Product Finder: multiple category drop-downs

kk4uga:

I am in the beginning stages of building a truck accessories website. Eventually, we will have thousands of parts.

I have installed ZC, bought a business template from 12leaves and had the "product finder" module installed.

But looking at the admin panel and reading the forums for advice, it seems that creating an accessories/parts site will be tedious. For one, I can't figure out the category/subcategory structure I want to use.

Any advice?

If you look in the sidebox folder of the product finder mod the zencart_cat.jpg shows a example of how to break down you cats.

For your application I would arrange it like something like this:

Product(0)-All of your product would go here.

Manufacturer(1) (vehicle manufacturer) -->

Sub Cat of 1 -Model (2)(model of vehicle)-->

Sub Cat of 2- Year (3)(years that the parts fit)--> Linked Product goes here.

This could be a great add-on for my site....if I can wrap my noggin around the basics of course.:D

I'm going to try this on my local host first to make sure I get it right.

So onto the questions.

Right now I've got 20-something categories and most have sub-cats as well. Do I set up new new sub cats that contain the make, then model, then year?

I've looked at the *product finder.php *file and have found where the master category number is added.

unction zen_get_category_tree($parent_id = '3', $category_tree_array = '')
So I can replace the "3" with* one *of the category ID numbers from list of categories....but what about all of the other categories I have?

I'm not seeing where to add the sub-cats either.

Maybe I need more coffee....:unsure:

Serious:

This could be a great add-on for my site....if I can wrap my noggin around the basics of course.:D

I'm going to try this on my local host first to make sure I get it right.

So onto the questions.

Right now I've got 20-something categories and most have sub-cats as well. Do I set up new new sub cats that contain the make, then model, then year?

I've looked at the *product finder.php *file and have found where the master category number is added.

So I can replace the "3" with* one *of the category ID numbers from list of categories....but what about all of the other categories I have?

I'm not seeing where to add the sub-cats either.

Maybe I need more coffee....:unsure:
You make a 'Master catergory' folder. For example I will use car realted infoas that is what I have. My master folder is 'All.' This is the catergory you use for the catergory ID (This will find the folders to populate the drop down). Then you build the folders inside that master folder. And then each sub catergory goes inside that folder

My looks like this

(Mater) All

(Catergory)
-Nissan

(Sub Catergory)
--240sx
(Sub-Sub Catergory)
---1990
---1991
---1992
---1993

(Sub Catergory)
--maxima
(Sub-Sub Catergory)
---1990
---1991
---1992
---1993

(Sub Catergory)
--versa
(Sub-Sub Catergory)
---1999
---2000
---2001
---2002

-ford
-Toyota, etc

So you make one master folder (I called mine 'ALL') , then inside that you make the first level catergories folders (eg: Nissan, Ford, etc). Then inside EACH one of thes you make the sub catergories (mine is the car make - sentra, 240sx, versa, maxima). Then again inside EACH of those you mae the 3rd level Sub Sub catergory (mine is the vehcile year - 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993). Then you link EVERY product you have the matches those catergories. So in the Nissan - Sentra - 1990 folder I listed EVERY part I have that will fit that car.

Everything you input should have it's own folder. That is how the finder knows where to search.

Does that makes sense? Sometimes I ramble! :P

Might not be possible for my site then.

My vendor has the make/model/year info in the product description and not as seperate entries on the spreadsheet I get from them. I'll have to ask if they have another spreadheet with the correct info in seperate fields.

Serious:

Might not be possible for my site then.

My vendor has the make/model/year info in the product description and not as seperate entries on the spreadsheet I get from them. I'll have to ask if they have another spreadheet with the correct info in seperate fields.
Thats fine. It's all about how you link them. You info can have anything you want in it but if you link them it is fine. YOU just need to know what product goes where. For example, if I wanted to I could have it so that when a person Searches Nissan, 240sx, 1990 it would return the parts for a Mazda, Protege, 2008 a long as I link the mazda product to that file.

It takes ALOT of work but if you want to do it, it can be done.

How many products are we talking about here?

10k parts......

I need a couple asprin.

Serious:

10k parts......

I need a couple asprin.
I know the feeling... I do a little each day. I have hit almost 15k so far and still counting

You should also look into Categories manger in the free downloads section. Helps out great!!

This one?
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=1854

Alrighty...Doesn't look to be as bad as I thought is it was going to be. After playing around on my local site it seems fairly straight forward.

From what I can tell so far the hardest part is going to be creating the subcats for all of the various makes,models, & years. I've sent an email to my supplier asking for a spreadsheet based on those parameters. If I can get it from them this process should go a lot faster.

Once again I'm amazed the level of knowledge and support here.

A huge Thanks to all of you folks.:clap:

Personally I think the hard part is the linking all the products, but if you can get a spreadsheet from your supplier with thatbroken down.. WAY TO GO.. and tell me the supplier :P. none of mine are that helpful!

Well I did get a new file fom my vendor, but it's a DCi file (?).

I opened it in Excel and it doesn't contain the info I was expecting. Looks completely worthless at this point.:censored:

For the SIDE BOX OPTION

You have to tell the code which top-level category to start from.

In /includes/functions/extra_functions/product_finder_sidebox.php

around line 56 look for

function zen_get_category_tree($parent_id = '99', $category_tree_array = '') {

The 99 is my top-level category, change it to yours.

How do we find out what ours is.

Go into your admin and into your catalog. Find the top level catergory you want to use and there should be a number listed next to it. That is your number

outeredge2:

Go into your admin and into your catalog. Find the top level catergory you want to use and there should be a number listed next to it. That is your number

I actually have three top categories. Is there a way to set it up to where the first choice allows you to choose the first three first? Or do I need to create a single category and then throw those three categories undereanth it?

NM. I set up ONE master category and threw my other categories in it BUT when I go to the site and pick a category the second drop down doesn't do anythnig.

Is this strictly based on years, make and model?

Here is how I have mine set up

MASTER CATEGORY

FIRST CHOICE DROP DOWN - [GM, FORD, MOPAR]
SECOND CHOICE ARE ACTUALLY JUST MODELS SO SAY WE PICKED GM

THEN GM WOULD HAVE UNDERNEATH IT

NOVA, CHEVELLE, ETC.

THEN THE THIRD CHOICE, SAY WE PICKED NOVA

THE THIRD CHOICE WOULD HAVE

ENGINES, TIRES, AND WHEELS
AND WHEN YOU PICKED SAY ENGINES, THEN THE PARTS WOULD SHOW UP ON THE MIDDLE SCREEN

No it isn't based on just the year, make, model. You should be able to do it as you have it.

Things to check:
Make sure all your categories are linked together so when you pick GM. everything under gm is linked to it. Then when you pick Nova, all years the car is made sho up. That was the mistake I made on my first one.

Check the script to ensure you uploaded it correctly.

Go into the admin/categories and check the path for all your items. In here you will best be able to see any issues.

outeredge2:

No it isn't based on just the year, make, model. You should be able to do it as you have it.

Things to check:
Make sure all your categories are linked together so when you pick GM. everything under gm is linked to it. Then when you pick Nova, all years the car is made sho up. That was the mistake I made on my first one.

Check the script to ensure you uploaded it correctly.

Go into the admin/categories and check the path for all your items. In here you will best be able to see any issues.

The script was uploaded right. Also how do I checknthe links are correct. Is there any other change I need to make otjer than stated in the instructions? If I created a sub category and products they should already be linked? There's nothing I really need to check? I guess whst I'm saying is 'check path and links' is what I dont get. I shouldnt have to. I create a cat, create a sub cat and put products. Its done for me or am I misundersyanding you

willie bee:

NM. I set up ONE master category and threw my other categories in it BUT when I go to the site and pick a category the second drop down doesn't do anythnig.

If you do not have any products in the end category the script will not work....

To make sure the category structure is correct I made some notes here for you....

MASTER CATEGORY

FIRST CHOICE DROP DOWN (inside the master category "folder") - [GM, FORD, MOPAR]
SECOND CHOICE ARE ACTUALLY JUST MODELS SO SAY WE PICKED GM

THEN GM WOULD HAVE UNDERNEATH IT

(inside the GM "folder") NOVA, CHEVELLE, ETC.

THEN THE THIRD CHOICE, SAY WE PICKED NOVA

THE THIRD CHOICE WOULD HAVE

(inside the NOVA "folder") ENGINES, TIRES, AND WHEELS
AND WHEN YOU PICKED SAY ENGINES, THEN THE PARTS WOULD SHOW UP ON THE MIDDLE SCREEN.

PRODUCTS WOULD THEN BE LOCATED, BY LINKING, IN THE ENGINES, TIRES, AND WHEELS FOLDER/CATEGORY.

mikestaps:

To make sure the category structure is correct I made some notes here for you....

MASTER CATEGORY

FIRST CHOICE DROP DOWN (inside the master category "folder") - [GM, FORD, MOPAR]
SECOND CHOICE ARE ACTUALLY JUST MODELS SO SAY WE PICKED GM

THEN GM WOULD HAVE UNDERNEATH IT

(inside the GM "folder") NOVA, CHEVELLE, ETC.

THEN THE THIRD CHOICE, SAY WE PICKED NOVA

THE THIRD CHOICE WOULD HAVE

(inside the NOVA "folder") ENGINES, TIRES, AND WHEELS
AND WHEN YOU PICKED SAY ENGINES, THEN THE PARTS WOULD SHOW UP ON THE MIDDLE SCREEN.

PRODUCTS WOULD THEN BE LOCATED, BY LINKING, IN THE ENGINES, TIRES, AND WHEELS FOLDER/CATEGORY.

That is how we have it. Basically our store was set up that way back in 2003. The directory structure was kept in tact. Nothing changed. We do have products underneat those categorys, it's like 15 thousand.