Stock by Attributes 5.0 Beta (for v1.5.0)

mc12345678:

So, Kevin, I don't know if you also watch the EP4 thread. http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?t=190417&goto=newpost
But, shortly after you posted the above question, someone else posted a similar question in that thread. Although it takes three data points to identify a trend, in many cases I respond on just two. As a result, I have been working on implementation of both a detailed and basic export/import using EP4 and the version of SBA that I have installed. (Again not sure which it really is, but once implemented shouldn't be extremely difficult to replicate for other versions).

I have it working for detailed report, though still have some tweaks to make the results more user understandable and to move away from using the stock_id number when writing back to the database.

But, that said and if you're at all familiar with github, you can go to chadderuski's github and then follow the branch to my version and download the latest available.

As I understand though, chadderruski is looking to push a significant change/update. In the meantime, I will also be rearranging my changes so that they can be easily integrated into his mods with minimal effort.

For now, the functionality of the detailed export/import is to affect quantities (and sort order if respected by output(s)) of items that already are being tracked by SBA. A basic SBA function is in the works to add tracking of stock of individually attributal product(s). So basically if you already have blue frames being tracked and want to adjust the quantity of them then you can do that with the updated code already presented (detailed SBA import/export, but if you want to add a new pink frame, then will have to wait for the new functionality (basic SBA import/export) or develop it on your own.

mc12345678 have you finished implementing the code for easy populate yet? I'm looking and waiting for easy populate 4 and Stock by Attributes to be able to work together showing the qty. Any update on this. I seem not to be able to find you on the github. Thank You

countrycharm:

mc12345678 have you finished implementing the code for easy populate yet? I'm looking and waiting for easy populate 4 and Stock by Attributes to be able to work together showing the qty. Any update on this. I seem not to be able to find you on the github. Thank You

I had/have implemented a detailed import/export of SBA data (works similar to a detailed attribute file in that existing SBA groupings can have their quantities revised, which I think is what you are asking about. There is one flaw in the coding if the EP4 associated with my account is used and SBA is not found to be installed (correction is in the EP4 forum thread).

Should see Easy Populate 4 on github if you go to htt p s://github com/mc12345678 (spaces removed)

Fyi, if the SBA table is not built as checked in the program and the bug corrected in the eP4 forum is not applied, then import of a file like a full_ep4 file will result in no data being imported. So if you think you have a properly formatted CSV file and it seems like data should be updated, but none is and no error code is provided, then without applying the very small patch, it means that the SBA table in your install (assuming it exists) is different than what the version of EP4 was modified for. If that is the case, please post issues associated with it on the EP4 thread.

mc12345678:

I had/have implemented a detailed import/export of SBA data (works similar to a detailed attribute file in that existing SBA groupings can have their quantities revised, which I think is what you are asking about. There is one flaw in the coding if the EP4 associated with my account is used and SBA is not found to be installed (correction is in the EP4 forum thread).

Should see Easy Populate 4 on github if you go to htt p s://github com/mc12345678 (spaces removed)

Fyi, if the SBA table is not built as checked in the program and the bug corrected in the eP4 forum is not applied, then import of a file like a full_ep4 file will result in no data being imported. So if you think you have a properly formatted CSV file and it seems like data should be updated, but none is and no error code is provided, then without applying the very small patch, it means that the SBA table in your install (assuming it exists) is different than what the version of EP4 was modified for. If that is the case, please post issues associated with it on the EP4 thread.

Thank you for you speedy response. You mean the bug fix
http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?190417-EasyPopulate-4-0-Support-Thread&p=1236718#post1236718

countrycharm:

Thank you for you speedy response. You mean the bug fix
http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?190417-EasyPopulate-4-0-Support-Thread&p=1236718#post1236718

Yes, without that fix, the modified version of EP4 will work on systems that have the SBA table setup as checked for, but will not import a report that is called/considered a full report, well actually now that I recall the logic, the core information for all imports won't work.

But yes, if you download the version I've modified, make the change referenced in the above link to the import file, then EP4 will work as it "normally" does. If the SBA table is setup as searched for, then a new option will appear on the main menu. If it is not setup as "expected" then no SBA menu option will be available. If that is the case, then it could be made so, but I didn't want to blindly implement that option if there were other details that needed to be understood to properly implement it.

Yes that fix. :P sorry. :)

mc12345678:

Yes, without that fix, the modified version of EP4 will work on systems that have the SBA table setup as checked for, but will not import a report that is called/considered a full report, well actually now that I recall the logic, the core information for all imports won't work.

But yes, if you download the version I've modified, make the change referenced in the above link to the import file, then EP4 will work as it "normally" does. If the SBA table is setup as searched for, then a new option will appear on the main menu. If it is not setup as "expected" then no SBA menu option will be available. If that is the case, then it could be made so, but I didn't want to blindly implement that option if there were other details that needed to be understood to properly implement it.

Yes that fix. :P sorry. :)

One more question if I can so kindly ask. Which Stock by Attributes mod needs to be installed. If this one in this thread I don't where to download it at. The link in here doesn't work anymore.
The link to your easy populate doesn't work either. htt p s://github com/mc12345678 (spaces removed)......lol

countrycharm:

One more question if I can so kindly ask. Which Stock by Attributes mod needs to be installed. If this one in this thread I don't where to download it at. The link in here doesn't work anymore.
The link to your easy populate doesn't work either. htt p s://github com/mc12345678 (spaces removed)......lol

You are correct that if followed word for word, one would still not be able to find me on github. :)

So, I believe it was the robophung version of SBA that I used, but on my install I had detached the special "wwindows" that would be auto updated based on quantity because that had not been fully developed. I guess I could through that version up onto github, though I don't know what the reason for robophung taking it offline was. Also, if you take a look at I think it is the functions file of EP4, there is a function similar to SBA_EP4Exists that inspects the number of columns and the titles of the columns. If they don't match with the fields in the routine then "SBA" doesn't exist. That was perhaps one of the "easiest" ways I could ensure that the table would be relatively "used" as expected.

So on the web address to be clear(er?) Remove/replace the spaces as necessary to restore the address to a valid web address. :P

mc12345678:

You are correct that if followed word for word, one would still not be able to find me on github. :)

So, I believe it was the robophung version of SBA that I used, but on my install I had detached the special "wwindows" that would be auto updated based on quantity because that had not been fully developed. I guess I could through that version up onto github, though I don't know what the reason for robophung taking it offline was. Also, if you take a look at I think it is the functions file of EP4, there is a function similar to SBA_EP4Exists that inspects the number of columns and the titles of the columns. If they don't match with the fields in the routine then "SBA" doesn't exist. That was perhaps one of the "easiest" ways I could ensure that the table would be relatively "used" as expected.

So on the web address to be clear(er?) Remove/replace the spaces as necessary to restore the address to a valid web address. :P

My client has this version installed creinold_SBA5.1_alpha_version1.5_for_zen_cart_V1.5.0 along with easy populate 4.
Not sure what version of easy populate they have installed.
So I'm just making sure one more time your version you updated will work before I install it on there site. :D

countrycharm:

My client has this version installed creinold_SBA5.1_alpha_version1.5_for_zen_cart_V1.5.0 along with easy populate 4.
Not sure what version of easy populate they have installed.
So I'm just making sure one more time your version you updated will work before I install it on there site. :D

While I don't plan on reviewing creinold's version or much of anything computer related the rest of the night, if you are able to identify the number of fields, the field names and the table "base name" (prefixes are addressed as appropriate). With the modification noted above it will work as EP4 normally does, and with an added export and import option to address the count of items maintained by SBA. If the quantity and type of the above matches, then thenew option will be present, if not, then it will work like EP4 normally does.

mc12345678:

While I don't plan on reviewing creinold's version or much of anything computer related the rest of the night, if you are able to identify the number of fields, the field names and the table "base name" (prefixes are addressed as appropriate). With the modification noted above it will work as EP4 normally does, and with an added export and import option to address the count of items maintained by SBA. If the quantity and type of the above matches, then thenew option will be present, if not, then it will work like EP4 normally does.

Thank you for all you have done so far. One more question and I'm done. Is there anyway you can send me the sba you have since it is no longer downloadable. I don't know why someone hasn't already uploaded it to zen cart.

Have a good weekend

countrycharm:

My client has this version installed creinold_SBA5.1_alpha_version1.5_for_zen_cart_V1.5.0 along with easy populate 4.
Not sure what version of easy populate they have installed.
So I'm just making sure one more time your version you updated will work before I install it on there site. :D

mc12345678:

While I don't plan on reviewing creinold's version or much of anything computer related the rest of the night, if you are able to identify the number of fields, the field names and the table "base name" (prefixes are addressed as appropriate). With the modification noted above it will work as EP4 normally does, and with an added export and import option to address the count of items maintained by SBA. If the quantity and type of the above matches, then thenew option will be present, if not, then it will work like EP4 normally does.

Besides, ideally tests should be made with an alternative/backup version of the site. That way problems can be identified on something other than a live store.

countrycharm:

Thank you for all you have done so far. One more question and I'm done. Is there anyway you can send me the sba you have since it is no longer downloadable. I don't know why someone hasn't already uploaded it to zen cart.

Have a good weekend

Buried I think it is in this thread, one of the other three/four, or yet another thread is a discussion on SBA outlining that ZC has basically stopped allowing the new addition of ever more SBA strains... There are too many out there now as it is, and it seems that not one of them "consolidates" all of the features and functionality of the others to give a consistent/uniform implementation.

I plan to upload the/a version that I obtained from this thread last year, but thing is I don't plan on maintaining it... Will be hard to keep saying that when/if continually asked, but I'd be posting it to allow the community to continue working on it. Something I have dreams of doing, but am working on a few other projects first and maintaining what little I've helped out on.

As for "the SBA I have" well, I started at one point to try to figure out which of the three or four versions I had installed, but got distracted as I think I had narrowed it down, but hadn't determined specifically which I had installed. So now as I upgrade through ZC versions, I just keep an eye out for SBA related code and incorporate it as applicable.

From what I have seen across the versions, it seems like the base framework of all SBA versions need some revamping. I could be wrong, but it seems like the table structure used to build the product variant quantities contains "too much" information and is not structured as it should be for a database dependent program such as ZC. It's all fine and dandy for me to say that, but implementation also is not/will not be fun. Will probably have to add a few handlers to be able to insert/retrieve the data in a format that remains understandable by the existing code, and then from there can improve on the code if any is needed.

Anyways, I'll try to get the copy of robophungs that I retrieved relatively "recently" before the link no longer worked up today in github.

mc12345678:

Buried I think it is in this thread, one of the other three/four, or yet another thread is a discussion on SBA outlining that ZC has basically stopped allowing the new addition of ever more SBA strains... There are too many out there now as it is, and it seems that not one of them "consolidates" all of the features and functionality of the others to give a consistent/uniform implementation.

I plan to upload the/a version that I obtained from this thread last year, but thing is I don't plan on maintaining it... Will be hard to keep saying that when/if continually asked, but I'd be posting it to allow the community to continue working on it. Something I have dreams of doing, but am working on a few other projects first and maintaining what little I've helped out on.

As for "the SBA I have" well, I started at one point to try to figure out which of the three or four versions I had installed, but got distracted as I think I had narrowed it down, but hadn't determined specifically which I had installed. So now as I upgrade through ZC versions, I just keep an eye out for SBA related code and incorporate it as applicable.

From what I have seen across the versions, it seems like the base framework of all SBA versions need some revamping. I could be wrong, but it seems like the table structure used to build the product variant quantities contains "too much" information and is not structured as it should be for a database dependent program such as ZC. It's all fine and dandy for me to say that, but implementation also is not/will not be fun. Will probably have to add a few handlers to be able to insert/retrieve the data in a format that remains understandable by the existing code, and then from there can improve on the code if any is needed.

Anyways, I'll try to get the copy of robophungs that I retrieved relatively "recently" before the link no longer worked up today in github.

Sounds good and we all appreciate your fine work and support you have given.

So I'm assuming my client is using the right version of SBA module.
After installing everything on my test site easy populate is adding another download link. I guess this is the right link.

Detailed Stock By Attributes Data (detailed multi-line)

countrycharm:

So I'm assuming my client is using the right version of SBA module.
After installing everything on my test site easy populate is adding another download link. I guess this is the right link.

Detailed Stock By Attributes Data (detailed multi-line)

At least it is a version that shouldn't be wrongly affected... :) At the very least you should be able to modify the available SBA quantities. Implementing the "Basic" import/export is actually a little more advanced than the "detailed" version, which is somewhat counter-intuitive unless you truly look at all that is going on in the process and it may be the differences in SBA modules that will change how the basic import/export is done, but in the meantime just about everything else can be done with EP4 and then the admin panel used to properly set the initial set of pattributes that will be tracked against the stock. :)

Hi

I have a lot of attributes for my products. I have set them a unique ID (code number) for each instance, but the ID doesn't appear on the order.

Is this normal, or are the custom Id's just for stock reference? Is there a way around this? Please advise.

Thanks in advance.

dharrison:

Hi

I have a lot of attributes for my products. I have set them a unique ID (code number) for each instance, but the ID doesn't appear on the order.

Is this normal, or are the custom Id's just for stock reference? Is there a way around this? Please advise.

Thanks in advance.

Not sure where this custom id you are referring to is, did you create another unique field, did you just happen to add more to the attribute text? Perhaps could share a web page link and a little bit of description about what special code we should expect to see? Could be that you don't have a setting turned on to display attributes in checkout, etc. Could be a template issue, could be that the orders.php file doesn't include that part of the order info. Help us, help you.

dharrison:

Hi

I have a lot of attributes for my products. I have set them a unique ID (code number) for each instance, but the ID doesn't appear on the order.

Is this normal, or are the custom Id's just for stock reference? Is there a way around this? Please advise.

Thanks in advance.

The description sounds like you are using the version supported in the thread: http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?47180-Stock-by-Attribute-v4-0-addon-for-v1-3-5-1-3-9&p=1237407#post1237407

If so, than in the "Configuration -> Stock" page, check your setting for "SBA Display Custom ID - Display Custom Id (if defined) in cart, checkout process and invoice. Options (True/False)"

potteryhouse:

The description sounds like you are using the version supported in the thread: http://www.zen-cart.com/showthread.php?47180-Stock-by-Attribute-v4-0-addon-for-v1-3-5-1-3-9&p=1237407#post1237407

If so, than in the "Configuration -> Stock" page, check your setting for "SBA Display Custom ID - Display Custom Id (if defined) in cart, checkout process and invoice. Options (True/False)"

Spot on! Thanks for your help.

mc12345678:

Buried I think it is in this thread, one of the other three/four, or yet another thread is a discussion on SBA outlining that ZC has basically stopped allowing the new addition of ever more SBA strains... There are too many out there now as it is, and it seems that not one of them "consolidates" all of the features and functionality of the others to give a consistent/uniform implementation.
Which should have happened YEARS ago.. Like the many confusing cross sell mods, SBA got forked and forked and forked again, and NOT ONE of these forks (IMHO) did anything to bring an overall IMPROVED product to the table.. Some of these forks were added by authors who do not understand what the concept of OPEN SOURCE means.. So they fork an add-on because they added some NEW feature.. (the "model number" version of SBA is GREAT example of this - StockByAttributes with my stock id)

Some folks fork add-ons because they don't want to "make the author mad" by submitting an update with their NEW feature included.. Some submit them because they want "top billing" for their plugin.. Whatever the reason it makes NO SENSE to fork something unless it TRULY takes the add-on dev in a NEW direction.. (adding the ability to assign a model number to a product variant is NOT one of those reasons)

Each one of these versions of SBA added some new feature that the contributor felt he "had to have" but instead of adding it to the BASE version they would create their NEW fork (Fork A).. many of these fork authors didn't address any of the BUGS in the version they were forking from. So they would submit their NEW forked version with their NEW feature, but would leave broken features in place in their fork..

Then someone else would come along and take Fork A version FIX some broken functionality and add new functionality and submit it as a yet another NEW fork (ie: Stock by Attributes 4.7Multiadd WITH TABLE FILTER ). Then yet another person would fix fork A, but not consolidate it with fork B or even better yet consolidate it with the BASE version.. In the meantime folks were updating the base, but not bringing in the features from the forks.. Then there were the versions that never made it to the plugins repository AT ALL..

Anyway I could go on, but it's has been the MESSIEST of all mods because all these forks diluted the whole, and provided HALF working versions to anyone who DARED install SBA.. Rubbish..

Thank goodness for the recent work on SBA by potteryhouse.. He has fixed issues with SBA, IMPROVED the functionality of SBA and CONSOLIDATED features from the "multi-add" and "stock ID" forks of SBA back into the BASE version of SBA!!! Which is how it should have been done in the first place and it renders the need to install these version moot.. Anyone coming here looking for the now defunct RoboPhung fork of SBA should use the latest version of SBA by potteryhouse instead..

DivaVocals:

Which should have happened YEARS ago.. Like the many confusing cross sell mods, SBA got forked and forked and forked again, and NOT ONE of these forks (IMHO) did anything to bring an overall IMPROVED product to the table.. Some of these forks were added by authors who do not understand what the concept of OPEN SOURCE means.. So they fork an add-on because they added some NEW feature.. (the "model number" version of SBA is GREAT example of this - StockByAttributes with my stock id)

Some folks fork add-ons because they don't want to "make the author mad" by submitting an update with their NEW feature included.. Some submit them because they want "top billing" for their plugin.. Whatever the reason it makes NO SENSE to fork something unless it TRULY takes the add-on dev in a NEW direction.. (adding the ability to assign a model number to a product variant is NOT one of those reasons)

Each one of these versions of SBA added some new feature that the contributor felt he "had to have" but instead of adding it to the BASE version they would create their NEW fork (Fork A).. many of these fork authors didn't address any of the BUGS in the version they were forking from. So they would submit their NEW forked version with their NEW feature, but would leave broken features in place in their fork..

Then someone else would come along and take Fork A version FIX some broken functionality and add new functionality and submit it as a yet another NEW fork (ie: Stock by Attributes 4.7Multiadd WITH TABLE FILTER ). Then yet another person would fix fork A, but not consolidate it with fork B or even better yet consolidate it with the BASE version.. In the meantime folks were updating the base, but not bringing in the features from the forks.. Then there were the versions that never made it to the plugins repository AT ALL..

Anyway I could go on, but it's has been the MESSIEST of all mods because all these forks diluted the whole, and provided HALF working versions to anyone who DARED install SBA.. Rubbish..

Thank goodness for the recent work on SBA by potteryhouse.. He has fixed issues with SBA, IMPROVED the functionality of SBA and CONSOLIDATED features from the "multi-add" and "stock ID" forks of SBA back into the BASE version of SBA!!! Which is how it should have been done in the first place and it renders the need to install these version moot.. Anyone coming here looking for the now defunct RoboPhung fork of SBA should use the latest version of SBA by potteryhouse instead..

Thank you Diva for the summary. Fortunately I didn't find a copy of the robophung version on the one computer I was looking in, and based on the above I will stop that search. Also, the mod I did for EP4, I will make corrections as necessary, including a note to appear suggesting that the above version be used in place of the one tested for if mods are identified in how I've written the additional code. (For others, this means that I will keep the existing code in place to support those that have come to use it and "refuse" to upgrade, but that the "new" version will be the one that will be incorporated.)

Timeline unknown, but this is the type of input I was hoping to hear. I realize that some of the above is opinion, but if it has been identified as the "fix" to some of the base issues then that is the direction I plan to assist with until something "better" is developed.