Auction Product Type

I believe found the fixes for both the email and ssl earlier on in this thread.

I have another problem though.

After I got things going I posted a test item. The process worked with the exception of the couple of issues still working on.

At the time when I clicked on the test item a new page would open and display the auction item. Even bid on it.

I have since added 10 more items, but not only is the first test item, but all of the auction items open up a blank page when they are clicked on.

Completely blank.

I checked my error log but nothing there.

Any ideas why all the auction item pages are blank?

taogem:

I believe found the fixes for both the

Completely blank.

Any ideas why all the auction item pages are blank?

Ok.... Soooooo Close !!

I found a Debug Utility and tracked down the problem with the blank auction item pages. :smile:

It was in the head_php_php folder that I edited to try and correct the email problem based on this thread. So for what ever reason, editing line 21 caused the blank pages. I had to put that back to original. So far that is the only code fix I have found that might have corrected the email glitch.

That aside.....

When I go to bid on an item, it is telling me about being encrypted and that can be seen by a third party.

I think will need to get my hosting company to help with that. It's strange, because it did this one time and has not done it since. I think I read something about that someplace in this thread.

Still..... Hopefully they can fix it from doing it at all.

**But....... I really could use some help with the email issue. **

When I place a bid, I am getting this:

Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function. Please check Admin->Configuration->Email Options->Email Transport.

That is set by default to PHP.

Since I believe my server is Apache, I don't believe am suppose to change it to the SMTP.

Then the email confirmation subject line reads "Mail failure - no recipient addresses"

Then the very first line in the email reads:

"A message that you sent contained no recipient addresses, and therefore no delivery could be attempted."

Most of the rest looks ok as best I can tell, except for a line that reads:

"Dear
You have been outbid on taogem.com"

Why would my confirmation say I outbid myself ?

Again, I feel like need to apologize for all the posts.

If someone could help me understand the email part then I believe everything else will be ok once my hosting Co gets the SSL straightened out.

Help please ? :lamo:

the php mail function does not work with the auction as far as I have seen
You can use sendmail, or the SMTP, just dedicate an email address for it.
I am using sendmail and it works fo the most part, some say emails are not sent or wrong email sent.
I personally havent had any big issue with this once I changed to sendmail, your host may or may not allow sendmail, and you may need to know the correct path to sendmail

ran out of edit time, sorry

And for the blank page, this is usually cased by erroneous characters that get put in by some of the editors .
This may help explain why you need a Plain Text Editor when playing in PHP

http://php.about.com/od/phpbasics/p/text_editor.htm

there are many free editors out htere, a quick Google seach gave me this site

http://lorelle.wordpress.com/2005/11/25/free-text-only-editors-for-templates-php-html-css-and-more/

taogem:

When I go to bid on an item, it is telling me about being encrypted and that can be seen by a third party.

**But....... I really could use some help with the email issue. **

Email Error: Could not instantiate mail function. Please check Admin->Configuration->Email Options->Email Transport.

That is set by default to PHP.

Then the email confirmation subject line reads "Mail failure - no recipient addresses"

If someone could help me understand the email part then I believe everything else will be ok once my hosting Co gets the SSL straightened out.

There was a fix some time back for the blank email... as for the mail issue, try running through some of the Tutorials https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?category=9

I'm not having any issues using PHP mail function! I'm running my auction live right now without any problems.

If your SSl was installed and working right for the rest of your site, then it shouldn't be any different for the auction page.

taogem:

Hey, hey, hey !! :D

Got it !!!!!!!! :clap:

Now.....

I had hoped that after listing an auction item that a Live Auction link of some type would appear on the main page of the cart. There is not one.

The auction listing was placed within the general category that lists the General Products.

Can someone tell me how to create a separate page for auction items and how to make the auction items list on that page please?

If the owner of Zen Crystals, Spheres Pyramids Pendulums Chakra kits Reiki Stones Meditation tools is reading this.

You are using the same template as I am.

Maybe you could tell me how you created yours?

I also like your navigation bar at the top of your cart.

Any way..... Any help organizing a Live Auction page would be greatly appreciated !

Hi taogem,
Thank you for your kind words.

I think someone else already answered your question about creating a separate Live Auctions page but just in case... I just created a separate category named 'Live Auctions' and list all of my auctions in that category.

As for the top header navigation menu bar, it came with the zencart_zen template. If you let me know what particular 'tweaks' you are referring to I'd be glad to share any helpful info I can.

Zencart has been GREAT to me and I'd love to give back in any way possible...

Zencart ROCKS :clap:

Question: Can an auction be resintated after it ends? I can't seem to get this to work for me. One of my auctions ended iwth a bid, and I cannot reset again. Does that mean I have delete and create a new one?

Craft Magick:

Hi taogem,

As for the top header navigation menu bar, it came with the zencart_zen template. If you let me know what particular 'tweaks' you are referring to I'd be glad to share any helpful info I can.

Hi Craft Magick..

I am using the zencart_zen. Guess I don't know where or how to get that navigation bar with the drop down menu selections that you have at the top of your site.

My categories and and things are in a sidebar to the left of the page.

So yes, I would sure appreciate knowing how to have the same drop down menus at the top of my site as you do.

Also would like to share a Helpful Auction Mod installation thread

Chain_man from over at CST walked through an install with me.

I just wanted to share where he helped me at in case someone here would like to consider using the steps he had me use for my install.

Here is the thread

Hi taogem,
My mistake, the css horizontal drop menu was a separate mod...

you can download it from the downloads section and here's a quick link to it:

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=479

hope this helps. btw, i'm going to check out your website over the weekend and mayber we can chat :smile:

Zencart ROCKS :clap:

Craft Magick:

Hi taogem,
My mistake, the css horizontal drop menu was a separate mod...

you can download it from the downloads section and here's a quick link to it:

http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?main_page=product_contrib_info&products_id=479

hope this helps. btw, i'm going to check out your website over the weekend and mayber we can chat :smile:

Zencart ROCKS :clap:

Thanks for the link Craft Magick..

Yes, happy to have a chat any time!

davewest:

There was a fix some time back for the blank email... as for the mail issue, try running through some of the Tutorials https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?category=9

I'm not having any issues using PHP mail function! I'm running my auction live right now without any problems.

If your SSl was installed and working right for the rest of your site, then it shouldn't be any different for the auction page.

Not sure why, but everything is working just fine now. The bidders are getting confirmations, for their bids and also when they are outbid.

No more security pop up windows with the third party encrypted messages either.

One thing though......

Should we not be getting something ourselves via email for the various auction activities? Are we going to get any at all up through and including the end of auctions?

Also, just to make sure I have it right. The cron job is suppose to be set to zero, correct? That is how I am understanding it. It seems like it would be opposite so as to make sure everything is completed at auction end.

taogem:

...
Also, just to make sure I have it right. The cron job is suppose to be set to zero, correct? That is how I am understanding it. It seems like it would be opposite so as to make sure everything is completed at auction end.

If you have not setup a CRON job (if you dont know what this is they you didnt set it up) then you need it set to 0 so that the code that does auction close is run.

If you set it to 0 then only when someone goes to your sencart site (any page) will the system check to see if any auctions have closed. If no one visits for 10 hours, then the closed auction wont be detected during that time of inactivity.

AHB

Thank you bramnick..

Another question :smile:

The text that tell the status of the auctioned item. It is right under the title of the item. I can't show it here because you would have to be logged in to view it.

It tells how many bids, the current high bid, time remaining..

Any hooo..

How and where might I go to change the size of that text. It is presently almost microscopic :shocking:

Thanks and having a lot of fun with this mod!

taogem:

How and where might I go to change the size of that text. It is presently almost microscopic

You need to edit the css class or add one for the area you wish to change.

The class 'main' is used throughout the auction page, tpl_product_auction_info_display.php if you add main to your style sheet and add a text size, that would work. you could add your own classes to do more.

.main {
   font-size: 12px ;
    }
```I've redesign mine to not use tables and setup my own style classes

Glad to hear you got the email issue sorted out.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the response.

I found this:

/public_html/taogemst_myzencart/admin/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_product_auction_info_display.php

Here is an area that looks like it is what I am after:

If I am in the ball park, then just not sure where exactly to edit in the code you suggested.

taogem:

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the response.

I found this:

/public_html/taogemst_myzencart/admin/includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_product_auction_info_display.php

Here is an area that looks like it is what I am after:

<tr> <td align="center" class="main"><?php echo TEXT_DATE_AVAILABLE .$days_left." days ".$hours_left." hours ".$minutes_left." minutes"; ?> <?php if (AUCTION_INFO_DISPLAY_PREVIOUS_BIDS_COUNT == '1') echo ' - ' . $previous_bids->RecordCount() . ' ' . AUCTION_BIDS; ?></td> </tr>

If I am in the ball park, then just not sure where exactly to edit in the code you suggested.

Have to keep in mind that I'm not using tables and I'm also using a round corner wrapper, but this is how my code looks after editing class="main".

<td class="productAuction biggerText"><?php echo TEXT_DATE_AVAILABLE .$days_left." days ".$hours_left." hours ".$minutes_left." minutes"; ?> <?php if (AUCTION_INFO_DISPLAY_PREVIOUS_BIDS_COUNT == '1') echo ' - ' . $previous_bids->RecordCount() . ' ' . AUCTION_BIDS; ?></td>Notice I replaced 'main' with two, 'productAuction biggerText'. The 'productAuction' replaced 'main' and 'biggerText' does just that... makes that text larger then normal. Here's what the class is in my '/includes/templates/CUSTOM/css/stylesheet.css' file..

.productAuction  {
    text-align: center;
    vertical-align: top;
    padding: 1.2em;

.biggerText {
    font-size: 1.2em;
    }
```I replaced the div with td so not to be confusing.  Once you add the classes then all you need do is change the style sheet to make changes to your page.

Also,
 /includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_product_auction_info_display.php 
This is your default file structure, if you don't use the override, you'll have a had time upgrading your site later on.

Thanks Dave..

I got it.... !

I opted not to do the :

.productAuction {
text-align: center;
vertical-align: top;
padding: 1.2em;

The text looks good right where it is now. Nice to know I can move it if need be though.

Actually, this was a neat little practice CSS. I learned a little something by doing this.

Any way...... Thanks a bunch.. :smile:

Is there some way to tell who is bidding on what?

I looked around but can't see anything. Just seems that since it is required to log in before bidding that there must be a record of some kind.

Is there ? :unsure:

taogem:

Is there some way to tell who is bidding on what?

This is supposed to be a list of the account numbers of the previous bidders listed on the bid page.

:dontgetit

AHB

Ok,

Several auction items just ended.

Bidders are not receiving any kind of winning email notifications. Shouldn't they be?

Just not exactly sure what the exact closing auction process is suppose to include.

Also....

I guess in order to have ended items not show with others that are still up for auction, we have to manually delete them?

Just looking for a little help in regards to how the mod is suppose to ideally work when auction ends.

Thank you :smile: