hideCategories

ShopVille:

How can i include hidden categories in XML Sitemap?

You will have to go to the XML sitemap mod files which it has a check to exclude the hide categories mod. I forgot which file it was in, but just search for hidecategories as it is commented very well in that mod. Remove or comment that code out and you hidecategoies will show on the sitemap.

yaritai:

You will have to go to the XML sitemap mod files which it has a check to exclude the hide categories mod. I forgot which file it was in, but just search for hidecategories as it is commented very well in that mod. Remove or comment that code out and you hidecategoies will show on the sitemap.
And I THINK there is a post or something in the readme which cover the correct code to add to the sitemap mod..

HI, I've downloaded the zip file and opened the ReadMe file which lists what appear to be hotlinks for installation instructions but when I try to go to the installation instructions I just get nothing (javascript void). Can someone point me to installation instructions or tell me what is causing me not to be able to access them? Thanks

bzl3bp:

HI, I've downloaded the zip file and opened the ReadMe file which lists what appear to be hotlinks for installation instructions but when I try to go to the installation instructions I just get nothing (javascript void). Can someone point me to installation instructions or tell me what is causing me not to be able to access them? Thanks

You might try UNZIPPING the fileset to view the readme instead of trying to access the readme from within the zip file..

Thanks! Might be worth adding to the instruction that tells us to read all the instructions for newbies like me.

bzl3bp:

Thanks! Might be worth adding to the instruction that tells us to read all the instructions for newbies like me.

Right.. seems like most folks figure it out though..

DivaVocals:

Right.. seems like most folks figure it out though..
... and I'm thinking that adding something to the readme that says you should read the readme isn't going to work for people that don' RTFM.:blink:

lat9:

... and I'm thinking that adding something to the readme that says you should read the readme isn't going to work for people that don' RTFM.:blink:

Yep.. Which is why I didn't bother with this "extra" reminder.. :laugh: but that said if I remember (and have some time) maybe I'll pursue adding this "reminder" to the description..

Hello, we've discovered a problem with our site, in that when someone searches for a product using the search bar, not only do they find the products which are visible to everyone, they also see products contained within hidden categories. I have the categories set to "Hidden (direct link only)" so, according to the readme, this should protect the products from search. Otherwise, the categories do not appear in the menu.

To stop the problem temporarily, I have removed the search bar from the site, which will prevent the casual visitor from accidentally finding what they shouldn't via an on-site search. However, a power web user can still find products that they shouldn't by using a simple search string such as pastie site: australianbakery.com. If you try that search, you'll see a product named "Pack 11- 6 Cornish Pasties - EAST" Click the search engine link. That is a product that should ONLY be available to one of our business partners (Cape Foods)

Admitedly, only savy search engine users know about deep diving a whole domain. Clicking the "Cape Foods" link does not reveal everything in the whole Cape Foods category. Nevertheless, information about our business partners and pricing structures with them is revealed.

In conclusion, I need to solve two problems:

a) I need to ensure that the products within hidden categories don't come up via the on-site seach bar.
b) If possible, ensure the products within hidden categories don't come up via a search engine search.

• Version of hidecategories 2.1
• ZC ver 1.3.8A (yes, I know I need to upgrade to latest 1.5x -- after we get done with the Christmas rush.)
• Plugins / add-ons:
  Throttled newsletters
  UPS Shipping
  Account Holders
  Order Exporter
  Export Shipping Information
• Zen-Cart Installed via one-click, years ago.
• PHP: 5.2.17 (Zend: 2.2.0)
• MySQL: 5.5.40-36.1-log
• We've been using hideCategories for about a year. Discovered this when some orders came in from routine customers who had found, and ordered what they shouldn't have. Then our partner showed us how he found them, without using his direct URL link, but by using on-site search.
• Customizations - changed email text to customers, email to admin, text displayed to customers when they check out.

Thank you for your help!

Greg

Hello, nobody?

Version 2.1 has the ability to hide category products from search.

ideasgirl:

Version 2.1 has the ability to hide category products from search.

Yes, that's correct, and I am using v 2.1. Nevertheless, items in hidden folders show up in search, which shouldn't be happening, so I'd like to find out why this is malfunctioning.

Greg

I recently posted an issue I'm having Hide Categories here, and it was recommended I post in this thread. Have installed 2.2 in V1.54 in demo store and am unable to see the category visibility options when I close/reopen a new category. I would be glad to repost the whole thread here, if preferred. Thank you.

Update. Original need for HideCategories was to use EZ pages for navigation instead of categories. That is what is used in live store, and works great. Only needed to make these changes and have stopped trying to work out HideCategories issue.

1. Uninstall HideCategories (maybe try at later date after demo store complete)
2. Turn Off sideboxes/categories.php in layout controller
3. Leave EZ Pages On
4. Modify EZ Page title if needed. Mine now says CATEGORIES (includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/ez_pages_definitions.php)
5. Add/modify EZ Pages as needed, set sidebox in EZ page on or off as needed.

Thanks for the tip sparrowce.

Given the lack of response anymore to support inquiries on this add-on, I think it is not supported anymore. If you choose to install it, I think you're on your own.

Greg

beyerg:

Thanks for the tip sparrowce.

Given the lack of response anymore to support inquiries on this add-on, I think it is not supported anymore. If you choose to install it, I think you're on your own.

Greg
Ahem..

volunteers "work" here..

The module works.. lack of responses has more to do with the VOLUNTEERS not having TIME to look to each individual question, try it and see if we can reproduce the result and then respond.

I'm thinking this would be a good fit for a customer. They want a "5-pack" item that wouldn't appear in listings, etc. So far so good.

The question is, do you know if they would we be able to use the Quick Order plugin to directly access the item? We're actually driving the sales on this project by the customer having "Buy 1 Now" and "Buy 5 Now" buttons on their site, which then leads directly to the ZC cart page via QO.

bbsbcastle:

I'm thinking this would be a good fit for a customer. They want a "5-pack" item that wouldn't appear in listings, etc. So far so good.

The question is, do you know if they would we be able to use the Quick Order plugin to directly access the item? We're actually driving the sales on this project by the customer having "Buy 1 Now" and "Buy 5 Now" buttons on their site, which then leads directly to the ZC cart page via QO.

Dunno.. Never tried this with the "Quick Order" module, and since I'm not sure exactly how "Quick Order" works I cannot answer this question with any specificity. I can only suggest trying installing both and see if you get the desired result you are after.

Further update for info only: After dropping tables and importing from live store to bring all categories/products over to demo test store, I started having alot of issues with the custom template I was using (Bookshelf - issues could have been I did not install right in demo store). So I went back to classic, re-installed hide-categories, and it works well with classic.

DivaVocals:

Dunno.. Never tried this with the "Quick Order" module, and since I'm not sure exactly how "Quick Order" works I cannot answer this question with any specificity. I can only suggest trying installing both and see if you get the desired result you are after.

Just so the answer will be here for the next person, Quick Order does work with Hide Categories, at least in that it will allow you to add a single "hidden" item to the cart, then display the cart page. I didn't test it much beyond that since that's our application of it. I made a unique model number for the hidden item so there would only be one choice for QO to select.

One other note. If you go to an empty cart page, we're still seeing hidden items show up in the New Products list. I solved this my turning off "New Products on Empty Cart", and adding only the items I want the user to see to Featured Items (and having that on in Empty Cart).