Wordpress On ZC [Support Thread]

rainthebat:

No, No, Kiddos method is clearly better after reading it. I have been away from this thread for long time, and got back and didn't read the gazillion posts, for I don't have gazillions of time to do so. Its tuff to stay in tune with all these different things, I read a few posts a couple pages ago, and skim through, and find garbage and no answers to my problems. But on certain pages there is much relevant information that has solved same problems in much better way than mine.

Okay.. Just checking.. Thanks for the confirmation..

Truthfully I have largely lost interest in the embedding fetures of this add-on anyway as there are far too many errors for me to sort out.. I figured out how to make use of this add-on's sideboxes only on the Zen side. (I can get all the sideboxes to work while embedding the blog fails)

On the WordPress side, I simply run the blog standalone and skin it to match my store's look and feel.. This has eliminated 99% of the headaches I got trying to "make" this add-on embed the blog into Zen Cart, and it's a perfectly acceptable solution for my clients.

It turns out that not one of them expected the blog to be embedded inside Zen Cart (turns out they also really never cared about this feature either). So I put it (the embedded blog) into the nice to have category.. I will continue to keep an eye on this thread. Maybe one day someone is truly going to post a solution to the remaining problems this add-on suffers from. Kiddo's post corrected one issue:clap:, but there are others..

So for now I'm gonna roll with my "WOZ sidebox only" workaround for now..

Holy Smokes That Was Tough!

Okay so a page back you can see (with help from rainthebat) we have the problem with the manufacturers and other filters fixed.

Now to add CUSTOM METAS per post, category, page. . .

FOR ZC 1.3.8A & WP 2.7.1 with ZC & WP installed in the root (public_html) together. Running with the .htaccess mod and permalinks set to custom /%postname%/.

If you're running a blog(wp) you need to SEO it anyways so do these things. Add something like this to your .htaccess file.

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f [NC] 
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^BLOGNAMEHERE/ index\.php?main_page=wordpress&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>
```Create 3 files as follows:

Create a folder inside of includes/templates/template_default/ Called wordpress. In this folder upload a copy of html_header.php from your templates common directory. Replace
```php
require(DIR_WS_MODULES . zen_get_module_directory('meta_tags.php'));
```with
```php
require(DIR_WS_MODULES . zen_get_module_directory('wp_meta_tags.php'));
```Next: Save the following code as " wp_meta_tags.php " and upload it to includes/modules
```php
<?php
if (!defined('IS_ADMIN_FLAG')) {
  die('Illegal Access');
}
// This should be first line of the script:
require(DIR_WS_LANGUAGES . 'english/12volt/wp_meta_tags.php'); 
function curPageURL() { 
 $pageURL = $_SERVER["REQUEST_URI"];
 return $pageURL;
  } 
    $wpPageBase = curPageURL();
    echo strtoupper($wpPageBase);

// if per-page metatags overrides have been defined, use those, otherwise use usual defaults:

  if (defined('META_TAG_TITLE_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase))) define('META_TAG_TITLE', constant('META_TAG_TITLE_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase)));
  
   if (defined('META_TAG_KEYWORDS_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase))) define('META_TAG_KEYWORDS', constant('META_TAG_KEYWORDS_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase)));
  
  if (defined('META_TAG_DESCRIPTION_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase))) define('META_TAG_DESCRIPTION', constant('META_TAG_DESCRIPTION_' . strtoupper($wpPageBase)));
```Next: Save the following code as " wp_meta_tags.php " and upload to includes/languages/english/YOURTEMPLATE/

```php
<?php
//Copy and paste this set of defines replacing /BLOGNAME/POST-NAME/ to fit your blog name and post name as you go.

  define('META_TAG_TITLE_/BLOGNAME/POST-NAME/', 'Type Your Post Meta Title Here');
  define('META_TAG_KEYWORDS_/BLOGNAME/POST-NAME/','Type Your Post Meta Keys Here');
  define('META_TAG_DESCRIPTION_/BLOGNAME/POST-NAME/','Type Your Post Meta Descrip Here');

 ?>
```Meta Defining works like this: The address of your post would be <http://www.yoursite.com/blogname/post-name/> 
so the define would look like those above. Every letter must be captialized and the forward slash after your domain name and after the post address must be included (like the example).

This works for blog categories and pages too and the defines look like this:
/BLOGNAME/CATEGORY/CATEGORY-NAME
/BLOGNAME/PAGE/PAGE-NAME

The define examples above have some red text in them. That must be there for a category or a page.

Enjoy!

John:clap:

You may comment out the ```php
echo strtoupper($wpPageBase);

Otherwise your blog post address will printed out in all upper case letters on the top left corner of your site probably under the logo.

With this address showing you can simply copy and paste the text from your site into the defines without typos .

Hi All,
Please forgive me and make the following correction.

When defining metas for a wordpress PAGE do not include /PAGE/

The define should look like this

define('META_TAG_TITLE_/BLOGNAME/PAGE-NAME/', 'Type Your Page Meta Title Here');

The category defines should be as previously stated.

Not to totally change the subject here, but quick question (that hopefully hasn't been asked yet.)

I'm all integrated up with a Wordpress Blog on our site, but my question comes from the layout. Is it possible to have just the titles listed and when someone clicks on a title the Blog expands revealing the full post?

So let's say my Blog title was Smiley Faces. Now, I click on Smiley Faces and I get this:

"Smiley Faces

Who doesn't love a smile? :D"

Yadda yadda. I hope this makes sense! :blush:

Oh, and Blog is here if you want to see why (very long): http://www.monumentalgiftbaskets.com/?main_page=wordpress

Thanks

eggdashure,
Not so sure about that. Sounds like javascript or possible a css thing. You have other problems that for me would take priority. Have you clicked on the blog title or a post title? Doing so takes you outside of ZC.

For this I would start looking to the .htaccess. Not so sure that I would find the problem there but that's where I would start.

Good Luck,
John

bumba000:

eggdashure,
Not so sure about that. Sounds like javascript or possible a css thing. You have other problems that for me would take priority. Have you clicked on the blog title or a post title? Doing so takes you outside of ZC.

For this I would start looking to the .htaccess. Not so sure that I would find the problem there but that's where I would start.

Good Luck,
JohnI would say that before messing with the .htaccess file that if **eggdashure **reviewed WOZ install instructions he will find he missed a step that this would resolve this issue... If I had to hazzard a guess I think that the WordPress setup portion of the WOZ instructions should be reviewed.

eggdashure:

Not to totally change the subject here, but quick question (that hopefully hasn't been asked yet.)

I'm all integrated up with a Wordpress Blog on our site, but my question comes from the layout. Is it possible to have just the titles listed and when someone clicks on a title the Blog expands revealing the full post?

So let's say my Blog title was Smiley Faces. Now, I click on Smiley Faces and I get this:

"Smiley Faces

Who doesn't love a smile? :D"

Yadda yadda. I hope this makes sense! :blush:

Oh, and Blog is here if you want to see why (very long): http://www.monumentalgiftbaskets.com/?main_page=wordpress

ThanksThe file that drives the display of the main blog page in WordPress is the index.php file. You would need to determine which part of the code on that page drives the display of the blog post text. It's probably simply a matter of removing that code so that only the title link remains. You might get an exact answer for this by checking the WordPress forum for an answer.. Also remember that WordPress does NOT have an override system like Zen Cart does for it's templates.. So if you are using the default WordPress template, a WordPress upgrade MAY wipe out your changes..

Sorry Diva,
Yeah, do make sure you have installed step by step properly is a great place to start. Just figured that would come naturally.

John

eggdashure:

"Smiley Faces
Who doesn't love a smile? :D"
Yadda yadda. I hope this makes sense! :blush:

Very nice :)

Just gonna point in a direction, because I don't know how to do that. There is a plugin called** Ajaxed WordPress** which I would highly recommend (for anyone with wordpress) first off. Secondly, here is a link to the various Wordpress Ajax plugins.

regardless, the way to acheive what you want is through Ajax (Asyncronous Javascript and XHTML). There are plenty of plugins available which do the hard work for you, some interfere with each other, or this or that, so do one plugin at a time and test it all around to check compatibility with your site.

bumba000:

Add something like this to your .htaccess file.

RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f [NC]
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^BLOGNAMEHERE/ index.php?main_page=wordpress&%{QUERY_STRING} [L]
<IfModule mod_rewrite.c>
RewriteEngine On
RewriteBase /
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule . /index.php [L]
</IfModule>

Thank you for that posting, very useful.

I do have a question, specifically what does BLOGNAMEHERE/ represent? Is it a path?

DivaVocals:

I would say that before messing with the .htaccess file that if **eggdashure **reviewed WOZ install instructions he will find he missed a step that this would resolve this issue... If I had to hazzard a guess I think that the WordPress setup portion of the WOZ instructions should be reviewed.

Why the third person rhetoric? LOL I'm right here, I feel like I'm in the principal's office and your talking to my parents.

To be honest I was working on the whole blog thing at 1AM and my brain was toast. I was just happy to see it loading on the page. I will play with the settings of Wordpress to finish up. Thank you though for taking the time to check on that for me. :D

Now I need to spend some time researching Ajax. :yes:

Thanks again.

Hi All,

rainthebat

I do have a question, specifically what does BLOGNAMEHERE/ represent? Is it a path?
What I'm doing here is retrieving the end of the url. Whatever is after .com/

In my understanding if WOZ is installed correctly then the address would always be www.domain.com/blog

So with

require(DIR_WS_LANGUAGES . 'english/YourTemp/wp_meta_tags.php'); 
function curPageURL() { 
 $pageURL = $_SERVER["REQUEST_URI"];
 return $pageURL;
  } 
    $wpPageBase = curPageURL();
```I have the /blogAddress/whatever/ So now we can see the address that is being generated with the ```php
echo strtoupper($wpPageBase);
``` and even copy and paste if need be. This will print out somewhere in the header on the blogs page.

From there you would create your meta defines in languages/english/yourtemp/wp_meta_tags.php with the specific /BLOGADDRESS/WHATEVER/. Then spell out your metas. 

I am using the strtoupper because we Like to Cap Every First Letter. That would make defining customs even tougher!

I would be very interested to see someone take what I've done and feed it right from the DB using the [Another Wordpress Meta Plugin](http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/another-wordpress-meta-plugin/). This lets you create custom meta info for posts, pages. . . from within the WP admin when creating such content. 

So that info all gets stored in the WP DB. I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get it really groovin'. I'm on my way out at the moment and then gettin busy with affiliates, but I think I might go DB with this next!

eggdashure:

Why the third person rhetoric? LOL I'm right here, I feel like I'm in the principal's office and your talking to my parents.No 3rd person rhetoric at all.. I was simply addressing rainthebat's post regarding the fix he was suggesting to you. (because I did not think that editing the .htaccess file was the right approach) The 3rd person reference was necessary (IMO) for clarity.. :huh:

I loaded word press from my host via cpanel. I have been looking through large thread and can not located what to do next. It is not showing up in my admin tools layout boxes controller. I can access wp-admin. Just do not see on my site or zencart admin.

Can someone show me where thread is or how?

Thanks,
Kim

DivaVocals:

Then you might want to give following the instructions I posted a shot.. This way you can use the WOZ sideboxes only..

Can you point in the direction of the WP plugin that syncs the users??

Sorry, I missed this post. Here's the link to the WP plug-in that syncs users.
zencart-and-wordpress-user-integration/

ok first a dumb question before i attempt to read through all of the fixes, install and configure woz...
is the main reason for installing a blog inside zc to improve seo? if so, for those that have installed it and have it working, has it noticeably improved your se rankings???

thanks.

gsdcypher:

ok first a dumb question before i attempt to read through all of the fixes, install and configure woz...
is the main reason for installing a blog inside zc to improve seo? if so, for those that have installed it and have it working, has it noticeably improved your se rankings???

thanks.

 That is a really good question because seo is probably the reason that many people install the blog inside zc. Zen Cart has been great for search engines with me, and I had read so much about how great blogs are because the content is being updated regularly (theoretically) and the search engines just love fresh keyword rich content.

 So, overall I'm not sure that it necessarily improves anything on the seo unless it improves your ability to place content on your webpage (I find it a little easier to work with the wordpress admin then the zc admin).

 It can be a quite a time investment if you want heavey customization of the look.

thanks for the reply. that's what i was thinkin'...

cheers!

rainthebat:

That is a really good question because seo is probably the reason that many people install the blog inside zc. Zen Cart has been great for search engines with me, and I had read so much about how great blogs are because the content is being updated regularly (theoretically) and the search engines just love fresh keyword rich content.

So, overall I'm not sure that it necessarily improves anything on the seo unless it improves your ability to place content on your webpage (I find it a little easier to work with the wordpress admin then the zc admin).

It can be a quite a time investment if you want heavey customization of the look.Though I opted not to screw around using the embedding feature of this mod (I am using only this mods sideboxes), the main reason for using it was to give the client the ability to easily add article style content to her site without having to pay me to help her with this task.

While EZ pages could do this, my client was having a difficult time grasping how to add content using EZ Pages, and then adding links to the EZ page in her sideboxes. I needed to give her an easier method for adding content. Plus a nice bonus is that WordPress has built in content archiving features which means my client doesn't have to keep coming to me to create content archives for her. Now she can add pages to her heart's content..

The WOZ sideboxes make the blog content easily available from ZenCart and the regularly refreshed blog content probably has the added bonus of improving her SE rankings.. Though I'm not embedding the blog in ZenCart, I used WP links along with the WOZ sideboxes to tie the two together (very nicelyI'm sure her blog has driven traffic to her website.