Easy Populate & Products Attributes

[Guest]

I have come across several posts asking for help in why they can't download a complete product file to edit, but no real answers.

 

So forgive me for asking again. My store has over 12,000 items and will have more than 50,000 by the time I get done. I can not download a complete file to edit nor can I create a Froogle file. I get the error of server not found.

 

Is there anybody out there that can help? I intended on adding all my attributes after I got all the items loaded to the store and it is turning out that what I had wanted to do it not going to work at all and I'll have to do each one by hand. argh! :'(

 

Someone? Please?

[netstep]

My store has over 12,000 items and will have more than 50,000 by the time I get done.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My largest store has about 8,000 items.

I have issues with the server time-out.

I've tried bumping up the time limit setting in EP, but that doesnt' seem to solve it.

 

EP works GREAT for large catalogs....don't know how I'd survive without it, but I needed to figure out a way to avoid the server time out.

 

In my perfect world, EP would have large catalog support and be able to download products in increments of a few thousand at a time effectively splitting the record on export.

 

In lieu of that my strategy is:

1. Maintain entire product catalog in Excel and only upload using EP.

1.1. I never edit this catalog manually.

1.2. I also break up the catalog into managable groups according to manufacturer so each EP file only has about 3-4,000 records.

 

2. For attributes

2.1. I cleared my catalog and created a few products and all the attributes I wanted. 2.2. I exported those products so I would have the attribute columns I needed.

2.3. I copied those attribute columns into my main EP-Excel file for all my products.

2.4. If the item has a value 0 or more it will show that attribute for that product.

 

Does this make any sense to you...it works but it barely makes sense to me?

;)

[SamGC]

where did u get 2.75 from?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

No idea to be honest I am working with an IT Consultant who is helping me with the set up and teaching me a few things about the build.

He has build a few small shops but never used EP before

 

Is there a reason why you ask where it came from? I can try and find out

 

Sam

[MartinEvans]

Hi,

 

Can someone tell me which version I should download to get the lastest stable complete package.

 

Easy Populate with attributes or 2.76b or another?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Martin.

[Guest]

Useing Easy Populate v2.76b.

 

my downloaded file looks like this:

v_products_model|v_products_image|v_products_name_4|v_products_description_4|v_p

roducts_url_4|v_products_name_1|v_products_description_1|v_products_url_1|v_produ

cts_price|v_products_weight|v_manufacturers_name|v_categories_name_1|v_categories

_name_2|v_categories_name_3|v_categories_name_4|v_status|EOREOR

 

but the categories are inserted in my catalog database only for one language.

how can I solve this problem?

[Guest]

the latest version i uploaded i know is good. double check it for making sure it is set in tab delimited mode (read the easypopulate.php completely, as the documentation states)

 

Hi,

 

Can someone tell me which version I should download to get the lastest stable complete package.

 

Easy Populate with attributes or 2.76b or another?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Martin.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[MartinEvans]

the latest version i uploaded i know is good. double check it for making sure it is set in tab delimited mode (read the easypopulate.php completely, as the documentation states)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Thanks but do you mean Easy Populate with attributes or 2.76b?

 

do you know what the difference is?

 

Thanks

[Floob]

Hi,

 

I am using 2.76b and do the following:

 

Download Model/Price/Qty tab-delimited .txt file to edit

 

This is fine, and the upload works well as well. However it changes the 'date added' and the 'date available' to the current date.

 

How can I stop it doing this?

 

 

Thanks

 

Floob.

[Guest]

the 26 july version, difference is the tab is set properly

 

Thanks but do you mean Easy Populate with attributes or 2.76b?

 

do you know what the difference is?

 

Thanks

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Guest]

you have to specify the dates in your spreadsheet, if it is empty (which it will be if just using model/price/qty) then it will change the date to the current date.

thus to prevent that, upon upload, merge with a spreadsheet which has all columns.

 

to prevent timeout errors, i would download a full version now, then separate them by manufacturer into separate spreadsheets. this way you can just modify a file, and upload it.

 

are you doing this just for price changes, for quantity changes, or what?

 

Hi,

 

I am using 2.76b and do the following:

 

Download Model/Price/Qty tab-delimited .txt file to edit

 

This is fine, and the upload works well as well. However it changes the 'date added' and the 'date available' to the current date.

 

How can I stop it doing this?

Thanks

 

Floob.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[CrassOne]

I'm still having the problem below and would appreciate any suggestions.

 

I have this line in my product description:

\"; include(\DIR_WS_MODULES . \"group_text.php\"); \"

This loads my group_text.php file. In that file I have code that will display different product description data for different customer groups.

 

The problem I'm having is that Easy Populate loads this as:

" include(DIR_WS_MODULES . "group_text.php"); "

It strips out the backslashes and, for some reason, the first semi-colon.

 

Can this be fixed?

 

I tried deleting the product description column from the the upload file, but it placed nothing in the product description field, erasing what was there.

 

As an alternative, is there a way I can change the contents of a single field (i.e. price) without uploading all the data that Easy Populate does? Then I could update just the relevant field and leave the product description field alone. Or, can I delete columns from the EP file without it erasing what's in those fields?

 

Thanks,

Mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Mibble suggested using double slashes (//) which partially helped. Now I get the single slashes to load correctly, but it is still dropping the first semi-colon.

 

Any ideas? --> Thanks.

[Floob]

you have to specify the dates in your spreadsheet, if it is empty (which it will be if just using model/price/qty) then it will change the date to the current date.

thus to prevent that, upon upload, merge with a spreadsheet which has all columns.

 

to prevent timeout errors, i would download a full version now, then separate them by manufacturer into separate spreadsheets.  this way you can just modify a file, and upload it.

 

are you doing this just for price changes, for quantity changes, or what?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Hi,

 

I just read this in the manual:

==

'v_date_avail'

When the product will become available. Defaults to today if left blank.

'v_date_added'

When the product will be reported as being added to the database. Defaults to today if

left blank.

==

 

So I guess, as you say, it will put todays date in there.

 

I am using this to change the price for some of my products.

 

Wouldnt it make sense not to put a date available value in at all, and to keep date added value the same as it is?

 

I tried keeping the dates by using values in the spreadsheet, but when I upload them they dont seem to be in the correct format and it gives a strange date in 2016. I dont change them from the downloaded value though, unless excel is doing something.

 

Thanks

 

Floob.

[Guest]

dont use excel's date function, it corrupts the data

[Marc_J]

Just for ref, this thread discusses the problems with excel's date format and EP, along with a fix (which I haven't tried).

[Floob]

Just for ref, this thread discusses the problems with excel's date format and EP, along with a fix (which I haven't tried).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Thanks for that.

 

I'm still not sure why there isnt an option not to change these dates though.

[Guest]

you can always custom code that portion for your needs

[MartinEvans]

the 26 july version, difference is the tab is set properly

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Thank you

[miked]

Just downloaded EP 2.76. I made a small Excel file (tab delimited txt) to test EP. This is all I get at the top of the Easy Populate Page:

 

File uploaded.

Temporary filename: /tmp/phpfNcabX

User filename: shortlist.txt

Size: 1897

 

There is no data or any thing. I checked my catalog and there aren't any new products. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

Mike

[ppeter]

hello!

 

i have this error message

 

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_CONSTANT_ENCAPSED_STRING, expecting ',' or ';' in /Library/Tenon/WebServer/WebSites/www.xxx.org/oscommerce/catalog/admin/easypopulate.php on line 659

 

 

what could i do?

 

regards

peter

[ppeter]

hello!

 

i have this error message

 

Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_CONSTANT_ENCAPSED_STRING, expecting ',' or ';' in /Library/Tenon/WebServer/WebSites/www.xxx.org/oscommerce/catalog/admin/easypopulate.php on line 659

what could i do?

 

regards

peter

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

i have found it there is something wrong

 

Well, I fingered out already.

 

This line:

echo FILENAME ': ' . $localfile . "<br>";

 

Should be like this:

echo FILENAME . ': ' . $localfile . "<br>";

 

Thanks all

[Guest]

did you follow the steps of $DOCUMENT_ROOT also create the temp dir and 777 properties?

 

Just downloaded EP 2.76. I made a small Excel file (tab delimited txt) to test EP. This is all I get at the top of the Easy Populate Page:

 

File uploaded.

Temporary filename: /tmp/phpfNcabX

User filename: shortlist.txt

Size: 1897

 

There is no data or any thing. I checked my catalog and there aren't any new products. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[AllTheAbove]

Here I am again.. Same question different day.. Hoping to get an answer soon..

 

Here is the situation.. I downloaded the EP file. I added a few fake products. I uploaded the EP file. I manually added some attributes and options so I could see how they are set-up in the spreadsheet. I checked to make sure all looked fine on the website and it did. I then downloaded the new EP file. I opened the new EP file in Excel as tab-delim. Lo-and-behold it was all screwy.

 

Here is the spreadsheet - descriptions have been truncated to save space.

 

v_products_model v_products_image v_products_image_med v_products_image_lrg v_products_name_1 v_products_description_1 v_products_head_title_tag_1 v_products_head_desc_tag_1 v_products_head_keywords_tag_1 v_products_price v_products_weight v_date_avail v_date_added v_products_quantity v_attribute_options_id_1 v_attribute_options_name_1_1 v_attribute_values_id_1_1 v_attribute_values_price_1_1 v_attribute_values_name_1_1_1 v_attribute_values_id_1_2 v_attribute_values_price_1_2 v_attribute_values_name_1_2_1 v_attribute_options_id_2 v_attribute_options_name_2_1 v_attribute_values_id_2_1 v_attribute_values_price_2_1 v_attribute_values_name_2_1_1 v_attribute_values_id_2_2 v_attribute_values_price_2_2 v_attribute_values_name_2_2_1 v_attribute_options_id_3 v_attribute_options_name_3_1 v_attribute_values_id_3_1 v_attribute_values_price_3_1 v_attribute_values_name_3_1_1 v_attribute_values_id_3_2 v_attribute_values_price_3_2 v_attribute_values_name_3_2_1 v_attribute_options_id_4 v_attribute_options_name_4_1 v_manufacturers_name v_categories_name_1 v_categories_name_2 v_categories_name_3 v_categories_name_4 v_tax_class_title v_status EOREOR

ABC123 Igor Big ugly doll 10 0 0000-00-00 00:00:00 9/16/2005 10:58 10 213 Color 1 0 Original 2 0 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version Children Toys Dolls Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

ABC456 Hunchback Doll with huge back problem 10 0 0000-00-00 00:00:00 9/16/2005 10:58 10 213 Color 1 0 Original 2 0 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 2 Subtraction 5 0 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version Children Toys Dolls Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

ZED_401 Nunka A figment of your imagination 100 0 9/16/2005 10:34 9/16/2005 10:58 10 213 Color 1 0 Original 2 0 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 5 Multiplication 6 0 None 218 Version Clothing Children Dress-up Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

ARIS_SPOT aristoplay/tn_spotdot_multi.jpg aristoplay/spotdot_regular.jpg aristoplay/spotdot_large.jpg Spot The Dots game description multiplication addition subtraction game math fun solitaire competitive competition aristoplay talicor 12 0 9/22/2005 10:14 100 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version Talicor Games Board Children Educational Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

PC-SWAT3 sierra/swat_3.gif SWAT 3: Close Quarters Battle really long description 79.99 7 5/27/2005 21:07 9/16/2005 10:58 16 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version Sierra Software Simulation Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

PC-UNTM gt_interactive/unreal_tournament.gif Unreal Tournament another long description 89.99 0 5/27/2005 21:07 9/16/2005 10:58 89 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version GT Interactive Software Action Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

PC-TWOF gt_interactive/wheel_of_time.gif The Wheel Of Time sheesh can you get any longer 99.99 10 5/27/2005 21:07 9/16/2005 10:58 16 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version GT Interactive Software Strategy Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

PC-DISC gt_interactive/disciples.gif Disciples: Sacred Lands enough with the long descriptions 90 8 5/27/2005 21:07 9/16/2005 10:58 16 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version GT Interactive Software Strategy Taxable Goods Active EOREOR

GIFT_25 giftcert-25-sm.gif $25 Gift Certificate Buy a Gift Certificate for your friends or family $25 Gift Certificate $25 Gift Certificate gift, certificate, store 25 0 5/27/2005 21:07 9/16/2005 10:58 97 213 Color 1 Original 2 Addition 216 Black Boots 3 Subtraction 5 None 217 Frilly Purse 4 Multiplication 6 None 218 Version Gift Vouchers Gift Certificate --none-- Active EOREOR

 

 

Now, allow me to direct your attention to the attributes and options. Hunchback and Igor are supposed to come with the color options of red and green. Notice how, instead, there are other things there. Huncback is supposed to come with the option to add black boots. Again, missing. Nunka is supposed to come in red or green and have the option to add a frilly purse. Spot the Dots comes in addition, subtraction, multiplication and original. The software should not have any attributes or add-on options, yet it does.

 

It looks just fine on the website. It looks fine on my hand created spreadsheet. It looks fine in admin. It is completely messed up upon download of EP spreadsheet.

 

Can someone please explain what is going on here and a possible solution?????

 

Thanks!

Lori

[postalservice14]

Just downloaded EP 2.76. I made a small Excel file (tab delimited txt) to test EP. This is all I get at the top of the Easy Populate Page:

 

File uploaded.

Temporary filename: /tmp/phpfNcabX

User filename: shortlist.txt

Size: 1897

 

There is no data or any thing. I checked my catalog and there aren't any new products. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks in advance,

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I am having the same problem.....any suggestions?

 

John

[postalservice14]

did you follow the steps of $DOCUMENT_ROOT also create the temp dir and 777 properties?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

What do you mean by "did you follow the steps of $DOCUMENT_ROOT"? And yes my temp dir is 777.

 

John

[Guest]

did you first try adding the attributes and options to the store via the admin section and to a product there, and then download the sheet so you can see how it works?