all product on top category, now i cannot create new category

so i decided to dump all my products under the top category (basically I didn't create any categories) and now that I want to add a new line of products I find out that zencart control panel wont even give me the option of creating a category, only allowed to create products...

1. is there an easy way to add category now?

or 2) is there an easy way i can backup my products and after I create categories sorta like "copy and paste" all my products back in there? I'd rather not have to do all of them from scratch again

thanx

How good is your SQL??? What you are looking to do is possible but fraught with possible problems so I would not attempt it unless you where very sure of your command of SQL and that you understand the tables/layouts for ZenCart.

Otherwise it might be a good idea to check out Easy Populate. A little painful to get to grips with but may be a lot easier in the long run.

shoot I was afraid there wasn't an easy solution

My thoughts also leapt to Easy Populate. You would need to use it to export your products, then drop them from your database, update the resulting spreadsheet with your new category structure and re-import.

The trouble with this approach is that it would disconnect your products from your order history. However, if you're not using product models, you could first use DQL to populate your product model field with your products ID field (you need a product model anyway for Easy Populate) and then repopulate your products ID field from your product models after you have re-imported.

And of course, you should backup your database before even thinking about starting any of this.

You could back up your database ...

Then run the following SQL commands in the Tools ... Install SQL Patches ...

update products_to_categories set categories_id = 1;
update products set master_categories_id = 1;

Then create your Category and all Products will appear in this Category ...

Duh! Sneaky but very effective. Throw away the Easy Populate sledgehammer and reach for the Ajeh scalpel.

I do look for that ol' easy way out ... :cool:

NOTE: if you plan to use this temporary category you should also run the Tools ... Update Product Price Sorter ...

:smile: