EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

Hiya MC12345678!!!

Fresh install of EP4 on clean install of Zen 1.5.8 and php 8.1:

First issue I had was the blank page... made the private to public change noted above in query factory but it did not fix blank page.
Checked error logs and there is some issue with ep4 error logging folder...

So I un-commented line 97 of easypopulate_4.php:

 $ep_debug_logging_all = false; // do not comment out.. make false instead This is now controlled from admin.

and was able to run the EP4 installer.

I created a couple directories and test products with sub-categories manually.
Exported a FULL EP4 file, and turned around and was able to import and all "updated" correctly.

I then manually deleted these products and categories from the admin and re-ran the import and received this:

SKIPPED! - v_products_model: TEST_Model - No category provided for this new product
SKIPPED! - v_products_model: TEST_Model_2 - No category provided for this new product

Haven't looked any deeper yet. I'm going to have to sweep the cobwebs out of my brain and look at the code again. Been quite a few years since you adopted EP4! Glad to see you are still taking good care of it!

Almost 3500 posts! Holy Cow!

chadderuski:

Almost 3500 posts! Holy Cow!
Yep, it's popular and complicated. The best way to help at this point (moving into 1.5.8) is to post in github witht the following in mind:

Describe the bugA clear and concise description of what the bug is.
Be sure to explain the business problem that this bug is affecting.

Version
Zen Cart version:
PHP version:
MySQL version:
Plugins that may be related:
What older/newer versions were also tested?

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce/demonstrate the behavior:

1. Go to '...'
2. Click on '....'
3. Scroll down to '....'
4. See such-and-such

Expected behavior
A clear and concise description of what the bug is preventing from happening correctly.
It's helpful also to explain why what you expected to happen is important. (eg: is this a "software bug" or a "this bugs me" situation?)

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain.

Debug/Error Logs
Include debug logs containing PHP and/or MySQL error details. These are often found in your /logs/ directory as myDebug-xxxxx.log files.

Devices (please complete the following information):

• Operating System: [e.g. Windows, Mac, Android, iOS]
• Browser [e.g. chrome, firefox] and version number

Additional context
Add any other context about the problem here.

chadderuski:

Hiya MC12345678!!!

Fresh install of EP4 on clean install of Zen 1.5.8 and php 8.1:

First issue I had was the blank page... made the private to public change noted above in query factory but it did not fix blank page.
Checked error logs and there is some issue with ep4 error logging folder...

So I un-commented line 97 of easypopulate_4.php:

$ep_debug_logging_all = false; // do not comment out.. make false instead This is now controlled from admin.

> 
> and was able to run the EP4 installer.
> 
> I created a couple directories and test products with sub-categories manually. 
> Exported a FULL EP4 file, and turned around and was able to import and all "updated" correctly.
> 
> I then manually deleted these products and categories from the admin and re-ran the import and received this:
> 
> SKIPPED! - v_products_model: TEST_Model - No category provided for this new product
> SKIPPED! - v_products_model: TEST_Model_2 - No category provided for this new product
> 
> Haven't looked any deeper yet. I'm going to have to sweep the cobwebs out of my brain and look at the code again. Been quite a few years since you adopted EP4! Glad to see you are still taking good care of it!
> 
> Almost 3500 posts! Holy Cow!

Yeah, bad assembly of a distribution package. 

I was going to make all language based fields default to using the language code (en, es, de, etc.) Then realized how much trouble that would cause existing users, so went back in the code to default to language id (1, 2, 3, etc), but the sql install has already been set to default to language code basically. 

Essentially, ensure alignment with language import configuration settings with what you have or want to have in your import file. There is also an export setting about how the fields will be titled (code, id, or both). It's been made versatile, but has a known initial installation problem to be fixed on the next update.

dbltoe:

Yep, it's popular and complicated. The best way to help at this point (moving into 1.5.8) is to post in github witht the following in mind:

The quoted text of the above message is absolutely appropriate to report the associated issue; however, one could claim that the design of this module is why it is an issue and something I expect response to indicate that the module should either be revamped or dismissed. The central issue though is that the Zen Cart 1.5.8 redesign prohibits the use of any mysqli_xxx code that requires the mysql object of the database using the associated database. Based on the writeup by the individual that submitted the PR, reason and consideration as to why any of those features might be considered necessary or concerns of making the member public as compared to offering an access method to the member.

Hello,

I'm running ZC 1.5.7d and php 7.4. Everything about EASYPOPULATE looks like it works correctly, except I cannot seem to successfully import the edited changes to the "v_products_name_1" column, which are the product titles.

The import message shows no errors - everything imports, but the product titles don't reflect the edits made to the CSV.

Has anyone else encountered this problem or can suggest where to start looking to resolve this?

Thanks in advance!

RoboPhung:

Hello,

I'm running ZC 1.5.7d and php 7.4. Everything about EASYPOPULATE looks like it works correctly, except I cannot seem to successfully import the edited changes to the "v_products_name_1" column, which are the product titles.

The import message shows no errors - everything imports, but the product titles don't reflect the edits made to the CSV.

Has anyone else encountered this problem or can suggest where to start looking to resolve this?

Thanks in advance!

There are always a number of reasons that something may have gone wrong. Generally it is because of the configuration of something or another. Best to start with is to show the configuration settings for EP4 and identify the name of the file being used to import

mc12345678:

There are always a number of reasons that something may have gone wrong. Generally it is because of the configuration of something or another. Best to start with is to show the configuration settings for EP4 and identify the name of the file being used to import

Thank you for the quick reply. These are my Easypopulate settings:

Uploads Directory eptemp/ Info
Upload File Date Format m-d-y Info
Default Raw Time 09:00:00 Info
Upload/Download Prices Include Tax false Info
Verbose Feedback true Info
Make Zero Qty Products Inactive false Info
Smart Tags Replacement of Newlines true Info
Advanced Smart Tags false Info
Debug Logging true Info
Maximum Quantity Discounts 3 Info
Split On Number of Records 2000 Info
Script Execution Time 60 Info
Convert Curly Quotes, etc. 0 Info
Convert Character 0x92 1 Info
Enable Products Meta Data 0 Info
Enable Products Music Data 0 Info
User Defined Products Fields Info
Uploads Directory Admin/Catalog true Info
Import/Export Primary Key products_model Info
Import Language Override language_code_only Info
Import/Export CSV Delimiter , Info
Export Language Identifier id Info
Export Price Decimals 2 Info
Export Filename Date Y-m-d Info
Show all EP4 Filetypes with Files true Info
Replace Blank Image false Info
Activate Blank Featured true Info
Remove Blank Specials negative Info
Auto-extend fields false Info
Export URI with Prod and or Cat 0

I should have expanded my original post and explain that the other numerical fields in the CSV, such as product weight, and stock quantity, can update via EASYPOPULATE successfully when I modify these values in the CSV. The only field that doesn't update, and does not show any error or warning messages after import is the v_products_name_1 field.

RoboPhung:

Thank you for the quick reply. These are my Easypopulate settings:

Uploads Directory eptemp/ Info
Upload File Date Format m-d-y Info
Default Raw Time 09:00:00 Info
Upload/Download Prices Include Tax false Info
Verbose Feedback true Info
Make Zero Qty Products Inactive false Info
Smart Tags Replacement of Newlines true Info
Advanced Smart Tags false Info
Debug Logging true Info
Maximum Quantity Discounts 3 Info
Split On Number of Records 2000 Info
Script Execution Time 60 Info
Convert Curly Quotes, etc. 0 Info
Convert Character 0x92 1 Info
Enable Products Meta Data 0 Info
Enable Products Music Data 0 Info
User Defined Products Fields Info
Uploads Directory Admin/Catalog true Info
Import/Export Primary Key products_model Info
Import Language Override language_code_only Info
Import/Export CSV Delimiter , Info
Export Language Identifier id Info
Export Price Decimals 2 Info
Export Filename Date Y-m-d Info
Show all EP4 Filetypes with Files true Info
Replace Blank Image false Info
Activate Blank Featured true Info
Remove Blank Specials negative Info
Auto-extend fields false Info
Export URI with Prod and or Cat 0

I should have expanded my original post and explain that the other numerical fields in the CSV, such as product weight, and stock quantity, can update via EASYPOPULATE successfully when I modify these values in the CSV. The only field that doesn't update, and does not show any error or warning messages after import is the v_products_name_1 field.

It normally also helps to also know what other fields are in the import file, but I already can sort the issue based on the five or six ways that it has been described over as many or more page threads.

Change: Import Language Override language_code_only Info

Literally to any other value. Right now it only imports language type fields that are provided using the two letter language code. What is provided in your import file is the language field using the language_id. As recently described to chadderuski (basically the original developer of EP4) there is an alignment to be had between what is to be imported and what is allowed to be imported. I changed the plan on mid distribution development. The default setting for that option should have been: language_id_only.

mc12345678:

It normally also helps to also know what other fields are in the import file, but I already can sort the issue based on the five or six ways that it has been described over as many or more page threads.

Change: Import Language Override language_code_only Info

Literally to any other value. Right now it only imports language type fields that are provided using the two letter language code. What is provided in your import file is the language field using the language_id. As recently described to chadderuski (basically the original developer of EP4) there is an alignment to be had between what is to be imported and what is allowed to be imported. I changed the plan on mid distribution development. The default setting for that option should have been: language_id_only.

Thank you! This worked. Sorry, I should have poured over the thread more carefully since the solution has already been talked about.

Thanks again for your quick replies and help!

*ZC 1.5.8
is our beloved plugin ready for this? i can't seem to get it to work under **ZC 1.5.8 and php8.1

*

kernheimer:

*ZC 1.5.8
is our beloved plugin ready for this? i can't seem to get it to work under **ZC 1.5.8 and php8.1

*

There are two known issues with the software grouping. One has been heavily discussed (but not truly publicly corrected because a new version hasn't been issued) the other as a result of how EP4, for previously described reasons, still uses base php/mysqli query calls instead of solely using $db methods.

For the 1.5.8 issue, see the file change(s) of Pull Request 5486, this was described/discussed in this post and that change is expected remain a part of ZC 1.5.8x to first appear in 1.5.8a. For the other (only an issue in upgrading EP4 to the version current as of today), perhaps one way to understand the situation is through this post or this post, though there are (multiple) others over the last year or so that direct the same action with a different explanation.

mc12345678:

Yeah basically in the class declaration for asking the database to do something, one of the variables has been made private and no helper function has been provided for the variable declared at the following link.

https://github.com/zencart/zencart/blob/9910e3d1aa80466f9d59afb53ae494849a2bda8c/includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php#L22

Could possibly apply the following untested change:

From

private $link; // mysqli object

> To
> ```
    public $link; // mysqli object

That again is to modify the catalog file: includes/classes/db/mysql/query_factory.php

Will generate a github issue after further evaluation of the situation. Obviously there are other ways to interface with the Zen Cart code which could include development or copying of the same class file for use with EP4, rewrite of EP4 code, additional code in the Zen Cart core code or perhaps the above change.
For those that may have had interest in the "detail" of the above, an issue was opened on the Zen Cart Github site with the above offered as a solution that was incorporated and is expected in Zen Cart 1.5.8a or whatever next Zen Cart release. For further understanding of the issue, may I suggest reading some of the PR "background" related to the proposed change.

mc12345678:

For those that may have had interest in the "detail" of the above, an issue was opened on the Zen Cart Github site with the above offered as a solution that was incorporated and is expected in Zen Cart 1.5.8a or whatever next Zen Cart release. For further understanding of the issue, may I suggest reading some of the PR "background" related to the proposed change.

Dear mc12345678
I'm just finding it hard to read. my dyslexia comes running to me like a little child ...
i know you all do so much to get / keep it all up to date... but reading in english is not so my best subject :(
Eugénie

kernheimer:

Dear mc12345678
I'm just finding it hard to read. my dyslexia comes running to me like a little child ...
i know you all do so much to get / keep it all up to date... but reading in english is not so my best subject :(
Eugénie

Understand. For confirmation are you able to tell the difference between red and green? The code change to the Zen Cart 1.5 8 software needed for operation is at this link: https://github.com/zencart/zencart/pull/5486/files

The first highlighted text is red and has a dash of negative sign on the left side. That is what is the "problem" below that is green text with a plus. That is the code needed.

I can describe differently if still request.

Friends, I'm using version v1.5.5e. (yeah, I know...) but I have like 50 sites and upgrading is going to be a massive undertaking, so I'm still there. Until a few days ago, this mod worked perfectly, has worked perfectly for years. Now I'm getting this error each time I choose "easy populate 4" from my tools menu:

Any ideas what may have changed on my hosting server perhaps? This behavior is consistent across ALL of my sites, and has been this way for several days. Everything else is working fine on the site.

cindygordon:

Friends, I'm using version v1.5.5e. (yeah, I know...) but I have like 50 sites and upgrading is going to be a massive undertaking, so I'm still there. Until a few days ago, this mod worked perfectly, has worked perfectly for years. Now I'm getting this error each time I choose "easy populate 4" from my tools menu:

Any ideas what may have changed on my hosting server perhaps? This behavior is consistent across ALL of my sites, and has been this way for several days. Everything else is working fine on the site.

Check, or ask you host to check, modsecurity rules. They have have been updated. A 503 error will happen if modsecurity is blocking the action. There are, of course, many other reasons for a 503, but I have seen this happen.

cindygordon:

Friends, I'm using version v1.5.5e. (yeah, I know...) but I have like 50 sites and upgrading is going to be a massive undertaking, so I'm still there. Until a few days ago, this mod worked perfectly, has worked perfectly for years. Now I'm getting this error each time I choose "easy populate 4" from my tools menu:

Any ideas what may have changed on my hosting server perhaps? This behavior is consistent across ALL of my sites, and has been this way for several days. Everything else is working fine on the site.

Check your logs directory to see what if any debug logs were generated while attempting access. If posting the content here, remember that the admin directory will be present and should be obscured.

Also, if the housing company for all sites is the same, they may be having a particular issue besides s what was previously suggested.

Hello my Zen Cart version is 1.5.5e and using EasyPopulate 4.0.37.13 and have used EP for years without issue. For reasons unknown to me I can no longer import new products getting the error SKIPPED! - v_products_model: ??? - No category provided for this new product the categories heading in my csv file is v_categories_name_1 and is in the 27th column of my csv file or AA if using Excel. If I export Complete Products (with Metatags) the columns are identical. I do have categories entered in the column ... they are not blank and named correctly. What am I doing wrong.
Thanks in advance.

allmart:

Hello my Zen Cart version is 1.5.5e and using EasyPopulate 4.0.37.13 and have used EP for years without issue. For reasons unknown to me I can no longer import new products getting the error SKIPPED! - v_products_model: ??? - No category provided for this new product the categories heading in my csv file is v_categories_name_1 and is in the 27th column of my csv file or AA if using Excel. If I export Complete Products (with Metatags) the columns are identical. I do have categories entered in the column ... they are not blank and named correctly. What am I doing wrong.
Thanks in advance.

Haven't read the post just 7 posts before on the same page of this original post when listed a default way: https://www.zen-cart.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1392327

trying to delete this, sorry