EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

SPH:

Chadd,

ZC 1.5, this product:
http://www.webdivision.prommart.com/zencart-demo/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_66&products_id=191

We think we know how your Basic Attributes work.

But we probably really need the Detailed Attributes sheet to do our V-Lookup thing off of the column headings I mentioned some months ago.

I guess my question is: Can I use the Detailed Attributes sheet to ADD another color to this product? If so, how.

I tried and think that I am stuck on column A...v_products_attributes_id

I tried adding what should be the next number in order, but didn't work.

Thanks.

Steve

Hi Steve,

First, from an earlier post:
One this that is important to remember!

The BASIC import can be used to CREATE and MODIFY the options names and options values names attached to a specific product.

But the DETAILED is ONLY used to UPDATE a specific products model, option name, options values name combo. This is why those first columns must remain untouched. The _id's are used to find and update that specific combo. Although not very flexible, this works well and is quick.

You cannot use the detailed sheet to add colors. What you'd do first is run the basic with the products model number and options name to add options values name.
Then export your detail sheet which will now have all the colors assigned to that products.

Does that help to clear things up?

we are having a problem with Quantity Units errors after updating our qty in stock via easy populate. So far the only way we have been able to find to fix the error in through the catalog in the admin section, going into every item individually and updating them. This is not reasonable for us as we have 16,000+ items. Is there any way to fix this or are we doing something wrong?

Easy populate 4
Zencart 1.5

jandm-ent:

we are having a problem with Quantity Units errors after updating our qty in stock via easy populate. So far the only way we have been able to find to fix the error in through the catalog in the admin section, going into every item individually and updating them. This is not reasonable for us as we have 16,000+ items. Is there any way to fix this or are we doing something wrong?

Easy populate 4
Zencart 1.5

I have tested this and do not believe it is a problem with the script. Also, you did not describe what error you are getting. Have you done an export with a small sub-category, downloaded it, changed the v_products_quantity column, resaved as CSV and uploaded/imported to see if the values recorded correctly?

I just did this, and it worked find. Now, if your column header is "v_products_quantity " <--- see that extra space? That will kill the column, and it will not import.

General note to all:
When having issues like this it really helps to attached a portion of your import file. And when testing, don't start with a massive import! First verify that you know your columns are working correctly by importing only a couple records, then carefully check each record's entry for accuracy. I have done this literally hundreds of time.

Now, most times it's the CSV data, but sometimes it's the script. So you should always include the version number in your posts. You should all update to 4.0.21 because of the mixed update/new data error I discovered when importing sheets with reduced columns (that had to have been in there for sometime!) ... along with all the other corrections and tweaks.

-chadd

shopsfm:

:frusty:
did not work
followed post 205
Here is what I did.. Trying to impout a hidded field "Cost"

easypopulate_4.php

line 102
$ep_supported_mods['Cost'] = ep_4_check_table_column(TABLE_PRODUCTS,'products_Cost');

---

easypopulate_4_import.php

line 30
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost - chadd
$default_these[] = 'v_products_Cost';
line 322
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost- chadd
$sql .= 'p.products_cost as v_products_Cost,';
line 936
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost
$query .= "products_Cost = '".addslashes($v_products_Cost)."',";

line 1025
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost
$query .= "products_Cost = '".addslashes($v_products_Cost)."',";

---

easypopulate_4_functions.php

line 79
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost
$filelayout[] = 'v_products_Cost';

line 160
if ($ep_supported_mods['Cost'] == true) { // Cost
$filelayout_sql .= 'p.products_Cost as v_products_Cost,';

any help or link to a tutorial would be greatly appriciated.

Believe me, something as simple as a misplaced single or double quote or missing parenthesis can drive you bonkers, not to mention 5-way inner joins on sql database queries.

Trying to quote the code doesn't help. You left out parts. Better to PM or attach the files so I can look at your work. I bet I can spot the error quickly. Believe me, I fudged things up enough myself in the beginning! It's easy to do.

-chadd

BTW: use phpMyAdmin and double check your table column's name products_Cost <> products_cost in some implementations.

I did notice a couple of things that I would like to see changed, if possible. I have been using it for several months and checking the posts to see if they were mentioned there. If I missed them, my apologies in advanced and I will download it again.

The specials fields are pre-populated with an expiration date when none is set. This requires that field to be cleared before uploading or your specials will all be expired.

The other thing I noticed is that the down-loaded products default to status 1, so if you need both the 0 and 1 statused items, you will need to download the products twice. This is a small hassle when changing quantities and restocking at the same time.

Otherwise, this is one of the best contribs that I have found!

awhfy99:

The specials fields are pre-populated with an expiration date when none is set. This requires that field to be cleared before uploading or your specials will all be expired.

I will have to look into this one. Didn't know it was doing that!

awhfy99:

The other thing I noticed is that the down-loaded products default to status 1, so if you need both the 0 and 1 statused items, you will need to download the products twice. This is a small hassle when changing quantities and restocking at the same time.

This should be fixed in the 4.0.21 6-1-2012 currently at github! Definitely update to the latest version for other minor fixes.

PLEASE NOTE: CUSTOM PRODUCT FIELDS coming soon!

I've had several requests to add the ability to define custom products fields. This turned out to be quite easy, and will be in the next version pushed to github. I added a configuration field where you can enter your products table fields (existing or custom) and the script checks for them before exporting/importing so you know you entered them correctly.

Needs a bit more testing, but should be able to push in a couple days.

-chadd

chadderuski:

I will have to look into this one. Didn't know it was doing that!

This should be fixed in the 4.0.21 6-1-2012 currently at github! Definitely update to the latest version for other minor fixes.

PLEASE NOTE: CUSTOM PRODUCT FIELDS coming soon!

I've had several requests to add the ability to define custom products fields. This turned out to be quite easy, and will be in the next version pushed to github. I added a configuration field where you can enter your products table fields (existing or custom) and the script checks for them before exporting/importing so you know you entered them correctly.

Needs a bit more testing, but should be able to push in a couple days.

-chadd

Hi,

I tried to import option names and option values, and I saw them imported via admin. When I click on each product to view it on the product infor page, I did not see any option names as well as option values displayed.

Below is a link to my file. Please take a look and give me your advice. Thanks!

http://www.theladystuff.com/temp/DD.csv

johnn196703:

Hi,

I tried to import option names and option values, and I saw them imported via admin. When I click on each product to view it on the product infor page, I did not see any option names as well as option values displayed.

Below is a link to my file. Please take a look and give me your advice. Thanks!

http://www.theladystuff.com/temp/DD.csv

Hi John,

To use the attribute feature in EP4 you need to first import your products using the Full sheet. You will then create a Attrib-Basic-EP csv file with columns:

v_products_model, v_products_options_type, v_products_options_name_1, v_products_options_values_name_1

Also EOREOR is not required with EP4. And file naming conventions must be followed otherwise the script will not know what to do with the file.
Check the examples folder for more information in the attribute_types.txt file and a sample basic attribute import csv file.

-Chadd

Hello -

I'm a brand new user to EP 4, and my cart has been recently upgraded to 1.5. I'm trying to wrap the product description in DIV tags it appears that the import is adding a ? where there should be a space within the html tag. So the tag is <div class="info-text"> but when I look at the page source (or edit the html of a freshly imported product) it appears like this <div?class="info-text"> --- I was initially using excel. So I opened my csv file with notepad to see if the output was adding the ? - the ? wasn't present. I also tried generating the csv file with OpenOffice Calc -- same result.

Any ideas?

Terrill_Taylor:

Hello -

I'm a brand new user to EP 4, and my cart has been recently upgraded to 1.5. I'm trying to wrap the product description in DIV tags it appears that the import is adding a ? where there should be a space within the html tag. So the tag is <div class="info-text"> but when I look at the page source (or edit the html of a freshly imported product) it appears like this <div?class="info-text"> --- I was initially using excel. So I opened my csv file with notepad to see if the output was adding the ? - the ? wasn't present. I also tried generating the csv file with OpenOffice Calc -- same result.

Any ideas?

Be sure you are not using smart quotes in your csv, or go to Configuration > Easy Populate 4 and set "Convert Curly Quotes" to 1 which will replace smart quotes with a regular quote.

I tested this on my end using your example and it worked fine....

Announcement: Version 4.0.22 now available on github.

https://github.com/chaddro/EasyPopulate-4.0

Added to this update is the ability to add your own User Defined Products Field Names.
Be sure to click Un-Install EP4 then Install EP4 to load the new configuration variables.

Then go to Configuration > Easy Populate 4
New option to add your field names. Field names are comma separate with NO spaces. Remember, NO SPACES!

When you return to the Easy Populate 4 screen, you will see your User Defined Products Fields listed with either FALSE or TRUE next to them.
TRUE means the script was able to verify your field name, FALSE mean you either spelled something wrong, or you have not added that field name
to your product database.

Character, String and Numeric values will import fine, but be sure you import the correct data for your database types. Also, do not exceed your database field lengths, you will get unpredictable results.

Also note that there is no "cleaning" for character/string data. Be sure your data is correct for your database collation and character set (UTF vs ISSO-8859).

Let me know if you have any issues!

-Chadd

hi Chad,

thanks for the updated version of EP4!

im glad to hear others in this forum are having good luck with updating mass products, but unfortunately im not :(

ive done as you asked in the readme files, opened in OpenOffice and under 'seperated by', selected Semicolon and Comma, for 'text delimiter' selected by " (double quotes)

ive updated the current product prices/ quantity and also added afew more products, filled them out as accordingly.

saved the file from open office as a text CSV file format (.csv).

i going into my admin > tools . Easy populate 4

i have Easy Populate 4.0.21 - Beta 6-1-2012, ive changed my temp folder, it allowed me to change it from the configuration (which it has selected on the right side) which is correct.

i browse for my file and i click upload. once finished uploading, the green stripe on the top saying that "my file name" was uploaded correctly.

i go to check the files in my shop and, nothing was changed.

is there any possibility i could send you my file?

kind regards, Oj

Just a reminded: After you UPLOAD the file you must click on IMPORT to actually put the data into your database. It's a two step process!

Chad,

I just went to github and downloaded, but I don't see the new place for adding custom fields under configuration. In tools it says my version is Easy Populate 4.0.21 - Beta 6-1-2012

I uninstalled before re-installing.

Did I get the correct one? Actually, it looks like the one I just had.

SPH:

Chad,

I just went to github and downloaded, but I don't see the new place for adding custom fields under configuration. In tools it says my version is Easy Populate 4.0.21 - Beta 6-1-2012

I uninstalled before re-installing.

Did I get the correct one? Actually, it looks like the one I just had.

You are correct, there is something off. I will check this when I get home as the new 4.0.22 code is not showing on github!

Just... need... a couple... hours! Sorry for the fudge-up!

-chadd

thanks Chad!

abit clueless here haha

not quite sure if this has been covered, but when importing Categories, it needs 'Model field'.

just did it and none of my categories were updated.

since it doesnt update anything, it just stacked the categories into my list, so in other words, my list was doubled.

kind regards,
Oj

oj226:

thanks Chad!

abit clueless here haha
not quite sure if this has been covered, but when importing Categories, it needs 'Model field'.
just did it and none of my categories were updated.
since it doesnt update anything, it just stacked the categories into my list, so in other words, my list was doubled.
kind regards,
Oj

This is covered in the documentation. The v_products_model is required for each product. Not sure what you mean by "my list was doubled" ... Are using the model/category list or Categories (with metatags)? Please read the first page of this thread, a lot covered there also.

Hi Chadd,

Thanks for you support. I have been trying to follow the guideline, but I cannot import the attributes for option names and option values.

Do you have any tips regarding this issue?

Thanks for your help and support.

John

chadderuski:

Hi John,

To use the attribute feature in EP4 you need to first import your products using the Full sheet. You will then create a Attrib-Basic-EP csv file with columns:

v_products_model, v_products_options_type, v_products_options_name_1, v_products_options_values_name_1

Also EOREOR is not required with EP4. And file naming conventions must be followed otherwise the script will not know what to do with the file.
Check the examples folder for more information in the attribute_types.txt file and a sample basic attribute import csv file.

-Chadd

johnn196703:

Hi Chadd,
Thanks for you support. I have been trying to follow the guideline, but I cannot import the attributes for option names and option values.
Do you have any tips regarding this issue?
Thanks for your help and support.
John

Please try this: Describe in plain English the attribute and attribute values that you want to assign to one product. Note that the product must already exist in your database.

For example: "I have a product widget that I want to assign the attribute Color with values red,green,blue as a dropdown box"

Then your CSV will look like:

v_products_model,v_products_options_type,v_products_options_name_1,v_products_options_values_name_1
"widget","0","Color","red,green,blue"

hope this helps

I just updated to the latest version listed above, and my product info is no longer being added to my site. The file uploads fine, and then when I click "Import" next to the file it gives me the "File Import Completed" message, but no products are added to my catalog. Any idea what would cause this?

The only major change I made recently was the installation of my SSL.

--EDIT--
I'm an idiot. It had to do with the file name of the CSV file. I removed the spaces and the & and it now works.

A separate issue... I have Product Category ! and 2 filled out for a few products that should be listed in a subcategory, but all of those products are just getting lumped into the primary category. Any idea what might fix that?