Easy Populate 1.2.5.4 support

earmsby:

dclem,

Welcome to the world open source! Zen cart isn't really a "product." The forum is actually an extremely rich source of knowledge if you take good advantage. Many people here share their experience and knowledge for free. Just have a little patience - search for what your issue is - probably someone else had the same question. If not, ask your question, probably someone knows the answer.

If you're looking for a "product" with technical support, get ready to shell out some money. Meanwhile Zen Cart is a great resource that can do pretty much anything you want it to if you are willing to spend a little time to understand how it works.

peace,

I didn't ask for technical support, I simply asked for documentation. Is it a sin to expect for software, even if it is open source, to have some documentation to it?

And if you read my post, you would of realized that that I have done quite a bit of searching on this forum and elsewhere for information. I managed to find 3 posts in this thread that tell me where to download easy support, but all three of them do not work. I haven't read all 900+ posts in this thread, but should I be expected to have to read that much before asking for help?

dclem:

I'm helping a friend set up Zen Cart on his site and I'm tring to install Easy Populate. The problem I'm having is that all the links to download it that I've found on this thread are dead and there is nothing can be found doing a google search.

I'm very surprised at how very little documentation there is to Zen Cart and that this forum is meant as THE documentation on how to use Zen Cart, unless you are willing to pay for a $60 book. :shocking:

I think pointing people to a forum learn about how to use a product is a very bad idea as forums are best used when people can not figure out how to use a product and need help. If no documentation exists then EVERY task requires a post or searching the forum leading in order to get even the simplest thing done. With so many posts, it becomes even more difficult to find a solution as you have to read about many more other problems before you find anything about your own task, which may or may not help.

Even 'tutorials' found in the threads are nothing but FAQs. Why do I need to read a FAQ on how to solve problems that I might encounter while using the product if I don't even have information on how to use the product?

If I could find information using google searches, get a hold of a word or pdf doc, find a good website, or if I could actually find information on this forum there wouldn't be a problem. However they either do not exist or do not provide information that is needed.

I haven't used Zen Cart enough to know whether it is a good product, but not being able to find documentation to figure out how to use it tells me that it is likely only the most dedicated people have any possiblity of success with it and everyone else shouldn't have much hope.

Direct links to download EasyPopulate, this was posted a couple of pages back, not sure why it didn't work for you, just tested and it's working:
http://modhole.com/modhole/index.php?module=documents&JAS_DocumentManager_op=downloadFile&JAS_File_id=60

or

http://www.zen-cart.com/archived_contributions/admin-tools/ep_v1.2.5.4.zip

I'm not really sure why easypopulate is not included in the current downloads section, but just try one of the links above.

As for the rest of your post, there's plenty of documentation on pretty much everything, the problem is that it's scattered all over the place. This thread deals specifically with a community contributed module. For help with any other features of ZenCart, please post or look in the appropriate section.
ZenCart is overall the best free open source shopping cart available. I've tried a few other and they're either too difficult to use or lack many features.

Basic documentation for EasyPopulate is included with the download. ZenCart documentation is included in the docs folder when you download it.

awhfy99:

Sorry, this is not a reply to the above comment but I do need to ask a question on easy populate. I get no response (my browser times out when I insert anything this way). I downloaded a complete file and removed all but the 1st product and uploaded it. EP does not let me know anything has been done (it does work though). I have chmod all EP files to 777 and the temp dir the same way with no change in results and even tried the same on a test Zen site. I use EP on a osCommerce install and it works fine but both Zen sites act the same way. Is this normal or am I missing something?

This is an issue I experience on one my sites. I'm really not sure what causes it, probably some sort of configuration by the host, or some other thing, I never got an answer either. Something to do with php.ini files I think.

I should make clear that I only have this issue on a site that has been upgraded with each new ZC release. I don't have this issue with new ZC installations.

Even though the browser times out, easypopulate does what it's supposed to do, although of course, you don't get any notification of what it just did, but it works.

You shouldn't really chmod files to 777, it's not necessary to have any files set to 777.

tj1:

=-=-=-= Snip, snip, snip =-=-=-=-=

Hopefully, awev will have some free time and release an updated version of EP with some more features. :)

Woops, I missed that one. I have one more week of vacation left this year that I am going to be taking soon. First on my list is getting my own stores looking and acting as I want them to. Then I can look at doing a re-write of EP. It would be a stripped down version to begin with, just to get something functional out there, then we can worry about adding "more features. :)"

dclem:

I'm helping a friend set up Zen Cart on his site and I'm tring to install Easy Populate. The problem I'm having is that all the links to download it that I've found on this thread are dead and there is nothing can be found doing a google search.

I'm very surprised at how very little documentation there is to Zen Cart and that this forum is meant as THE documentation on how to use Zen Cart, unless you are willing to pay for a $60 book. :shocking:

I think pointing people to a forum learn about how to use a product is a very bad idea as forums are best used when people can not figure out how to use a product and need help. If no documentation exists then EVERY task requires a post or searching the forum leading in order to get even the simplest thing done. With so many posts, it becomes even more difficult to find a solution as you have to read about many more other problems before you find anything about your own task, which may or may not help.

Even 'tutorials' found in the threads are nothing but FAQs. Why do I need to read a FAQ on how to solve problems that I might encounter while using the product if I don't even have information on how to use the product?

If I could find information using google searches, get a hold of a word or pdf doc, find a good website, or if I could actually find information on this forum there wouldn't be a problem. However they either do not exist or do not provide information that is needed.

I haven't used Zen Cart enough to know whether it is a good product, but not being able to find documentation to figure out how to use it tells me that it is likely only the most dedicated people have any possiblity of success with it and everyone else shouldn't have much hope.

DClem,
I will try to answer as best as I can.

1 - When I have tried to download modules in the past I have found that if I go to the next module that I am interested in, down load it, then go back to the first I usually can - it is most likely a server problem that works itself out.

2 - There is an incomplete Wiki - and I think it is mainly for developers. Zen Cart is a branch from osCommerce and so has fewer users, modules, and documentation. Things do seem to be a mess, and I have had trouble finding answers to my own questions. I think if you stick with it you will find that it offers a lot, just not as much as oSc, yet it has a better underlying foundation that is being built on. ZC is more modular/OO than oSc, so it is easier to expand, without having to modify as many modules, and keep up with the even more forums per module/add-on.

3 - Ok, very little in the form of a user's guild, and then more FAQs than how-tos. This is everyone's chance to take a fine product and help make it better. I mentioned near the top of this post that I will take a look at EP and see what I can do. The problem that I have is that I am a working stiff, with a life outside of computer world, and I can afford to take a year off and do everything I would like with this project (Zen Cart), and sub projects (EP being the one known to the people here on the forums, while I would like to rework a couple other areas for my own needs (data entry for customers, shipping, and shipping modules). I have a full plate yet I contribute as I can (girlfriend thinks she gets a small slice of the pie, yet she gets most of my evenings). Find something that you are interested about here at the world of Zen Cart, and help make it better - and that goes for everyone. Not everyone is a programmer nor document writer, yet we can all contribute something.

4 - Zen Cart is powerful, yet lacking in some areas, due to the smaller user base, and lack of documentation. See #2 above for more.

awhfy99:

Sorry, this is not a reply to the above comment but I do need to ask a question on easy populate. I get no response (my browser times out when I insert anything this way). I downloaded a complete file and removed all but the 1st product and uploaded it. EP does not let me know anything has been done (it does work though). I have chmod all EP files to 777 and the temp dir the same way with no change in results and even tried the same on a test Zen site. I use EP on a osCommerce install and it works fine but both Zen sites act the same way. Is this normal or am I missing something?

Over here in the Zen Cart world we use an older, more stable, version of EP than what you would find in osC. EP should report what it does with each item it reads in, such as insert, delete, or update, each on its own line. I cant even start to guess what is wrong, as I have used different servers configured differently, and get slightly different actions or work arounds.

dclem:

I didn't ask for technical support, I simply asked for documentation. Is it a sin to expect for software, even if it is open source, to have some documentation to it?

And if you read my post, you would of realized that that I have done quite a bit of searching on this forum and elsewhere for information. I managed to find 3 posts in this thread that tell me where to download easy support, but all three of them do not work. I haven't read all 900+ posts in this thread, but should I be expected to have to read that much before asking for help?

Hello again DClem,
How can we help you?

TJ1,
I see we where responding at the same time, and you hit the post button before I did. <lol>

Nice to know that a fresh install works better than an upgrade/update does.

tj1:

This is an issue I experience on one my sites. I'm really not sure what causes it, probably some sort of configuration by the host, or some other thing, I never got an answer either. Something to do with php.ini files I think.

I should make clear that I only have this issue on a site that has been upgraded with each new ZC release. I don't have this issue with new ZC installations.

Even though the browser times out, easypopulate does what it's supposed to do, although of course, you don't get any notification of what it just did, but it works.

You shouldn't really chmod files to 777, it's not necessary to have any files set to 777.

Thanks, found out that modhole site is working after my last post and the zip file contained a readme file that explained how to install it. Easy populate is now installed on my friends site. :smile:

I know I sounded cynical in my posts, but I never assume anything works untill I see it work. Although other people may have know about that the site is unreachable from time to time, how should I know whether a link is still good after getting a 404 error? :huh:

tj1:

This is an issue I experience on one my sites. I'm really not sure what causes it, probably some sort of configuration by the host, or some other thing, I never got an answer either. Something to do with php.ini files I think.

I should make clear that I only have this issue on a site that has been upgraded with each new ZC release. I don't have this issue with new ZC installations.

Even though the browser times out, easypopulate does what it's supposed to do, although of course, you don't get any notification of what it just did, but it works.

You shouldn't really chmod files to 777, it's not necessary to have any files set to 777.

I didn't think that it was necessary for the the chmod, just covering all bases. Thanks for the response, both of my sites were installed late last year and I just recently started the changeover from osc. What I will do is to install a fresh one and wholesale move my override folders and my image directory to it and then give it another try.

Without reading the insane number of messages here maybe someone can point me to the soluton of installing easypopulate as the search function did not give me the needed results.

I downloaded it, extracted an simply copied the contents in the directory where of my shop is. which means the temp folder is in the same subfolder than the admin. I guessed this would be right. I cannot see any install procedure anywhere as indicated in the install.txt that comes with the program.

Well, the result looks like this:

As you can see the menu on scroll down is somewhat strange at least and if you pick easypopulate anyway the screen looks like this with the above visible error message.

The uninstall and install procedure just leads to more error messages in the header, so I just went and deleted every file separately on the server.

Anyway I can export data, but import doesn´t seem to work.
I just copied some product lines and changed some data.
Upload shows success message, but no result when you open the shop.

Also by choosing: "Create Complete tab-delimited .txt file" I cannot find categories for the items to be described. I do use excel to see and work on the file.

Help? What did I do wrong?

A few days ago I posted a question about how to add a new field to be included for uploading and downloading. After quite a bit of looking through the main file, testing and printing variables, I have been able to get my extra field added both to the download as well as uploading. I thought other might be interested in how I did this.

First a few caveats:

1. I was only concerned with the Complete upload/download (and only made mods to those parts of the file)
2. The field I needed to add is an added field to the products_descriptions table. If you need to add a field from another table, this might or might not help you.
3. Line numbers given are approximate (yours may differ slightly).

Line 360

** Original:**
$filelayout = array_merge($filelayout , array(
'v_products_name_' . $l_id => $iii++,
'v_products_description_' . $l_id => $iii++,
));

** Changed to:**
$filelayout = array_merge($filelayout , array(
'v_products_name_' . $l_id => $iii++,
'v_new_field_' . $l_id => $iii++,
'v_products_description_' . $l_id => $iii++,
));

Line 791

** Original:**
$row['v_products_name_' . $lid] = $row2['products_name'];
$row['v_products_description_' . $lid] = $row2['products_description'];
if ($ep_supported_mods['psd'] == true) {
$row['v_products_short_desc_' . $lid] = $row2['products_short_desc'];
}

** Changed to:**
$row['v_products_name_' . $lid] = $row2['products_name'];
$row['v_products_description_' . $lid] = $row2['products_description'];
$row['v_new_field_' . $lid] = $row2['new_field'];
if ($ep_supported_mods['psd'] == true) {
$row['v_products_short_desc_' . $lid] = $row2['products_short_desc'];
}

Line 1280

** Original:**
$default_these = array(
'v_products_image',
// redundant image mods removed
'v_categories_id',
[...]
'v_products_width',
'v_products_height'
);

** Changed to:**
$default_these = array(
'v_products_image',
// redundant image mods removed
'v_categories_id',
[...]
'v_products_width',
'v_products_height',
'v_new_field'
);

Line 1484

** Original:**
// Need to report from ......name_1 not ...name_0
$row['v_products_name' . $lang['id']] = $row2['products_name'];// name assigned
$row['v_products_description' . $lang['id']] = $row2['products_description'];// description assigned

** Changed to:**
// Need to report from ......name_1 not ...name_0
$row['v_products_name' . $lang['id']] = $row2['products_name'];// name assigned
$row['v_products_description' . $lang['id']] = $row2['products_description'];// description assigned
$row['v_new_field_' . $lang['id']] = $row2['new_field'];

Line 1660

** Original:**
foreach ($langcode as $lang){
$l_id = $lang['id'];
if (isset($filelayout['v_products_name_' . $l_id ])){ // do for each language in our upload file if exist
// we set dynamically the language vars
$v_products_name[$l_id] = smart_tags($items[$filelayout['v_products_name_' . $l_id]],$smart_tags,$cr_replace,false);
$v_products_description[$l_id] = smart_tags($items[$filelayout['v_products_description_' . $l_id ]],$smart_tags,$cr_replace,$strip_smart_tags);

** Changed to:**
foreach ($langcode as $lang){
$l_id = $lang['id'];
if (isset($filelayout['v_products_name_' . $l_id ])){ // do for each language in our upload file if exist
// we set dynamically the language vars
$v_products_name[$l_id] = smart_tags($items[$filelayout['v_products_name_' . $l_id]],$smart_tags,$cr_replace,false);
$v_new_field[$l_id] = smart_tags($items[$filelayout['v_new_field_' . $l_id]],$smart_tags,$cr_replace,false);
$v_products_description[$l_id] = smart_tags($items[$filelayout['v_products_description_' . $l_id ]],$smart_tags,$cr_replace,$strip_smart_tags);

Line 2005

** Original:**
$sql =
"INSERT INTO ".TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION."
(products_id,
language_id,
products_name,
products_description,";

** Changed to:**
$sql =
"INSERT INTO ".TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION."
(products_id,
language_id,
products_name,
new_field,
products_description,";

Line 2007
**
Original:**
VALUES (
'" . $v_products_id . "',
" . $key . ",
'" . zen_db_input($name) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_products_description[$key]) . "',
";

Changed to:
VALUES (
'" . $v_products_id . "',
" . $key . ",
'" . zen_db_input($name) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_new_field$key]) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_products_description[$key]) . "',
";

On this last change, be careful of your punctuation - it's easy to miss a quote or a '.'

I hope this helps anyone else who is trying to do the same thing that I was.

earmsby:

A few days ago I posted a question about how to add a new field to be included for uploading and downloading. After quite a bit of looking through the main file, testing and printing variables, I have been able to get my extra field added both to the download as well as uploading. I thought other might be interested in how I did this.

First a few caveats:

1. I was only concerned with the Complete upload/download (and only made mods to those parts of the file)
2. The field I needed to add is an added field to the products_descriptions table. If you need to add a field from another table, this might or might not help you.
3. Line numbers given are approximate (yours may differ slightly).

-==-=-=- Cut for length and readability -=-=-=-=-=-

Line 2007
**
Original:**
VALUES (
'" . $v_products_id . "',
" . $key . ",
'" . zen_db_input($name) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_products_description[$key]) . "',
";

Changed to:
VALUES (
'" . $v_products_id . "',
" . $key . ",
'" . zen_db_input($name) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_new_field$key]) . "',
'" . zen_db_input($v_products_description[$key]) . "',
";

On this last change, be careful of your punctuation - it's easy to miss a quote or a '.'

I hope this helps anyone else who is trying to do the same thing that I was.

First, thanks Ellie for taking the time to document it, I have a few notes scattered about my copy, yet I never put it together in a neat package for display.

Second, as you noted, if you have to insert/update/delete from a second table it gets a bit more tricky, just not impossible. Where you mention line 2005, and show the snippet of code, is where the writing operations begins, the other parts formats, and reads, the info - whether from the file or the database, depending on the area, and may create a file for output. Use extra care when mucking around in this area, and double check the database tables to be effected.

I hope that in that last snippet of code the single error I saw just glancing at things is only on what is posted here.

'" . zen_db_input($v_new_field$key]) . "',

Looks as if an opening bracket, "[", is missing. It should be between the d in $v_new_field and the $ in $key, so it looks like:

'" . zen_db_input($v_new_field[$key]) . "',

I am glad you where able to modify things for your needs.

I use a number of different vendors, and each one supplies the info in a different format, with different field names, and with different amounts of info. One vendor does use osC for there demo site, and so uses EP, yet I still have to adjust things for my own site. I like having an UPC/ISBN number so if I list on Amazon/Google I don't have to do more research before listing. Because of this I am looking to create my own script/mod/program that will help in matching up the different headers to EP's, and that will form a basis for any re-write I do. The notes in the current EP files gives hints, and I have been giving myself a crash course in PHP and MySQL, and have my own ideas. I don't know if I will end up with something similar to EPA, yet I hope to dive in starting this weekend. It seems as adding fields tends to be the biggest thing here, then the attribute management. One hurdle at a time.

Hi,

I've tried using EP with a small number of products. I want to try with a larger number of products, and what I want to know is how to handle images with Easypopulate. I intend to store my images in images/cat_abc, images/cat_xyz.

1. I assume EP supports subdirectories, i.e. if I input cat_abc/imagea.jpg into the v_products_image field, this will be recognized. If the directory does not exist, EP will automatically create it. Are these correct assumptions?

2. I like I-H's ability to auto create multiple images in addition to the auto-resizing of small, medium, and large pictures. How can I utilize the features of Image-Handler 2 successfully with EP?

Hi Kai,
In answer to #1 - yes and no. Yes, EP supports sub-directories, and no, it will not create sub-directories - they, and the images, must exist before you upload (import) the information. If you upload the file before you have the images in place then EP will use ZC's default of no_image.gif, forcing you to go back and edit each item to add the photo to it.

As to #2, I am not sure, as I don't have or use IH2, so I can't say 100%, just a guess. My guess would be that IH2 should operate the same as before - consider EP to be something like a typist, entering the product info for you.

Hope this helps some.

The answer to #2 is yes. I have a folder with multiple images (like 1.jpg, 1_a.jpg, etc. They were uploaded to a sub-folder of images using EP and they work just fine. You do have to place the path in the v_image column of EP (images/whatsmyfolder/1.jpg) and upload the images first before the EP is done (just like the man said).

awev:

Hi Kai,

As to #2, I am not sure, as I don't have or use IH2, so I can't say 100%, just a guess. My guess would be that IH2 should operate the same as before - consider EP to be something like a typist, entering the product info for you.

Hope this helps some.

Guess I should have mentioned that the watermarking and zoom features are the two that I use and they work perfectly.

awev - thanks for the clarification on #1.

awhfy99 - did you upload the images using FTP or IH2 prior to running EP? I'm still a little bit confused as to whether I can use IH2 to automatically resize and rename images before EP is used. (as awev said, images have to reside on the server before using EP)

kai920:

awev - thanks for the clarification on #1.

awhfy99 - did you upload the images using FTP or IH2 prior to running EP? I'm still a little bit confused as to whether I can use IH2 to automatically resize and rename images before EP is used. (as awev said, images have to reside on the server before using EP)

If I am understanding everything correctly this is the order that things may be done in (based on an edumayaked [educated estimated wild guess] guess) :

1. Upload images to correct area(s), such as /images/cat_1, /images/cat_2, /images/manufactures, etc
2. Upload the EP file and import it, loading the data into ZC, making sure it knows the correct location and name of the image (could also be done as step 3)
3. Instruct IH2 to create images of different sizes as you see fit (do this as the second step if you want to)
4. Let IH2 add the watermark as an image is called for and displayed - no interaction on your part other than turning the feature on to begin with.

From the look of things it really doesn't matter if you upload the product/item information using EP (step 2) before using IH2 (step 3), or after (step 3 now becomes step 2, and the former step 2 now becomes step 3). ZC picks an image based on what is needed, (i.e., small, medium or large,) and IH2 sees the request and overlays a watermark (a second image, with a high transparency setting). EP doesn't care what image ZC displays, or how IH2 helps out, it only cares that an image exists (such as the main image (medium sized)). The most important thing is step 1, getting the main image into the proper position for both EP and IH2 to work with it.

Again, take what I say with a grain of salt, and do a little testing. I only read the description a few months back for IH2, and other image handlers, and have not installed it, nor looked at the code. This seems to be a best guess on my part.

Two things to keep in mind - how much space all of the images take up on the server (my hosting companies like to limit that), and do you think IH2 will give you just as good of an image as you can create yourself? The three hosting packages I use limit the amount of HDD storage space that I can use, and the number of images are large enough, and the amount of traffic is small enough (wishing it was the other way around), that I let ZC resize my images on the fly. If I had my way I would use my photo editing program to create .gif images for the small/thumbnail views, and then size down my main images as .jpg for the main view, and keep the originals as the large image, and do it all as batch files. This would let me check the images for the quality vs. compression and a few other things, such as estimated download speeds, and adjust as I see fit.

thanks again for the reply. I think I got the hang of it now... my plan:

1. resize my product image(s) into the desired maximum size (400x400). since IH2 does not seem to alter the original image, I thought this would lessen the space requirements on my server.

2. if I want to have multiple images per product, append _01 _02 _03 to the end of the same filename. for example product, product_01, product_02, and so on.

3. upload these images to my category directory, cat_a cat_b cat_c etc.

4. in the EP delimited file, I have to make sure that each item has a unique model number

5. enter the product image URL into the EP file. I only need to input the one filename without any appended numbers (see #2 above). example: cat_a/product.jpg -- IH2 should recognize the other two files automatically (product_01 and product_02)

these are the steps I've come up with so far.

Any tips on how to generate the HTML used for the product description?

kai920:

thanks again for the reply. I think I got the hang of it now... my plan:

1. resize my product image(s) into the desired maximum size (400x400). since IH2 does not seem to alter the original image, I thought this would lessen the space requirements on my server.

=-=-=-= Snipped - don't need to repeat everything here =-=-=-=-=-=

5. enter the product image URL into the EP file. I only need to input the one filename without any appended numbers (see #2 above). example: cat_a/product.jpg -- IH2 should recognize the other two files automatically (product_01 and product_02)

these are the steps I've come up with so far.

Any tips on how to generate the HTML used for the product description?

The outline on how you plan to proceed looks good, and correct. Just test it with a couple items to make sure IH2 gets things correct - it should.

That last question is the hardest one to answer without knowing what tools/programs you have available and are familiar with. If you know HTML you can insert the paired tags yourself as you edit the file (say in Excel or OpenOffice Spreadsheet), or use a text editor - Crimson Editor (cedit) or the one built into ZC itself. I like to use a number of programs when I am creating a whole page/site, depending on if I feel like using windoze (HotDog Pro, or Jr/Express for the extra simple/quick) or Linux (Screem) - a program I have from a vendor automatically generates auction listings for me with HTML code in place in M$'s windoze, yet not in Linux, even using win4lin - bummer :( . You can use a word processor that generates HTML based on the features you select (WordPerect, OpenOffice, M$ Word, etc), select view code, copy and paste it into the open file. Even a plain/fancy text editor will work - again if you know HTML.

Just an idea of what I do, and I'll add comments following it.

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<p>You asked for more robust process with less energy. Have a look at what we have been able to do for you</p>
<ul><li><b>25% quicker</b> with only half the power - you finish quicker, saving time, and you are able to work on larger projects, or have more projects going at the same time.</li>
<li><b>Better integration</b> means you are able to access the functionality that you need without scratching your head, and losing valuable time, <strong> saving you 10%</strong> in labor compared to the Yxoz 123, and <b> over 15% labor savings</b> compared to our competitors. </li>
<li>Other great features and their benefits goes here, and under a couple more bulleted entries.</li> </ul>
<hr />
<p>The above information is believed to be accurate at the time of this writing.  For more detailed information please see the link below.  </p>
```So it looks like:
**The new Zoxy 321** replaces the Yxoz 123.  We have listened to you, our customer, and taking all of your suggestions to heart we created this to meet your current and future demands.  We started from the ground and worked our way up, to help integrate all of the new features, instead of having you guess where everything is.
You asked for more robust process with less energy. Have a look at what we have been able to do for you- **25% quicker **with only half the power - you finish quicker, saving time, and you are able to work on larger projects, or have more projects going at the same time.
- **Better integration** means you are able to access the functionality that you need without scratching your head, and losing valuable time, **saving you 10%** in labor compared to the Yxoz 123, and **over 15% labor savings** compared to our competitors.
- Other great features and their benefits goes here, and under a couple more bulleted entries.<horizontal rule here - this forum doesn't let me reproduce here> 
The above information is believed to be accurate at the time of this writing.  For more detailed information please see the link below. 

The <b> and </b>, as well as <strong> and </strong>, paired tags is for bold, <ul> and </ul> is for unordered list, <li> & </li> is list item, <p> and </p> are the paragraph markers, and <hr /> is a horizontal rule.  Note that some items, like the <hr /> is not a paired tag, yet because of the new coding standards, everything should have an opening and closing tag.  To get around that, instead of <hr></hr> (the slash "/" denotes a closing tag) the slash is added to the end of the opening tag, and it is understood to be a tag pair by itself.  We could do the same with the paragraph tag, such as <p /> as you normally do no have a paragraph within a paragraph, yet for humans to follow along (meaning me) I use the opening and closing tags for paragraphs, not the shortcut method.  In the old style of coding HTML the closing tags for paragraphs where omitted, and the horizontal rule did not have a closing take, same with the blank rule tag <br />.

I like to make bold/strong the first couple words or sentence of my opening paragraph, and then the first couple words in the bulleted list.  For the list I like listing the benefit first - to grab the attention of the reader, and then the feature that provides that benefit.  Helps answer the questions like "What is 25% faster?" or "How did you manage to get an additional 15% improvement while saving 50%?".    No, I don't provide all of the details, trade secret or something to that effect, yet give a general idea of how it is done or how I can make that claim.  Your style will determine a lot, and testing will help out as well.

Dag nab it, why did you have to ask such a hard question?

Hi,

I have had Zen Cart for over a year now for our hobby shop. My Husband spent countless hours and sleepless nights figuring out how to initially set up the store. Neither of us have any prior php experience, not even much html. :shocking: I understand this forum offers many explanations on how to do things but quite frankly, I just don't understand any of it - it's too technical for me and I don't understand all the acrynoms. :frusty:

Yesterday, my question was whether I could do a bulk product upload on Zen Cart and came across this Easy Populate. :clap: I went to the site and clicked on the link for the demo but there aren't any instructions on how to use the demo. :huh:

The first thing I would like to do with my Zen Cart before "experimenting" is to backup all my data, my store format, current categories, products and layout - how do I do that?

Secondly, I need an easy-to-understand instructions (non-techy as possible) on how to use Easy Populate.

Lastly, is there maybe another and more importantly, easier, solution to the bulk product upload than Easy Populate?

Thank you in advance for all your help! :bigups:

UBERHEIT:

Hi,

I have had Zen Cart for over a year now for our hobby shop. My Husband spent countless hours and sleepless nights figuring out how to initially set up the store. Neither of us have any prior php experience, not even much html. :shocking: I understand this forum offers many explanations on how to do things but quite frankly, I just don't understand any of it - it's too technical for me and I don't understand all the acrynoms. :frusty:

Yesterday, my question was whether I could do a bulk product upload on Zen Cart and came across this Easy Populate. :clap: I went to the site and clicked on the link for the demo but there aren't any instructions on how to use the demo. :huh:

The first thing I would like to do with my Zen Cart before "experimenting" is to backup all my data, my store format, current categories, products and layout - how do I do that?

Secondly, I need an easy-to-understand instructions (non-techy as possible) on how to use Easy Populate.

Lastly, is there maybe another and more importantly, easier, solution to the bulk product upload than Easy Populate?

Thank you in advance for all your help! :bigups:

Backups are always a great idea. If you haven't done one before, what you will need to do (assuming you have access to cPanel as most hosts have this) is to log in and choose the backup option. From there, you can backup your database as well as your store configuration by selecting the appropriate options. The backups are normally downloaded to your PC, so save them where you will remember.

Zen Cart has an override system, meaning that any modified files should be within that framework. Your layout should not be affected as long as you follow the instructions on installing the EP feature. The installation is done by placing the correct files in their correct locations, running a sql patch, and then activating it through your admin, so the worst that should happen is that it will not work until everything is finished.

Once installed, just download a full version of your store (this is the first link under the input section) in Easy Populate. Use a spreadsheet application like Excel97 to open this file. The file you are working on is formatted in columns and rows, the top row MUST be left intact and the last column MUST be populated with EOFEOF on every line that is to be uploaded.

The location of the data is pretty straight forward, whatever follows the v_ on the top line is what goes into that column for each product. Many can be left blank (default values will be inserted like in date_added, date_avaialble, etc. ) but model, name, description, image, caterory (_1 is the uppermost one, _2 is the first sub-category, etc) and status (1 is active, 0 is inactive) all need to be populated.

When you are done adding new products (try just one first), rename and save your file (as tab delimited text). Go into your stores admin, select Easy Populate from the tools menu and click on Browse. Find you file on your PC and select Insert into db. One line should take a few second to do. Hopefully, you will get a confirmation that the product was added (if not, that is another issue). Go into your store an check to be sure that it looks as expected.

Anyone, if I left anything out, please feel free to help me out!

Dennis
www.stampdays.com