EasyPopulate 4.0 Support Thread

fwood:

After reading all this thread because I am working with EP 4.0 again after a couple of years. I am trying to do exactly what the other poster is wanting (make my defined fields show up) .. Think I will try to the Numunix Plugin thanks for pulling me out of a fog :-)

It did, however bring back what is now a fond memory (nightmare then). Back when I was adding code like mad to OSCommerce.. oh yes, many moon ago! I came upon a young EP, and I needed extra fields and I needed them to show. I wrote all the code in the templates for it to display and everything. Man am I getting lazy these days! ... LOL.. Just thought I would share.

Glad the little "note" helped. It is another case of multiple plugins in one way or another supporting each other. I can't for certain comment on all of the functionality of that mod. It may still require coding to address the additional fields, but it at least will get things a step further along if all that is involved is acceptable. :)

I am sorry if this question has been asked before; I have uploaded a plugin so that I can add to Product in Category the Products Cost. What do I need to do so that when I use this plugin to make a backup and later restore my products the Products Cost is also backed up?

I have just rebuilt my shop and when I used the backup copy and imported the information the Products Cost is showing zero even though I did put the info in before the backup copy was made

adb34:

I am sorry if this question has been asked before; I have uploaded a plugin so that I can add to Product in Category the Products Cost. What do I need to do so that when I use this plugin to make a backup and later restore my products the Products Cost is also backed up?

I have just rebuilt my shop and when I used the backup copy and imported the information the Products Cost is showing zero even though I did put the info in before the backup copy was made

I caution against using EP4 as a backup tool... There are suggested programs such as DrBytes database backup and simply exporting the database from phpmyadmin that will more thoruoghly capture all the necessary data to restore the site's data to the point at which it was retrieved.

That said, if this plugin is going to be used to backup data, a couple of things, and it is really this part that is covered in the instructions and a basis for operation: export, modify value, save as new file but with end of filename slightly changed, import the file, witness that change made to site matches intended action and witness that no other similar undesirable changes were made...

As to this cost field. EP4 does export cost export through a few different export paths, but if something were done to the database to add a field, then need to identify which field in which table is desired to be "preserved". If it is in the products table, then use the custom fields area in the EP4 configuration screen. If a field were added to a table outside of the products table and the field name is not already recognized and handled, then additional coding would be needed to add that field in where desired.

mc12345678:

......As to this cost field. EP4 does export cost export through a few different export paths, but if something were done to the database to add a field, then need to identify which field in which table is desired to be "preserved". If it is in the products table, then use the custom fields area in the EP4 configuration screen. If a field were added to a table outside of the products table and the field name is not already recognized and handled, then additional coding would be needed to add that field in where desired.

So in short you are saying is, drill down admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields; add the fields that I want to add. Then this is shown in admin/tools/Easy Populate 4 right hand side half way down is User Defined Products Fields: and under that I should find the plugin I have named.

If above is correct, then how do I change the word 'false' in to 'true'?

adb34:

So in short you are saying is, drill down admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields; add the fields that I want to add. Then this is shown in admin/tools/Easy Populate 4 right hand side half way down is User Defined Products Fields: and under that I should find the plugin I have named.

If above is correct, then how do I change the word 'false' in to 'true'?

The plugin information: true/false is based on code being present in EP4 to recognize and associate a field with a "plugin". The addtion of a field to the user defined fields will not modify the existence of a "true/false" field on the right side. It will only modify the list of fields identified in the user defined field. Further, the user defined field is only associated with the products table (at this tiime) therefore if the additional field of any plugin, modifies say the categories table, the user defined field will not assost in retrieviing that field.

mc12345678:

The plugin information: true/false is based on code being present in EP4 to recognize and associate a field with a "plugin". The addtion of a field to the user defined fields will not modify the existence of a "true/false" field on the right side. It will only modify the list of fields identified in the user defined field. Further, the user defined field is only associated with the products table (at this tiime) therefore if the additional field of any plugin, modifies say the categories table, the user defined field will not assost in retrieviing that field.

I have read your comment more than a dozen times and I do not understand what you have put.

Drilling down to admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields inserted 'Products Cost' which the plugin (Product_Cost_Display) is used to add the cost to me in the products page.

I then go to admin/tools/Easy Populate 4 and on the right hand side under 'User Defined Products Fields:' is the title I put in under admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields but it is showing 'False'.

Now I understand a bit of what you have put however, do I need to re-install 'Product_Cost_Display' for EP4 to see or what?

adb34:

I have read your comment more than a dozen times and I do not understand what you have put.

Drilling down to admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields inserted 'Products Cost' which the plugin (Product_Cost_Display) is used to add the cost to me in the products page.

I then go to admin/tools/Easy Populate 4 and on the right hand side under 'User Defined Products Fields:' is the title I put in under admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields but it is showing 'False'.

Now I understand a bit of what you have put however, do I need to re-install 'Product_Cost_Display' for EP4 to see or what?

The information needed to know is 1) what is the exact name of the field(s) added by your plugin, and 2) to what table(s) does it add the field(s)?

Let's assume the name of the field is product_cost_display and that the field is added to the products table. If that is the case, then the field will appear in the export and will also be imported (when present) to the database when working with the full products type import/export file once the user defined field includes: product_cost_display.

Take it one step at a time:
If there is a field in the products table to be used, then goto the configuration->ep4->user defined field.
Add each field that is in the products table that is not normally exported with each field separated by a comma.
Goto tools->ep4, export the full products data and will see the values associated with the field(s) that were added.

EP4 does not "detect" software installation, it generally looks for fields to exist in the database for "known" plugins or attempts to pull data based on what the user has entered as a custom field.

Help. Newbie here and I love the simplicity of using easy populate but my images are showing up small distorted when new products are added using easy populate. Tried Image handler. Only way they get fixed is if I go in open product to edit and click update. Any help would be appreciated. My site is https://www.thedragonskeep.net check out the witchcraft/pagan books & calendars category pretty sure some there that are waiting for me to fix.
Thanks
Sandria

Amethyst_fairy:

Help. Newbie here and I love the simplicity of using easy populate but my images are showing up small distorted when new products are added using easy populate. Tried Image handler. Only way they get fixed is if I go in open product to edit and click update. Any help would be appreciated. My site is https://www.thedragonskeep.net check out the witchcraft/pagan books & calendars category pretty sure some there that are waiting for me to fix.
Thanks
Sandria

So, EP4 does nothing more with an image than a default ZC installation does. It simply populates the database with the location of the main image. If there has been some software installed that must perform som action on the product while stepping through the collect_info and update_product step(s), then that action must be duplicated at some point in the process... (Ie. Custom coding).

As to locating the image(s) that might be a problem, well, 137 product, not sure if issue is visible in the categories listing or if only when viewing the product_info page, also don't know if it is on desktop only or on the particular mobile template that is in use and actually aggravates the daylights out of me because so slow which further was aggravating to scroll down to the last of what seemed like 100s of categories... But then maybe I accidentally expanded a category because of the template. Sorry, I digress... Anyways, point being thank you for identifying the website and the category, but could really use further refinement to help out. Otherwise glad that EP4 is working for you.

adb34:

I have read your comment more than a dozen times and I do not understand what you have put.

Drilling down to admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields inserted 'Products Cost' which the plugin (Product_Cost_Display) is used to add the cost to me in the products page.

I then go to admin/tools/Easy Populate 4 and on the right hand side under 'User Defined Products Fields:' is the title I put in under admin/configuration/Easy Populate 4/User Defined Products Fields but it is showing 'False'.

Now I understand a bit of what you have put however, do I need to re-install 'Product_Cost_Display' for EP4 to see or what?

Fyi, the FALSE next to the user defined products table field indicates that the field entered doesn't exist...sort of a pre-notification before going through the process of exporting, downloading, opening the file up to then determine that the field desired is not present.. Again goes back to what exactly the field is within the products table that might be desired to export/import. The list of fields associated with the table can be seen through phpmyadmin.

mc12345678:

The information needed to know is 1) what is the exact name of the field(s) added by your plugin, and 2) to what table(s) does it add the field(s)?.......
Thanks for the info, mate. I will get my head around this.

adb34:

Thanks for the info, mate. I will get my head around this.

What plugin is this? What is the link to download it?

Are you sure it's not just adding visible information to the user display side? After installing it was there anything on the admin side that had to be entered new/differently for product in the admin?

Hi,
Thanks here are a couple of links for the products I haven't fixed yet. http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55250_55255&products_id=23868
http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55250_55255&products_id=23857
It happens both on regular and mobile theme. As soon I open the product in admin and literal preview, then update without updating anything else it fixes the image so unsure where in the translation it is getting mistranslated :-) This is one I fixed by opening, preview and safe in admin- http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=133_135&products_id=23796
Thanks for your help.

Amethyst_fairy:

Hi,
Thanks here are a couple of links for the products I haven't fixed yet. http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55250_55255&products_id=23868
http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55250_55255&products_id=23857
It happens both on regular and mobile theme. As soon I open the product in admin and literal preview, then update without updating anything else it fixes the image so unsure where in the translation it is getting mistranslated :-) This is one I fixed by opening, preview and safe in admin- http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=133_135&products_id=23796
Thanks for your help.

First thing I see is that your images are saved with capital letters... Default operations do not like at least the capital extension *.JPG... This could be a source of your issue.... Not sure how the file(s) are saved, but the database should not have them as capital.

Example in order of above:

pID: 23868, SITE/images/BMAGWHE.JPG; pID: 23857, SITE/images/BEVEWIT.JPG; pID: 23796, SITE/bmz_cache/7/7cf17543707cfa11e19900d1ab6d5392.image.136x180.jpg

Apparently in "opening/editing/saving" the product, the capitalization is modified/corrected, but if the file were saved and referenced in lowercase, then this should not happen/need to happen.

That maybe the issue as I was using the database from the supplier. Quick question before I try a couple of trial ones is it just the JPG that shouldn't be capitalized or the whole file name. If just the JPG then it is happening in both lower case and upper case example http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=55301&products_id=23904 Otherwise maybe an easy fix :-)
Thanks
Sandria

Trying to figure this out. Tried all lower case didn't work.
Here is 2 image HTML from product information one from a product up for awhile.

<img width="93" height="180" title=" 1 1/2" Ankh sterling " alt="1 1/2" Ankh sterling" src="bmz_cache/0/0309ca239ec1515034f168ae193a61d5.image.93x180.JPG">

http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=170&products_id=4120

And one of the new candles
<img width="100" height="80" title=" 2 Color Gold/Green 7 day jar " alt="2 Color Gold/Green 7 day jar" src="images/CJ72GG.jpg">

http://www.thedragonskeep.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10_55304&products_id=23941

Trying to figure this out :-)
Thanks
Sandria

If I right click and click view image full image then shows.

So confusing.

And the actual file(s)? Are they stored in all caps, small, etc..???

What you have is IH (not sure which version as I have lost track of which ZC you have installed) but the IH version is not the beta from github otherwise the filename wouldn't use the hash folder arrangement for those "modified".

There is something about the filename and file that is not lining up... Further, in past experience I have been advised at the minimum the extension has to be lower case, but preferably the entire name of the file. Whatever is put into the database should have the same name on the server, capitalization counting. There are no extra tables created by IH to "monitor" the filename. It uses the existing ZC database tables and then just provides some user notification during the admin portion about things that have gone wrong. Further, the bmz_cache files are to auto-create/recreate upon visiting the page and the file not existing where expected... But that depends on the early discovery portion...

This is not truly an EP4 issue as EP4 is populating the database with the information it is being provided and retrieving the same type information, but something about what is put to the server is not agreeing with IH4... Might I suggest following this bit of the instructions.

Download a product that is fine and one that is not. May take downloading a few categories, whatever.

See where the image file path is pointing for each.

Visit that/those areas to see how the file(s) lineup, look, etc...

Update the broken file/product....

Export the database entry(ies) that contain that line/product.

Visit the image path identified in that file.

What changed between the exported line and the file at the destination? Meaning what's happening?

Now, for one of the "broken" files. Repeat the action that was performed to it using EP4 as necessary though I don't expect there to be much tha EP4 will fix related to this issue per se....

You are your own best diagnostic agent...

Thanks MC will try that. Guessing it is some setting somewhere because was happening before I downloaded IH4. Added IH4 hoping to fix problem but it didn't. Zencart is 1.54 :-)
Thanks for your help. :-)

Amethyst_fairy:

Thanks MC will try that. Guessing it is some setting somewhere because was happening before I downloaded IH4. Added IH4 hoping to fix problem but it didn't. Zencart is 1.54 :-)
Thanks for your help. :-)

I'll also try to take a look at how images are prepped for saving when using ZC 1.5.4 to see if there is anything further, but really my suggestiion in keeping with good filenaming principles, is that the file itself should be stored in all lowercase, no spaces, be named uniquely (folder(s) used as necessary) so that don't overwrite another image or have an image appear as an extra image to another product (see applicable FAQ for images). Then the EP4 file should contain the matching information for the main product image. All subsequent additional images will display as setup for your cart.