Invalid Master Category ID

Hi all,

I have just begun adding categories and products to a fresh ZC1.3.0.2
I had installed this with the sample products so I could test it out and see how it works. Just to be fussy, I deleted each sample product individually and worked my way up to deleting each category when it was empty.

The I created a dozen new categories and began adding products. I got up to my 4th product and am now seeing an error at the top of the form where I add a new product.

In a dropdown list it says "Invalid Master Category ID"
and then lists the text: NOTE: Master Category is used for pricing purposes where the product category affects the pricing on linked products, example: Sales

I'm unsure how to fix this. I have found a couple of threads on the subject. One has no solution and the other is old in the archive and I'm not sure it's relevant as this is a brand new 1.3.0.2 installation. That thread is here:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33073&highlight=Invalid+Master+Category

I'm not really sure how to deal with this. Any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Rob

Is this even an error? I can still add products to my categories just the same. I can't tell if this is going to cause trouble or not though?

Rob

Categories hold Products or Categories not both ...

The Master Categories ID is the categories_id that "owns" the Product ...

This should never be 0 ...

If the Product exists in 2+ Categories ... this is a Linked Product ...

However, only 1 of the 2+ Categories is the actual Master Categories ID

If you import products, more than likely your import program is not managing the master_categories_id correctly ...

Thanks for the response Linda.

As I described in my posts... I merely deleted the ZenCart sample products and categories from the bottom up (by clicking the red X's), then added my own categories and then half a dozen products. There are no sub categories, no cross linked categories, no cross linked products, no products in multiple categories and no categories within categories.

It is just one level of categories and a few unique products; all added using the standard Zencart menus - no import programs or anything weird.

I've had a look at my category IDs and there are none set as zero. I've attached a screengrab of my categories screen. None of them have subcategories. The items inside are just simple products, nothing is linked elsewhere.

Any further assistance is much appreciated,. I won't put anything else in the cart for now.

Regards,
Rob

That does not look like v1.3.0.2 ...

In v1.3.0.2 you would never see the two buttons for New Product and New Category in a section where you have already added a Product or Category as you cannot add both to a Category ...

Do you have some kind of Add-On?

Hi Linda, thanks for the response,

First I installed 1301

Then I installed the Dual Price mod from this thread:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33439&highlight=wholesale+price

Then I spent a couple of weeks reading docs and configuring the cart to suit.

Then I installed the 1302 upgrade package after carefully checking it against the Dual Price files for any conflicts - there were none.

Only then did I begin to make product/category alterations. The error turned up after adding 3-4 items, exactly the same as happened to someone in another thread.

Because of the amount of time it all takes, I have documented every step, including every setting on every menu.

Is there anything else I could look for or am I facing a complete rebuild from scratch? There are no other mods installed. I'd rather get it right at this phase even if it does mean repeating everything all over again (argh). I'd test adding products right at the start rather than waiting.

Regards,
Rob

You'd have to check with who made the add-on ...

This error does not exist in Zen Cart v1.3.0.2 ... so I would look there for the answers ...

Thanks for the further response Linda.

I've now written to the chap who made the Dual Pricing mod and have asked if he can look at and comment on this thread. I'll sit tight and see what happens.

Regards,
Rob

Keep us posted and good luck! :smile:

I've had no luck contacting the author of the Dual Pricing mod either through the relevant forum thread or his email address, so I had to just bite the bullet and resintall from scratch to determine if it's the mod that is not working on 1.3.0.2

And it is.

I'll need to track down some other way to have separate retail and wholesale prices... I'll go and dig around the Add-ons forum and see what I can find. If anyone knows of a solution, please let me know :)

Rob

Rob,

Our workaround/solution to the need to have different pricing for different groups is to:

1. Add wholesale customers to a group then apply a group pricing discount to come to a wholesale price.

2. Install the VAT contribution http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&cPath=40_55&products_id=89 so that prices quoted to European companies do not include VAT.

The drawback is that wholesale customers have to be registered before you can apply the group pricing policy.

Regards

Peter

Thanks for the helpful response Peter,

The hassle here in NZ is that the resellers more often than not make up their whole prices per product rather than following a percentage calculation. That's what really makes the dual pricing mod valuable.

People who are trade customers get added to a group that then sees the alternate prices when they log in. It even allows for multiple levels of alternate pricing, but I don't really need that.

We'll just have to sit tight and see if anyone who has the skills pick this up. The guy I'm building this site for is getting it for next to nothing so I can't really place any demands on developers.

I'd love see the mod added to the ZC core. That'd be the ultimate in cool.

Regards,
Rob

Hi Guys,

I noticed when I add linked products I have the 'Invalid Master Category ID' error appearing in the drop down box on my linked products edit page? All other product pages appear as they should, including the add new product page.

Everything seems to be working ok, except for on the edit product page the drop down list is 'Invalid Master Category ID'... a linked product can be added to the shopping cart and the item can be checked out without any issues or problems. The product is identified as being linked by the Yellow Button next to the drop down linked categories box.

The cart is a squeaky clean install of 3.0.2 with no mods added and all categories/sub-categories and products are and have been added manually. (sample products were not included in the install) When I remove the linked products the error disappears...

I have researched the achrive thred and the new one here and followed the suggestions made without success. All category ID and sub-cat IDs seem OK in the DB... any ideas or things I can try to correct the error will be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks :)

When your Adding or when you are Editing an existing Product that you entered manually via the Admin?

Hi Ajeh,

The problem only shows in the edit screen of a linked product. The edit screens of non linked products is fine: EG: Product Master Category: ID# 21 3/4 ash cues .

On a linked product page it shows as per the attachment.

How did you add the Product?

What version Zen Cart are you using?

Clean install or upgrade?

If upgrade from what version and how did you upgrade?

Hi Linda,

RE #13: The cart is a squeaky clean install of 3.0.2 with no mods added and all categories/sub-categories and products are and have been added manually. (sample products were not included in the install) When I remove the linked products the error disappears...

When you hit the E for Edit ...

Does the dropdown, without touching it, read the proper Category Name?

In the list, the Invalid is there ... but it is not selected ... it is just sitting there ...

If you hit edit, and it shows the right Category then you are fine ...

If you hit edit and it is "set" to the Invalid then there could be an issue ...

So ... hit edit ... is the dropdown set to the right Category or the Invalid?