EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

Hi mc12345678,
The PDF file link is quite enlightening.
I was thinking maybe, if I understand EP4 correctly, a fairly user-friendly way would be to have an editable field in the "Upload EP file" section, and another in the "Filterable Exports" section.
Not sure how feasible it is to display the current used Locale information there, that could well give users a hint in case something goes wrong.
Aside: does EP4 handle BOM or only BOM-free CSV files?

gernot:

Hi mc12345678,
The PDF file link is quite enlightening.
I was thinking maybe, if I understand EP4 correctly, a fairly user-friendly way would be to have an editable field in the "Upload EP file" section, and another in the "Filterable Exports" section.
Not sure how feasible it is to display the current used Locale information there, that could well give users a hint in case something goes wrong.
Aside: does EP4 handle BOM or only BOM-free CSV files?
There is no additional processing performed to address a BOM, so would say BOM free. If can identify some resources that identify how to detect a BOM, then it could be relatively easily incorporated as a check. Otherwise, I've generally tried to stay away from asking the user to "know" the condition of the file and "remember" whether it needs to be specially treated or not at least on a case by case basis. Otherwise, the thought has been that some sort of "routine" is established for processing.

As to the "location(s)" upload puts the file on the server, import is where the file is processed and where the setting most likely applies, though by that point the upload may have occurred moments ago or at some point in the distant past... For those cases the file may need to be again downloaded and reviewed before again importing...

As far as exporting (filterable exports) seems I still need to review those links to see how it plays in the export process.

As for displaying in the information area on the right, if it can be detected, it can be displayed. :) so a definite consideration to show over there. Then it's just a matter of offering a control other than end users hard coding information to adjust/modify the setting for use in EP4.

Ah, of course, fgetcsv is only on import... silly me.
As for BOM, yes, apparently an issue when creating CSV files with, say, Microsoft Excel.
Example of detecting BOM (UTF-8) and removing it (first three bytes if they exist) to get to BOM-free UTF-8N:
https://qiita.com/PET_HAL/items/fd1364513f81562671b6
Also in the fgetcsv PHP manual page:
https://www.php.net/manual/en/function.fgetcsv.php
For BOMs for UTF-16 also:
https://github.com/fezfez/parsecsv-for-php/issues/23
Even PHP6 people are trying to get rid of BOM issues, heh:
https://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=22108

As a fellow community forum member, I wanted to provide some information to those using this in particular regarding the product type of music. Those that use the music product type or have repurposed it should know that the current plan for this product type as of about 4 hours ago is to fully remove it from Zen Cart 1.5.7 and beyond. I have not seen where a reason for its removal has been explained.

The pull request on github where this is initially slated to be removed is at: https://github.com/zencart/zencart/pull/2691

Perhaps the best place to discuss the importance of the product type is where its removal has been accepted by one of the core developers: https://github.com/zencart/zencart/issues/2596

Couple of things. As a forum member, likely you are a user of the Zen Cart software not just someone that does installations. If you didn't realize it, you have a voice in the current and future operation of Zen Cart. Now, that said, please use your professional voice. Changes, especially large spread ones tend to get made to address the needs expressed by the users. Take the opportunity to express your need for the product type and features that will be affected.

I personally don't think it offers value to indicate indifference or direct acceptance to its removal as I'm sure there are multiple features of Zen Cart that do not directly impact one or more individuals. This is an opportunity for those that use or need the capability or those that can clearly explain the problem of its presence to express their need and importantly WHY.

I don't yet know how that would impact this software considering it supports the music product type. I also do not know if some alternate plugin will be developed. I am providing a service message and asking that you as users step up and voice your need for the product type no matter how much you think you may be the only one...

Requests for improvement:

• can we get rid of the mysql_ functions? People should be using mysqli_ at this point. Users needing old functions can just download prior versions.
• similarly, can we get rid of the Zen Cart 1.3 stuff?
• the use of the constant EASYPOPULATE_4_CONFIG_MAX_QTY_DISCOUNTS seems unwise, since users may not know this value. The true number can be deduced by a query:
  select count(*) as c from products_discount_quantity group by products_id order by c desc limit 1;
• can we add the discount_price_w field when it exists to the price break discount?

easypopulate_4_export.php line 781 - using round with 2 for the price isn't right - you should look at the currency settings for the cart. Some people use 3 decimal places.

Please forgive me if this has already been addressed and feel free to send me to a specific post.

1.5.5f, php 5.6.4, version of easypopulate seems to be most recent.

I have a website that has several addon domains - all have zen cart and all are using this mod. In the addon domains which are in subfolders of the main domain, I can set the download directory to the site's root and it all works. I have had to set the primary domain to the admin folder instead like it's supposed to. No biggie but now that these sites have been upgraded to 1.5.5f, the primary domain does still export the files correctly but when you try to access the files, it says not found and they are there in the correct folder in admin.

I did find an htaccess file I must have put in long ago and removed it (without looking at it) but there is no change. Still can't "find" the file. The htaccess file for admin is not changed - using default 1.5.5f. The htaccess file for the primary domain does include the Ultimate SEO mod and a redirect for ssl.

What am I missing?

delia:

Please forgive me if this has already been addressed and feel free to send me to a specific post.

1.5.5f, php 5.6.4, version of easypopulate seems to be most recent.

I have a website that has several addon domains - all have zen cart and all are using this mod. In the addon domains which are in subfolders of the main domain, I can set the download directory to the site's root and it all works. I have had to set the primary domain to the admin folder instead like it's supposed to. No biggie but now that these sites have been upgraded to 1.5.5f, the primary domain does still export the files correctly but when you try to access the files, it says not found and they are there in the correct folder in admin.

I did find an htaccess file I must have put in long ago and removed it (without looking at it) but there is no change. Still can't "find" the file. The htaccess file for admin is not changed - using default 1.5.5f. The htaccess file for the primary domain does include the Ultimate SEO mod and a redirect for ssl.

What am I missing?
There's not really a "supposed" to directory, the placement or folder used is as necessary to support the desired functionality. The big change was that the specific location or path of the storage location would not be stored in the database so that the database could not be accessed to determine the folder location of the admin.

So there are two "settings" in the configuration area associated with the storage of the files. One is an indicator of whether the folder location is to be relative to the admin or the catalog, the other is the path from that choice. There is some detection performed upon data entry/selection to try not to store the folder name of the admin folder in the database.

Then, after that, the issues that are likely to occur are related to download depending on where the folder has been set and the path of "permission" (htaccess overlay). This means the htaccess in the folder(s) of and above the location of the storage location affect the ability to download the file. In a typical ZC store, there is no htaccess in the root, so if a folder were created off of the root/catalog of the store, then the file(s) likely could be downloaded without issue. If the folder is off of the admin folder then the admin's htaccess first provides direction with changes needed to be incorporated to support download of csv files.

So, basically, if you are able to create new files by export of data and able to import new files that are uploaded, then if there is a problem with download, the issue is properly providing access to get to the csv file from the Web browser and that is more of a server/permissions setup issue than with this plugin. To provide direct assistance would recommend identifying the server version information, the htaccess for the admin and possibly the htaccess for the images directory. With that information and assuming that uploads/downloads within those two areas work fine, then should be able to suggest a revised version that would work in the EP4 folder being used.

Thanks for reminding me of the second setting. When I changed it to a folder outside admin, it worked fine.

Does Easy Populate have the function to toggle an attribute on/off based on the selection value of another option?

GoldBuckle:

Does Easy Populate have the function to toggle an attribute on/off based on the selection value of another option?

May have to read this response a few times.

EP4 or any variation of such does not itself offer catalog side control of options. It interacts with the database to provide information (on import) to populate the database information. If there is a plugin that uses such data to control customer selection, then in that case the data imported will affect the customer's ability to select the product's attributes.

Such a plugin may be Stock By Attributes, available from https://github.com/mc12345678/Stock_By_Attributes_Combined

Using that plugin (or a similar commercial option) it is possible to indicate what attribute(s) become available based on selection of a previous attribute. In that regards, this plugin does support stocking attribute variants that are already defined. This population is currently supported for SBA. It is unknown if other such modules are supported as they have not been tested by me nor reported by others as supported.‎

GoldBuckle:

Does Easy Populate have the function to toggle an attribute on/off based on the selection value of another option?

Bear in mind that the selection of options occurs in the catalog when the customer is buying an item - this is completely separate from easy populate, which is an admin function that populates/updates the database.

swguy:

Bear in mind that the selection of options occurs in the catalog when the customer is buying an item - this is completely separate from easy populate, which is an admin function that populates/updates the database.
Okay I will check out Stock by Attributes, thanks!

Bulk import properties have not been successful, I made the csv table as follows

I manually added the property, after exporting, I changed the model number and want to import it to another product, suggesting that the import was successful, but the product has no display attributes.
“v_products_attributes_id” and “v_products_id” No values are filled in.
I just want to add attributes to the product based on the model.
how should I do?
I tested it on the default zencart system a lot and didn't find a way to use this plugin feature.

jiji2018:

Bulk import properties have not been successful, I made the csv table as follows

I manually added the property, after exporting, I changed the model number and want to import it to another product, suggesting that the import was successful, but the product has no display attributes.
“v_products_attributes_id” and “v_products_id” No values are filled in.
I just want to add attributes to the product based on the model.
how should I do?
I tested it on the default zencart system a lot and didn't find a way to use this plugin feature.

What is shown is the detailed attribute file. A basic attribute file must be used first to add the attributes to the product and the detailed attribute file then to set the additional properties.

The filename(s) for each are different and must follow the standard as described in the instructions.

I do have a question if this is possible.....

My warehouse DB uses the Excel or CSV format.

I tie my Excel DB with my Warehouse Excel DB.

I am using the =vlookup command when I use the product number and quantity from the warehouse excel DB and when I use my Excel DB some of my quantities says "N/A" when means either my warehouse doesn't carry that product anymore. When I upload the updated excel to to the it shows those products shows (0) quantities. Is it possible that the N/A can be automatically deleted from the database without me delete it from the database manually?

wmorris:

I do have a question if this is possible.....

My warehouse DB uses the Excel or CSV format.

I tie my Excel DB with my Warehouse Excel DB.

I am using the =vlookup command when I use the product number and quantity from the warehouse excel DB and when I use my Excel DB some of my quantities says "N/A" when means either my warehouse doesn't carry that product anymore. When I upload the updated excel to to the it shows those products shows (0) quantities. Is it possible that the N/A can be automatically deleted from the database without me delete it from the database manually?
Could you please clarify? When I first read the message I thought the request was to possibly delete the product from the database, but now it seems like may be asking to delete the text 'N/A' from the product's quantity.

If it is the deletion of 'N/A' I would say that the "better" option is to further use the formulas to detect if the value is N/A and use 0 when it is. The function ISNA supports that.

i have a custom field in products table called barcode(also known as UPC), when i export this field the values look like this 7.34995E+11, and it imports like this

jimmie:

i have a custom field in products table called barcode(also known as UPC), when i export this field the values look like this 7.34995E+11, and it imports like this

In what application does it change to that? I would not expect the CSV file downloaded from the server and opened with a plain text editor to look like that. If the spreadsheet program is used, then it appears that this column should be identified to be treated as text upon import rather than numbers if it allows.

i open it with microsoft excel