Can't update product descriptions

I'm having a problem with Zen Cart updating product descriptions after I've inputted the initial product description just fine. I've tried altering the record using PHPMySql and that throws errors.

I'm using:
Zen Cart 1.3.7
Database Patch Level: 1.3.7

My last programmer told me that there was a problem in how Zen Cart deals with the HTML on descriptions.

Is there a fix or a workaround that anyone is aware of?

Appreciate your help.

From Admin select:

Catalog -> Categories/Products

Open the appropriate category and find your product.

Click the round icon with E inside (usually green icon). E stands for "Edit".

Make changes to your product listing.

Now here is where I believe things went wrong:

You MUST click "PREVIEW" when finished editing.
Then, from the Preview Screen you MUST click "UPDATE" in order to save your changes.

Best of luck,

Ron

ronlee67:

From Admin select:

Catalog -> Categories/Products

Open the appropriate category and find your product.

Click the round icon with E inside (usually green icon). E stands for "Edit".

Make changes to your product listing.

Now here is where I believe things went wrong:

You MUST click "PREVIEW" when finished editing.
Then, from the Preview Screen you MUST click "UPDATE" in order to save your changes.

Best of luck,

Ron

Thanks Ron but that's not the problem. Zen Cart won't allow me to do the update after the preview. Actually, I make the changes to an existing product and hit "preview" and the original product description re-appears. It's not a cache issue either.

My ex-Zen Cart programmer told me it was a problem with how Zen Cart handles some HTML. He was able to update product descriptions through MySql... I know a bit about that too but PHPMySql throws an error when I attempt to make a description change through this backdoor.

Here's a warning I get:

**More than one FULLTEXT key was created for column products_description
**
When I try to make a change to a product description through PHPMySql I get this error:

Error

SQL query:
A
**MySQL said: **

#1064 - You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near 'A' at line 1

Here's a pic from PHPMySql. Is the problem because I have 4 product descriptions? Should I simply delete the last three of them?

1. yes, you should delete the 3 extra product-description indexes.

2. Zen Cart doesn't currently use FULLTEXT indexes, so you're apparently not using default core code.
   What are all the addons/contributions you've installed?
   What additional customizations have been done to your store?

3. Additionally, in the future, all the details of error messages you're encountering should be posted when you mention that there's a problem. Based only on your first post there is no explanation for having any problems because all you said is that you couldn't save product descriptions and had some blame to point to Zen Cart. Specific details are always more likely to get you detailed help faster. Otherwise things sometimes go unanswered.

DrByte:

1. yes, you should delete the 3 extra product-description indexes.

2. Zen Cart doesn't currently use FULLTEXT indexes, so you're apparently not using default core code.
   What are all the addons/contributions you've installed?
   What additional customizations have been done to your store?

3. Additionally, in the future, all the details of error messages you're encountering should be posted when you mention that there's a problem. Based only on your first post there is no explanation for having any problems because all you said is that you couldn't save product descriptions and had some blame to point to Zen Cart. Specific details are always more likely to get you detailed help faster. Otherwise things sometimes go unanswered.

Doc,

Your point is well taken (however, see #3, below).

1. I deleted the three extra product description indexes and cannot add new products to the store now... (CLARIFICATION: I can add new products but no product descriptions for the new products).

2. I've added shipping modules (Ajah performed this), Easy Populate (have never used it), and HelpCenter Live (do not use it - was installed as a script through my ISP). None others that I can name. No other customizations except I will occasionally change header text on banner boxes, etc.

3. I did not understand there were errors until I had dug in a bit deeper while waiting for some help...

Thanks for your input.

geoman:

3. I did not understand there were errors until I had dug in a bit deeper while waiting for some help...Fair enough. Thus, your additional post with the details of what you discovered while waiting was completely appropriate. I apologize if my tone sounded harsh - it wasn't intended to be. I really only meant it as an explanation and a guide. Thanks for clarifying.

What kind of HTML is in your product description?

DrByte:

Fair enough. Thus, your additional post with the details of what you discovered while waiting was completely appropriate. I apologize if my tone sounded harsh - it wasn't intended to be. I really only meant it as an explanation and a guide. Thanks for clarifying.

What kind of HTML is in your product description?

No harshness taken. I understand completely where you are coming from. I love Zen Cart.

First of all, I better clarify. I am on a Mac using Safari and/or Firefox (mostly Firefox). I can emulate XP (and IE Explorer) using Parallels but don't usually...

For the most part, I cut and paste descriptions from manufacturer sites. They can contain bulleted lists, etc.

Here's an example of one that cannot be altered at all via Zen Cart or PHPMySql:

Click here

Appreciate your input.

Hi Folks,

I came in late on this thread, but I loaded the example that you mentioned and my debugger instantly had an issue with it, though of course, it didn't tell me what it didn't like. I do see a bunch of javascript in there that doesn't make sense to me. I haven't played around too much with Javascript and Zencart, but I imagine it is possible that some of this troulbe could be there.

My debugger failed on line 344 with the following segment of code:

Cleverly, the LEDs are user replaceable, as are the <a class="inline" onclick="function onclick(event) {sndReq("./content/_uni/products.php?cat=lightheads&products=wilma&section=lens"); }">lenses</a>

Looking at the page itself, that link doesn't show up. I don't know that htis is your problem, but script errors on the preview page could cause the update script to not function.

Good luck.

jammin320:

Hi Folks,

I came in late on this thread, but I loaded the example that you mentioned and my debugger instantly had an issue with it, though of course, it didn't tell me what it didn't like. I do see a bunch of javascript in there that doesn't make sense to me. I haven't played around too much with Javascript and Zencart, but I imagine it is possible that some of this troulbe could be there.

My debugger failed on line 344 with the following segment of code:

Cleverly, the LEDs are user replaceable, as are the <a class="inline" onclick="function onclick(event) {sndReq("./content/_uni/products.php?cat=lightheads&products=wilma&section=lens"); }">lenses</a>

>  
> Good luck.

Thanks jammin.

I take that as problem that I will correct - thank you. 

However, I can't add a new product description even with sample description text (i.e. no code at all) to my store. I can add the product, just not any description. This particular issue seems to have happened after I deleted the 3 product description indexes as mentioned earlier in the thread. Prior to that, I could not update descriptions once they were entered and updated.

UPDATE: I just retried a simple sample description text and it will add it to a new product. So my problem really involves updated existing descriptions. I'll try completely deleting the original description, reformatting looking particularly close at the code you describe above, and see if that fixes it. Thanks for the headsup.

BINGO.

Copied original description text to a text editor, removed all HTML, and it saves to the product.

Thanks very much for all the help.

I seem to be fixed.

Sweet! Good work. Thanks for letting us know you got it fixed!

Product descriptions can certainly use HTML, but I don't know that they can use javascript - maybe they can.

But the snippet posted above shows a link that references /content/_uni/products.php, which must be a location on the manufacturer's site. It is probably incomprehensible to your Zen Cart code, and certainly won't function without a specific external link url.

gjh42:

Product descriptions can certainly use HTML, but I don't know that they can use javascript - maybe they can.

But the snippet posted above shows a link that references /content/_uni/products.php, which must be a location on the manufacturer's site. It is probably incomprehensible to your Zen Cart code, and certainly won't function without a specific external link url.

I think that was the problem. Problem was, I couldn't see the code because at least on Safari and/or Firefox for Mac the description box doesn't show any code...

Thanks everybody for your help.

Are you editing/pasting using a rich-text editor in your Admin, or are you just pasting raw HTML?

ie: are you pasting something like this:
The ***brown fox ***jumped over the fence

Or are you pasting this:
The <strong><em><font color="brown">brown fox</font></em></strong> jumped over the fence