Easypopulate, or not ?

Hi,
Have installed Easypopulate (EP_v1.2.5.4) to try and cut down the time and effort involved in getting my zencart operational, with full load of stock - but it appears that either I'm doing something wrong, or easypopulate is offering a tool which does not satisfy the basic need of bulk product upload. It does not load my 'simple' products, i.e. products with no complications - no models etc !!

HISTORY
I tried to upload the amended example spreadsheet, with no result.
(My fault - got it wrong that time ! Now has EOROR for each item)

I added product model numbers, and uploaded. Result - only one item (the last one!) uploaded, but linked itself to every product category in the store !
Did not link to its own image (all images were loaded seperately to my images folder !

Can someone please tell me if I should bear with this tool because I'm not using it properly, or is my requirement for simple product load not performed by the tool ?
If it's not capable - what is, please ?

Would appreciate help, otherwise it will mean a lot of lost sleep while I load the stock items, now and in future !
Thanks !

would you post a typical row here as a csv with headers and I will have a look for you.
having had a mixed bag of results from this module I would be happy look at it for you.

Jayenne,
Thanks for the response !
Details attached as a .txt file- hope you (or somebody ?) can help !
Main problem I can see, is that I'm not using 'models' for my stock !
M.

Medusa,

Yes, this module will work for you, but is does have it's limits. EP_v1.2.5.4 is the current "working" version. Don't try the 2.7 - it doesn't work.

My advice:

1. Start with fresh empty databases.
2. Create your categories and add 1 product to your store including picture - DO THIS IN THE ZENCART ADMIN AREA
3. Download your "complete tab delimited .txt file"
4. Import this to excel

This will give you your working template with the correct headers.

Now add a product but be sure to either leave no blank entries or remove columns that you do not need to update.

For example. If product "1" has a manufacturer and product "2" following it does not, EP will assign product "1" manufacturer to product "2" ... this is a simple programing error in EP, but it will give you much trouble. I just delete columns I don't need and that seems to "fix" it.

Also, EP relies on unique "model number" to work, so you will have to assign a model to every product.

I have not used attributes, so I am not sure if that works okay.

Also, you cannot move/delete categories without using a fresh download or you will get linked products.

Some of these have been fixed in the paid version. Langer told me recently that the new version is "very close" ... I am hoping he's ironed out these bugs.

Also, I like using quick updates to fill in some of the gaps, but (sigh) it too has issues!

Be sure to install the mysql backup mod so you can easily backup and restore your store!

Good Luck!

chadderuski:

Medusa,

Yes, this module will work for you, but is does have it's limits.

Some of these have been fixed in the paid version. Langer told me recently that the new version is "very close" ... I am hoping he's ironed out these bugs.

Good Luck!
I use the paid version of Easy Update and love it. Yes sometimes I will get a cross-linked item or ten, but I believe it is a ISP Host problem more than EZ's problem.

The use is a little tricky, the extended store template will not create a category structure, you have to create the categories manually OR with the paid version use the category template and create them there first

Category Name
Category NameSub Name
Category NameSub Name~Deeper Sub
etc

Good news about a new version coming, I hope it supports thatsoftwareguy's Discount 1.5 mod.

Thanks
JOhn ><>

Thanks to both Libertyflag and chadderuski for their kind efforts !

Unfortunately, it seems I'm going to have to continue my data load manually !
Why ?

1. (chadderuski) I can't delete my database as is already has quite a few active products, which I can't afford to 'lose' - it's already active !
2. (chadderuski) I downloaded my active data as the 'complete' file and used it as the template for my extended upload - as you say, it uses 'model' as the key - I am not allowed to delete it from the template and I don't have or use 'models' for my products .
3. (chadderuski and Libertyflag) Good to hear that a new version is being worked on !
   Pity it's not available now (or in the past, if the requirements have been around for a while ?) Don't understand why Easypopulate standard fails so easily on (my?) simple requirements, and (apparently?) even EP Advanced, for which the author receives money, is dogged with problems. Although I could have paid for the advanced version, I won't - it doesn't appear to be robust enough to inspire confidence !

Easy populate or not ? Probably NOT ?

LibertyFlag:

Good news about a new version coming, I hope it supports thatsoftwareguy's Discount 1.5 mod.

The only problem I have ever heard of with people running Quantity Discounts on an EasyPopulated database is the Master Categories being messed up, and this can be fixed using Admin -> Tools -> Store Manager->"Reset ALL Products Master Categories ID". So it should work fine.

That Software Guy

swguy:

The only problem I have ever heard of with people running Quantity Discounts on an EasyPopulated database is the Master Categories being messed up, and this can be fixed using Admin -> Tools -> Store Manager->"Reset ALL Products Master Categories ID". So it should work fine.

That Software Guy

Langer has confirmed that quantity break pricing will be working in the upcoming paid release. I don't know if that is the >same< ase "Quantity Discounts".

SwGuy, does the "reset all product master categories id" fix the odd "linked products" problem you sometimes get with the free version of EP? I get this when I change categories sometimes or move a product.

chadderuski:

Langer has confirmed that quantity break pricing will be working in the upcoming paid release. I don't know if that is the >same< as "Quantity Discounts".

It's not - this is the built-in Quantity Discount functionality he's talking about, which creates per item database records. Mine is global and does not.

SwGuy, does the "reset all product master categories id" fix the odd "linked products" problem you sometimes get with the free version of EP? I get this when I change categories sometimes or move a product.

In every case I have seen, it does. Be sure to back up your d/b before making a change like this, of course.

Scott

SwGuy -

My turn!

What do I do with the "debris" that won't delete? I emptied my test databases so I could upload new data and this is an error I get now.

Also, imported data is off by 1 record. ???

I'm QD, not EP - can't help with your question. Ask Langer on the EP thread here:

http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34970

Scott