New Product Box Sort Order

Hello,
I'm pretty sure this might be easy to set up but I just can't find it in admin. I want the new product box "New Products For [Month]" that is displayed on the main page and also on the subcategory pages to sort the products by date added instead of randomize. Newest added shows up first. How do I do that?
Thanks.

I'm still looking into this. Does anyone know? Thanks.

Can someone let me know if this is possible or not through admin? If not possible through admin, then I guess I'm going to have to go through some code changes. Thanks.

You would need to alter the SELECT statement on the New Products and remove the randomizer ...

The randomizer helps when you have 100s of products and 50+ are New and you want to display 6 so that it isn't always the same 6 ...

Thanks Linda,
I think I'm just going to leave that code alone. I can just wait until next month and everything will flow smoothly, besides, they can just look at the new products link to see the ones listed by date that I've changed already. Thanks for the reply :smile:

I have the same question so I'm going to bring this back up. I removed the randomizer from the includes/modules/new_products.php file like this:

}

if ($new_products_query != '') $new_products = $db->Execute($new_products_query, MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS);

$row = 0;
$col = 0;
$list_box_contents = array();
$title = '';

$num_products_count = ($new_products_query == '') ? 0 : $new_products->RecordCount();

// show only when 1 or more
if ($num_products_count > 0) {
  if ($num_products_count < SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS || SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS == 0 ) {
    $col_width = floor(100/$num_products_count);
  } else {
    $col_width = floor(100/SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS);
  }

  while (!$new_products->EOF) {
    $products_price = zen_get_products_display_price($new_products->fields['products_id']);
    if (!isset($productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']])) $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] = zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($new_products->fields['master_categories_id']);

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="centerBoxContentsNew centeredContent back"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
    'text' => (($new_products->fields['products_image'] == '' and PRODUCTS_IMAGE_NO_IMAGE_STATUS == 0) ? '' : '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $new_products->fields['products_image'], $new_products->fields['products_name'], IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_WIDTH, IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_HEIGHT) . '</a><br />') . '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . $new_products->fields['products_name'] . '</a><br />' . $products_price);

    $col ++;
    if ($col > (SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS - 1)) {
      $col = 0;
      $row ++;
    }
    $new_products->MoveNext();
  }

But they are still not showing up in the date added...in fact, I guess they're still random because I don't see the same order every time I refresh. Did I miss something?

I know this is an old thread, but I didn't want to post a new one for the same question...anyone, please?

digidiva-kathy:

But they are still not showing up in the date added...in fact, I guess they're still random because I don't see the same order every time I refresh. Did I miss something?

What is "still not showing up" if you "don't see the same order" ... :unsure:

I haven't tested your code but you lost me on what is and isn't happening here ... :blink:

Hi, Linda. Thanks for trying to help :) .

I want the New Products Module to show products sorted descending by date added. I followed the instructions I found to remove the randomizer from the code above, but the New Products on the front page are still not being sorted descending by date added. They're still showing up randomly, I guess, because each time I refresh, they're in a different order.

Okay, sorry, throw a big stick at me :D . They're just using a customized version of the Classic template and I neglected to check the Modules/Classic folder for an override...which there was. Sorry, should have thought of that this morning before I bumped this back up again :( .

Have a great Sunday!

I added this code:

$new_products_query .= " ORDER BY products_date_added
                        LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;


if ($new_products_query != '') $new_products = $db->Execute($new_products_query);

That adds the sort order to either select method and the limit based on the Maximum set ...

Okay, Linda, I'm back...your post confused me and I just got to come back to look at it. So, where did you add this? Right now, they seem to be sorting in reverse order, ascending, rather than descending.

Got it! For anyone else trying to do this, here's the code:

<?php
/**
 * new_products.php module
 *
 * @package modules
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: new_products.php 6424 2007-05-31 05:59:21Z ajeh $
 */
if (!defined('IS_ADMIN_FLAG')) {
  die('Illegal Access');
}

// initialize vars
$categories_products_id_list = '';
$list_of_products = '';
$new_products_query = '';

$display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();

if ( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] == 0) || $_GET['music_genre_id'] > 0 || $_GET['record_company_id'] > 0) || (!isset($new_products_category_id) || $new_products_category_id == '0') ) {
  $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and   p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit;
} else {
  // get all products and cPaths in this subcat tree
  $productsInCategory = zen_get_categories_products_list( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] > 0) ? zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($_GET['filter_id']) : $cPath), false, true, 0, $display_limit);

  if (is_array($productsInCategory) && sizeof($productsInCategory) > 0) {
    // build products-list string to insert into SQL query
    foreach($productsInCategory as $key => $value) {
      $list_of_products .= $key . ', ';
    }
    $list_of_products = substr($list_of_products, 0, -2); // remove trailing comma

    $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                  p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and p.products_id in (" . $list_of_products . ")";
  }
}
$new_products_query .= " ORDER BY products_date_added DESC
                        LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;

if ($new_products_query != '') $new_products = $db->Execute($new_products_query);

$row = 0;
$col = 0;
$list_box_contents = array();
$title = '';

$num_products_count = ($new_products_query == '') ? 0 : $new_products->RecordCount();

// show only when 1 or more
if ($num_products_count > 0) {
  if ($num_products_count < SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS || SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS == 0 ) {
    $col_width = floor(100/$num_products_count);
  } else {
    $col_width = floor(100/SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS);
  }

  while (!$new_products->EOF) {
    $products_price = zen_get_products_display_price($new_products->fields['products_id']);
    if (!isset($productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']])) $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] = zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($new_products->fields['master_categories_id']);

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="centerBoxContentsNew centeredContent back"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
    'text' => (($new_products->fields['products_image'] == '' and PRODUCTS_IMAGE_NO_IMAGE_STATUS == 0) ? '' : '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $new_products->fields['products_image'], $new_products->fields['products_name'], IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_WIDTH, IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_HEIGHT) . '</a><br />') . '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . $new_products->fields['products_name'] . '</a><br />' . $products_price);

    $col ++;
    if ($col > (SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS - 1)) {
      $col = 0;
      $row ++;
    }
    $new_products->MoveNext();
  }

  if ($new_products->RecordCount() > 0) {
    if (isset($new_products_category_id) && $new_products_category_id != 0) {
      $category_title = zen_get_categories_name((int)$new_products_category_id);
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . ($category_title != '' ? ' - ' . $category_title : '' ) . '</h2>';
    } else {
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . '</h2>';
    }
    $zc_show_new_products = true;
  }
}
?>

That's the entire modules/new_products.php file. If you are using a custom template, be sure to put it in your custom template folder inside the modules folder.

Thanks!

Glad that you have this working now ... thanks for the update ... :smile:

Okay, we have a problem...

We have a category with subcategories and there are no new products to display in it or specials to display in it, we are getting this:

On one category in this client's shop, we are getting this:

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 'ORDER BY products_date_added DESC LIMIT 1' at line 1
in:
[ ORDER BY products_date_added DESC LIMIT 1]

The other top level category has both specials and new products and it is working fine. When I take out the file that I did for this, the error goes away so it has to be this...can you please help me figure out what's wrong with the code?

I think you will need to move the additional code:

$new_products_query .= " ORDER BY products_date_added DESC
                        LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;

Directly below the two original statements for the:
$new_products_query

so that it will be blank if neither can happen ...

More or less what is happening now is that the statement reads under some conditions:

" ORDER BY products_date_added DESC
LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;

So that does not mean anything when it goes to processes the SELECT statement, thus, it throws that error from time to time ...

Okay, so this would be the code, then?

<?php
/**
 * new_products.php module
 *
 * @package modules
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: new_products.php 6424 2007-05-31 05:59:21Z ajeh $
 */
if (!defined('IS_ADMIN_FLAG')) {
  die('Illegal Access');
}

// initialize vars
$categories_products_id_list = '';
$list_of_products = '';
$new_products_query = '';

$display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();

if ( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] == 0) || $_GET['music_genre_id'] > 0 || $_GET['record_company_id'] > 0) || (!isset($new_products_category_id) || $new_products_category_id == '0') ) {
  $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and   p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit;
						    $new_products_query .= " ORDER BY products_date_added DESC
                        LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;
} else {
  // get all products and cPaths in this subcat tree
  $productsInCategory = zen_get_categories_products_list( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] > 0) ? zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($_GET['filter_id']) : $cPath), false, true, 0, $display_limit);

  if (is_array($productsInCategory) && sizeof($productsInCategory) > 0) {
    // build products-list string to insert into SQL query
    foreach($productsInCategory as $key => $value) {
      $list_of_products .= $key . ', ';
    }
    $list_of_products = substr($list_of_products, 0, -2); // remove trailing comma

    $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                  p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and p.products_id in (" . $list_of_products . ")";
						   
						   $new_products_query .= " ORDER BY products_date_added DESC
                        LIMIT " . MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS;
  }
}


if ($new_products_query != '') $new_products = $db->Execute($new_products_query);

$row = 0;
$col = 0;
$list_box_contents = array();
$title = '';

$num_products_count = ($new_products_query == '') ? 0 : $new_products->RecordCount();

// show only when 1 or more
if ($num_products_count > 0) {
  if ($num_products_count < SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS || SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS == 0 ) {
    $col_width = floor(100/$num_products_count);
  } else {
    $col_width = floor(100/SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS);
  }

  while (!$new_products->EOF) {
    $products_price = zen_get_products_display_price($new_products->fields['products_id']);
    if (!isset($productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']])) $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] = zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($new_products->fields['master_categories_id']);

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="centerBoxContentsNew centeredContent back"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
    'text' => (($new_products->fields['products_image'] == '' and PRODUCTS_IMAGE_NO_IMAGE_STATUS == 0) ? '' : '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $new_products->fields['products_image'], $new_products->fields['products_name'], IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_WIDTH, IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_HEIGHT) . '</a><br />') . '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . $new_products->fields['products_name'] . '</a><br />' . $products_price);

    $col ++;
    if ($col > (SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS - 1)) {
      $col = 0;
      $row ++;
    }
    $new_products->MoveNext();
  }

  if ($new_products->RecordCount() > 0) {
    if (isset($new_products_category_id) && $new_products_category_id != 0) {
      $category_title = zen_get_categories_name((int)$new_products_category_id);
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . ($category_title != '' ? ' - ' . $category_title : '' ) . '</h2>';
    } else {
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . '</h2>';
    }
    $zc_show_new_products = true;
  }
}
?>

It seems to have corrected the problem and all looks okay. Thought I'd come back and repost it so someone else didn't have the same problem. If you'd like to edit my previous post with the code, it might save someone the same error :) .

Thanks!!

Glad that this worked for you ... :smile:

I missed the part that the original IF processes a blank under some conditions then later tests that the variable is blank or not ... but doesn't know that it is not complete ... silly silly me ... :P

I followed your code (I mean I replaced for mine) but the result is the same. When user click "New Products" it show some products but the default sort is "TEXT_INFO_SORT_BY_SORT_ORDER"

Can anybody help me to replace that default for the "Date Added - New to old" ?

Thanks.

Hi, this solution no longer seems to work for 1.3.9b; whenever I use this version of new_products.php the box just disappears altogether. Any chance someone could update this file to be compatible with the new version? it's really driving me crazy that I can't sort this box in descending order.

OK, I still can't figure this out... can anyone help? I'm trying to update the select statement to order by date added, but there must be an error somewhere because when I use this query the box disappears altogether (no error message, though):

    $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                  p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and p.products_status = 1
                           and p.products_id in (" . $list_of_products . ")";

######################################################$new_products_query##.=##"##ORDER##BY##products_date_added##DESC "; 

Any ideas? Thanks!

Oh, and in case it's useful here's the entirety of the new_products.php:

<?php
/**
 * new_products.php module
 *
 * @package modules
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2008 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: new_products.php 8730 2008-06-28 01:31:22Z drbyte $
 */
if (!defined('IS_ADMIN_FLAG')) {
  die('Illegal Access');
}

// initialize vars
$categories_products_id_list = '';
$list_of_products = '';
$new_products_query = '';

$display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();

if ( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] == 0) || $_GET['music_genre_id'] > 0 || $_GET['record_company_id'] > 0) || (!isset($new_products_category_id) || $new_products_category_id == '0') ) {
  $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and   p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit;
} else {
  // get all products and cPaths in this subcat tree
  $productsInCategory = zen_get_categories_products_list( (($manufacturers_id > 0 && $_GET['filter_id'] > 0) ? zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($_GET['filter_id']) : $cPath), false, true, 0, $display_limit);

  if (is_array($productsInCategory) && sizeof($productsInCategory) > 0) {
    // build products-list string to insert into SQL query
    foreach($productsInCategory as $key => $value) {
      $list_of_products .= $key . ', ';
    }
    $list_of_products = substr($list_of_products, 0, -2); // remove trailing comma

    $new_products_query = "select distinct p.products_id, p.products_image, p.products_tax_class_id, pd.products_name,
                                  p.products_date_added, p.products_price, p.products_type, p.master_categories_id
                           from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p, " . TABLE_PRODUCTS_DESCRIPTION . " pd
                           where p.products_id = pd.products_id
                           and pd.language_id = '" . (int)$_SESSION['languages_id'] . "'
                           and p.products_status = 1
                           and p.products_id in (" . $list_of_products . ")";

######################################################$new_products_query##.=##"##ORDER##BY##products_date_added##DESC "; 
  }
}

if ($new_products_query != '') $new_products = $db->Execute($new_products_query, MAX_DISPLAY_NEW_PRODUCTS);

$row = 0;
$col = 0;
$list_box_contents = array();
$title = '';

$num_products_count = ($new_products_query == '') ? 0 : $new_products->RecordCount();

// show only when 1 or more
if ($num_products_count > 0) {
  if ($num_products_count < SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS || SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS == 0 ) {
    $col_width = floor(100/$num_products_count);
  } else {
    $col_width = floor(100/SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS);
  }

  while (!$new_products->EOF) {
    $products_price = zen_get_products_display_price($new_products->fields['products_id']);
    if (!isset($productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']])) $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] = zen_get_generated_category_path_rev($new_products->fields['master_categories_id']);

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="centerBoxContentsNew centeredContent back"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
    'text' => (($new_products->fields['products_image'] == '' and PRODUCTS_IMAGE_NO_IMAGE_STATUS == 0) ? '' : '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $new_products->fields['products_image'], $new_products->fields['products_name'], IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_WIDTH, IMAGE_PRODUCT_NEW_HEIGHT) . '</a><br />') . '<a href="' . zen_href_link(zen_get_info_page($new_products->fields['products_id']), 'cPath=' . $productsInCategory[$new_products->fields['products_id']] . '&products_id=' . $new_products->fields['products_id']) . '">' . $new_products->fields['products_name'] . '</a><br />' . $products_price);

    $col ++;
    if ($col > (SHOW_PRODUCT_INFO_COLUMNS_NEW_PRODUCTS - 1)) {
      $col = 0;
      $row ++;
    }
    $new_products->MoveNext();
  }

  if ($new_products->RecordCount() > 0) {
    if (isset($new_products_category_id) && $new_products_category_id != 0) {
      $category_title = zen_get_categories_name((int)$new_products_category_id);
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . ($category_title != '' ? ' - ' . $category_title : '' ) . '</h2>';
    } else {
      $title = '<h2 class="centerBoxHeading">' . sprintf(TABLE_HEADING_NEW_PRODUCTS, strftime('%B')) . '</h2>';
    }
    $zc_show_new_products = true;
  }
}
?>