Easy Populate (EPA) is a commercial version and supported by the retailer, or the publisher. The instructions you quoted are for the basic Easy Populate, version 1.2.5.4, not the newer (and more buggy) version 2.7x.

Please keep in mind that these are generic instructions, that will work on the majority of systems. Unforutenitly, not all systems are set up the same. Some people may still be running version 1.28 of Zen Cart, while most of upgraded to version 1.37. Some hosting companies may still be running Apache 1.x/PHP 3.x, while most have made the switch to 2.2x/4.x. So, while the instructions are fine in a general sort of way, your mileage may very.

That doesn't mean we wont help, just that we will have to figure out what is happening. I am not the one with knowlge in this area, so I will leave the rest to someone else.

[SteveKim]

Hello Steve Kim,
The advanced version of Easy Populate (EPA) is a commercial version and supported by the retailer, or the publisher. The instructions you quoted are for the basic Easy Populate, version 1.2.5.4, not the newer (and more buggy) version 2.7x.

Please keep in mind that these are generic instructions, that will work on the majority of systems. Unforutenitly, not all systems are set up the same. Some people may still be running version 1.28 of Zen Cart, while most of upgraded to version 1.37. Some hosting companies may still be running Apache 1.x/PHP 3.x, while most have made the switch to 2.2x/4.x. So, while the instructions are fine in a general sort of way, your mileage may very.

That doesn't mean we wont help, just that we will have to figure out what is happening. I am not the one with knowlge in this area, so I will leave the rest to someone else.

You're right. I should've included what I had when asking if the tutorial was for the commercial version.

What I have is the non-commercial version 1.2.5.4. I basically need some help updating attributes (size) to all of my products - yes, one kind of product.

To summarize the problem, 1. EP does not update products_attributes table even with update success message is returned, and alongside 2. EP's download Model/Attributes tab delimited .txt file does not give me v_products_id field.

However, I've modified the easypopulate.php to include v_products_id fields, like so below, doing EP upload with v_products_id field present still did not update products_attributes table although EP's upload sucess message returns.

// VJ product attributes begin
 case 'attrib':
  $iii = 0;
  $filelayout = array(
   'v_products_id'    => $iii++,
   'v_products_model'    => $iii++
   );

Has anyone updated one's products' options using EP, as initial upload (no existing attributes/options)??

Thanks,

Steve Kim.

[gabbytwin]

Hi,
hope someone can help me with an easy way of listing the product at their NETT price with any taxes included.
I have a lot of products to go and edit prices with if I need to work out each one minus the taxes.
Any idea will be great , did a search and couldnt find anything