iddy:
Hi, I'm using Easy Populate 4.0.19 - Beta 1-28-2012 on zen-cart v1.3.9h.
I hope you dont mind but I'd like your advice on whether the following would work to load attributes onto my shop which has duplicate (& blank) model numbers.
I'm hoping to use the features of a few programs to achieve my aims ;-)
My shop uses product id and currently i have easy populate advanced, apsona shop admin, and EP4 installled.
Just to explain the situation as i understand it.
- EP4 doesn't support using product id
- Easy Populate Advanced doesnt really support attribute upload (or at least its very difficult) but does support bulk upload of duplicate model numbers.
- Apsona shop admin needs attributes to already exist but then can be used to assign them to other products.
Am i correct in thinking that i can create attributes using EP4?
If that is correct do i need to use EP4 to associate them with a product model? or can i just use it to fill the necessary tables in zen-cart?
I was thinking of creating a product "Attributes" and then assigning all the attributes to it. (and deleting it when finished)
What i am hoping to do is use EP4 to load all the attributes and then use Apsona to copy these attributes to the proper products.
Does this look like it would work? Any comments or tips would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hi iddy!
I think you are on the right track. You would need at least 1 product to assign your basic attributes to, but you can delete the product(s) afterwards. Mind, this version of EP4 will only create basic attributes, and if you have a multiple languages, all language entries will be the same as your lowest defined language (usually 1 for english). If you look at the sample files, it should be very straight forward.
LOL > Apsona. Yes. I totally understand why they took this route. It's a freaking complicated mess! Zencart NEEDS a definable unique attribute id like using products_model as unique ... if they did that, you could have multiple unrelated attribute sets with the same attribute name, i.e. "Colors" and logically creating attributes at import would be easy ... but that's not so, so with EP4 you only get attribute name (like products_model have to be unique) but can have a large set of attribute values.
Not the best solution, but the only way to create them at upload intelligently without some major modification to core files.
Time permitting (I'm currently BURIED in work), I'm hoping to get a new update with some progress with attributes. I was about half way there when the (*&! hit the fan. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks.
Yes, EP 303 Adv will let you use the products_id... and also let you totally frag your store if you are not very careful. It is much like direct editing from within phpMyAdmin!
BTW, have you had any contact with Langer? I don't think anyone has seen hide nor hair of him for what must be three+ years now.
-chadd