Easy Populate 1.2.5.4 support

I would like to put in for two requests for a new version, and for now, some advice on how to get done what I want to do (Hacking EP to make it work like I want)

First off, reading the code, it looks like it would be fairly easy to add a feature where users can customize a "map" so they can upload a spreadsheet from a supplier's inventory list (without it needing to be zencart compatible) and the headings from that .csv would be "mapped" to the correct fields (I.E. ProdImage => v_products_image )

That way in admin user can set up their own mapping for the data files they wish to upload (or even better a simple point and click interface)

for example, have an area (probably in config) that users can upload a truncated spreadsheet (headings plus 1 row of data) and the code would parse it and display it in a couple of rows, with the required rows for easypopulate below or above , and take the number value from easypopulate fields and enter it to the new spreadsheet rows , indicating which column matches which (it's easier to visualize than to explain) and when everything is set, save the values, with a name they choose - and use that map to parse data from the user's uploads, and they could select the "format name" from a drop down list , default easypopulate .. and easypopulate could simply use that "map info" to parse the given spreadsheet and match it up with what's required.

it would save a massive amount of time. (I'm currently digging around in the code to figure out how to make this happen to direct upload a Doba spreadsheet without altering it)

and Secondly, add a couple of fields to easypopulate for "cost" and "markup" so the user could also include their cost price of the item and customize the markup % , rather than having to figure it for each item, or use the list price. - even better, make it so that markups can be calculated based on a formula set in config (I.E. < $10, markup 40% , $10.01 - $100 markup 30%, $100.01+ , markup 20%) - (I actually have a script that I run commandline right now to parse a "updates" file from supplier with quantity,price,available date, minimum advertised price, and list price, on which I do that sort of operation - but it would be nice to be able to simply upload a fresh spreadsheet with updated data and letting easypopulate calculate the price according to formula)

Now, as for the above two features, I am going to be developing this for myself and a client as well (and probably others that will also want this feature, once they find out about it) an I would like some advice from developers on where the important stuff of the code is- namely - which file and where is the parsing done that reads in the easypopulate csv file and pushes it into the database - and also where is the actual updates to database being done.

It'd help immensely in reading unfamiliar code..

How do you upgrade/uninstall EP 1.2.5.4?

I wish to change to: easy_populate_csv_1-2-5-5-csv-2

coolglobal:

How do you upgrade/uninstall EP 1.2.5.4?

I wish to change to: easy_populate_csv_1-2-5-5-csv-2

Try this:

BACKUP DB FIRST!

(I used this method to change to the OSC EP, since it allows for category specific downloads. It's a little buggy but the +'s outweigh the -'s in my case.)

1. Remove or rename the old (ie. .phpX)

2. use phpMyadmin (or whatever your host provides) to edit your db:

in configuration_group - select browse - find easypopulate - (make note of the group ID) - delete that group ID

3. select configuration - then browse - sort by group ID - find the one that you need. (there should be 10 different config. ID's for that group) - delete them all.

4. install new EP

I tried it by just replacing the old mods with the new cvs ones and could not get it to work right, I didn't really need the new so I just put it back as before.

Good luck!

Oh my Gosh! THANK YOU!

I think this is going to work...

Now if I could only find that tutorial on how to install a custom template.... =/

I'll give 20 bucks to the person that installs my custom template for me. -nods to this-

My products are each in multiple categories. As I review the use of this contribution it seems that the only way it supports products in multiple categories is if each such product is duplicated (i.e. a new model number) for each category. Am I missing something or is this the way to handle products in multiple categories? Thanks.

maineiac13:

My products are each in multiple categories. As I review the use of this contribution it seems that the only way it supports products in multiple categories is if each such product is duplicated (i.e. a new model number) for each category. Am I missing something or is this the way to handle products in multiple categories? Thanks.

Not sure if I am following you but I will take a guess. Excuse me if I read more into your question that what was intended.

Sounds to me like you may be a little foggy on the difference between linked and copied.

If so:

A product linked to 10 cats is just one product being displayed in those 10 categries. Edit one and all 10 reflects that edit, since that product only has one model #. If you update that products model #, it should update that product in all 10 locations.

Even if you copied the product to 10 other cats but did not change the model # in each one, then it will be treated as if it is linked. Change 1 with ep and you change them all.

If a copy is made to another cat, and it's model # was edited to be unique, then changing one with ep will not effect the others, so each will have to be updated individually (as they are different products that just happen to look alike).

That is how I understand it to work, but since I don't use linked products, I wouldn't bet the farm on it!

Test it this way:

Create a test product and link it to another category.
Download the models, price, qty EP and delete all but that one product (it should be listed just once). Change the price or qty and upload it.

If the qty and/or price changes in both locations, then what I said is correct.

awhfy99:

Not sure if I am following you but I will take a guess. Excuse me if I read more into your question that what was intended.

Sounds to me like you may be a little foggy on the difference between linked and copied.

If so:

A product linked to 10 cats is just one product being displayed in those 10 categries. Edit one and all 10 reflects that edit, since that product only has one model #. If you update that products model #, it should update that product in all 10 locations.

Even if you copied the product to 10 other cats but did not change the model # in each one, then it will be treated as if it is linked. Change 1 with ep and you change them all.

If a copy is made to another cat, and it's model # was edited to be unique, then changing one with ep will not effect the others, so each will have to be updated individually (as they are different products that just happen to look alike).

That is how I understand it to work, but since I don't use linked products, I wouldn't bet the farm on it!

Test it this way:

Create a test product and link it to another category.
Download the models, price, qty EP and delete all but that one product (it should be listed just once). Change the price or qty and upload it.

If the qty and/or price changes in both locations, then what I said is correct.

Thanks and Yes...when I posted my question, I was not familiar enough with the link manager available in the admin area but now see how to do it.

Someone please help, I am upgrading my cart and I don't have the install files I paid for on 2/20/08

I Purchased the install services but now all I need is the files.

I have sent an e-mail nicholak the creator and opened a ticket with his help desk ticket # MRS-52527-323, but no word, and im afraid I wont hear from him. So anyone that might have a copy of the files please let me know I really need to get this reinstalled on my store I have hundreds of prices to change.

The latest support on his site is months old and I can't wait that long please anyone that purchased the advanced copy and still has the install files please. I can send screen shot of invoice to prove I have already paid and am not just trying to rip the developer off.

maineiac13:

Thanks and Yes...when I posted my question, I was not familiar enough with the link manager available in the admin area but now see how to do it.

:smile: Ah, a little premature posting, been there, done that!

Help.

I am trying to make Easy Populate work and it isn't and I cannot work out why it isn't doing what I think it should be doing.

I have installed it correctly and can download and create dtabase files as needed.

I am trying to upload new products, and it keeps giving me the message "No model field in record. This line was not imported" all the time. Nothing is uploaded, not a single thing.

Each product has it's own 10 digit product number, I have put EOREOR at the end of each line.

So what now?

I have tried to search for help before this, but I am either putting in the wrong search terms or I don't know how to make the search give me individual results from a 2000+ posts thread. Honestly, I am sick of trying to search for things.

Thanks, I hope.

Stu.

Additional information.

The problem appears to be this.

I am using 1.2.5.5.csv on 1.3.8a ZenCart.

This computer is running Ubuntu Linux 8.04 and OpenOffice 2.4 for editing.

Downloading the file to my desktop (Zencart is in this computer locally) is no problem.

When I open the file with Open Office, it asks me how to open it. If I specify the seprarator to be a tab and text delimiter to be " I can edit that file, save it as a .csv file and it works just fine. The problem is that the file is a bunch of words and digits all smashed together with little rhyme or reason. To simply edit things it wouldn't be a problem really, but adding items would be much more reliable using the standard Zen Cart product addition setup.

I want to use this to add products to this store (before going live I want to make sure it all works as needed of course) and no matter what I do the final file I get from Open Office or a plain text editor (Gedit) will not talk with Easy populate. Even when the newly added items read identically to the existing, uploadable and editable items, it does not work.

Can I actually add new items using easy populate and my existing editing software, or not?

Thanks again, I hope.

Stu.

Me again.

I may have it worked out, a file I tried earlier has just worked. I do need to check and see how and why it worked to make sure I don't get excited over nothing.

If anyone out there has suggestions, I am all ears.

I hope I made it tick for good...

I am trying to load images using and image url supplied by my distributor

ex:

https://shopzeus.com/product_images/zeusd1-AGIF-2159631.jpg

I look in the product input in the admin and it's there in the upload but it does not show up in my shop. What am I doing wrong.

Two simple questions

1. Can I import into zen cart using easy populate, ATTRIBUTES export from (CRE LOADED Easy Populate)? The text file format looks the same for both.

If the answer is YES then...

2. What will happen to my existing attribute IDs and option, and their values? Will it just append and associate product models with the imported file attribute ids etc.. OR will it overwrite my existing attributes for exisitng product models?

why I ask this is because, I am using 2 different suppliers who supply the same products. One having more than other, I have already imported from supplier 1 and its all seems ok but supplier 2 export has the same products too besides new ones.

I am not sure what to do ? can anyone please advise? thanks

I have searched, but cannot seem to find the answer to my problem.

I am using Zen Cart v. 1.3.8a
I am using Easy Populate v1.2.5.4

Everything works fine, except that my product descriptions all get truncated.

My Easy Populate settings are as follows:

**Title ------------------------------------ Value **
Uploads Directory------------------------------ temp/
Upload File Date Format-----------------------m-d-y
Default Raw Time ------------------------------9:00:00
Split File On # Records ----------------------- 300
Maximum Category Depth ------------------- 7
Upload/Download Prices Include Tax ------- false
Make Zero Qty Products Inactive------------ false
Smart Tags Replacement of Newlines------- true
Advanced Smart Tags------------------------ false
Debug Logging ------------------------------- true

I am only adding about 50 entries per Easy Populate run (have tried it with as few as 5, still same problem).

I have all products added via Easy Populate added to the same directory, and then I move them to their proper directory manually later.

And every single time, the end of the product description is always cut off.

Now, I have been adding html tags to format the descriptions, but I also remove all blank lines and such as well.

ANy help on this would be very appreciated!!

The truncation is probably MSExcel's fault, not EP. I experienced the same problem and then switched to OpenOffice and used that to work with EP files.

You can also use a good text editor to work with the tab-delimited files but you lose the advantage of WYSIWYG that a spreadsheet offers.

I'm reasonably experienced in EP, so I sometimes use Crimson Editor to work with long product descriptions which I then Upload via EP. In these cases, I just have the Model Number column, the Description column and the EOREOR column.

schoolboy:

The truncation is probably MSExcel's fault, not EP. I experienced the same problem and then switched to OpenOffice and used that to work with EP files.

That should be easy enough to check... I have all of the text files I created for the uploading

For some reason, I kept thinking maybe I had too many characters for the field, or something like that.

Hi,

I have installed easy populate however under configuration easy populate appears 4 yes 4 times.

How do I delete them?

Danie

got it sorted.

delete easypopulate from the configuration table in databse.

Hi,
My first post in this thread so please go easy.
ZC v. 1.3.8a, EP v.1.2.5.5, just installed on my test site.
Just imported the online site into my test site.
Tools -> EP says:
5 partially deleted product(s) found! Delete this dross to prevent unwanted zencart behaviour by clicking here.
You are seeing this because there are references in tables to a product that no longer exists, which is usually caused by an incomplete product deletion. This can cause Zen Cart to misbehave in certain circumstances.

Upon clicking I get this:
Deleting of product data debris failed! Please see the debug log in your uploads directory for further information.

Then the log says this:
Product debris corresponding to the following product_id(s) cannot be deleted by EasyPopulate:
110:6e5c303399d5f09249685463bae53bd4
114:5d9acb39caff4904d944963fc99a1e77
15:2a57da28bab4f4e8bd8023e3f1b2f7c3
13:e492a6585d4834baf3b27ebb49299df4
109:7f9a284d9ed0620f95c07b62b69a302d
It is recommended that you delete this corrupted data using phpMyAdmin.

The problem is: how do I delete corrupt data using phpMyAdmin?
Thanks.