Importing Categories only
Printed From: ProductCart E-Commerce Solutions
Category: ProductCart
Forum Name: Getting Started
Forum Description: Installing, activating, and getting started with ProductCart
URL: https://forum.productcart.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1140
Printed Date: 28-April-2024 at 7:44pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.04 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Importing Categories only
Posted By: avalight
Subject: Importing Categories only
Date Posted: 29-September-2007 at 11:07pm
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Hello I read everything I could about importing products and no where did I find information about importing categories only. I did read another post that importing categories was not possible, but the post was about a year old. So I was wondering if this were still the case - that I must hand enter all categories and subcategories, unless I create them during a product import, which I did see. And under this scenario, I would need to go back and add meta information by hand. Can anyone or EI confirm or deny this understanding? -------------  Curt
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Replies:
Posted By: ProductCart
Date Posted: 30-September-2007 at 12:09am
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Unfortunately, it is not possible to import Categories only (although this makes sense and might be included in a future release). Currently, the following 4 fields are REQUIRED for any new Import: SKU ... so, there is no way to Import only the Categories. ------------- The ProductCart Team Home of ProductCart http://www.productcart.com" rel="nofollow - shopping cart software |
Posted By: avalight
Date Posted: 30-September-2007 at 12:38am
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thanks for the note back. Yes, I think it should be added for a future release. i have about 200 categories to enter the extra information into. Yikes. ------------- Curt
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Posted By: ProductCart
Date Posted: 30-September-2007 at 10:33am
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Ultimately, these Categories will contain products, right? If you were to add the products during the import, the Categories will be created... so our suggestion would be to simply make sure that your import file contains the products that will be assigned to these Categories, and then you won't have to create them individually via the ProductCart Control Panel. ------------- The ProductCart Team Home of ProductCart http://www.productcart.com" rel="nofollow - shopping cart software |
Posted By: avalight
Date Posted: 30-September-2007 at 12:08pm
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Yep, I figured that part out. I will still have to manually enter the meta tag information for each category eventually. Thanks again ------------- Curt
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Posted By: ProductCart
Date Posted: 01-October-2007 at 5:02pm
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You can easily import that information into your store database by using the import features that are built into MS SQL and MS Access. A simple CSV file with the category ID, title and description meta tags will work. You can create it in MS Excel. If you are using MS SQL, see if your Web hosting company provides with an administration area that gives you access to MS SQL import/export tools. Many do so. If you are using MS Access: turn off your store, download the MDB file, import the information, and re-upload the file to your Web server. Then turn the store back on. We hope this helps! ------------- The ProductCart Team Home of ProductCart http://www.productcart.com" rel="nofollow - shopping cart software |
Posted By: avalight
Date Posted: 01-January-2009 at 4:11pm
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I notice that this category import feature has now been added to ProductCart, so that is good news. However, how about a "Export for re-import" feature, similar to the way the Import Product wizard works. Has anyone written a script for this? Thanks ------------- Curt
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Posted By: johnway2
Date Posted: 02-January-2009 at 11:06pm
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I agree with avalight. Also, I don't see any way to get the CategoryID once you have performed the initial upload.
------------- John |
Posted By: avalight
Date Posted: 03-January-2009 at 12:46am
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I figured out a workaround for this missing element in PC Admin side...In order to export or get a listing for the current information in the categories table, I ended up logging into my MSSQL database and running a query. To manage your database Microsoft offers a free tool called Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=C243A5AE-4BD1-4E3D-94B8-5A0F62BF7796&displaylang=en If you can run an MS access query, you can figure this out too. I output the query to a text report and loaded into Excel. You will have to get log in access from your hosting company. The field names in the categories table do not match exactly to the names in the PC documentation, but you can figure that out too. Except for the sort order, maybe Hamish or someone can tell me the field name for the sort order. Thanks ------------- Curt
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Posted By: Hamish
Date Posted: 03-January-2009 at 5:32am
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Hi John, Any URL that contains a link to a category will show the ID, so the "manage categories" page effectively makes them all available - in the link to each category. I'm curious as to why you need the ID value. I've also got an idea for a work-around for loading all the categories, although it would work best if there are no proper product records loaded yet. In summary the plan is to load a set of dummy products with the categories and then delete the products, leaving the categories behind. Use the product import feature and provide values for: SKU Product Name Description On-line Price Inactive - Set this flag so these fake products are not visible in the storefront. There are several approaches. A) Use real SKU's for products that will be later properly uploaded - in which case your done as the product records will be updated with the correct values when you upload or update the products with the correct values later. B) Make the SKU's unique (easily done in excel) and preferably nothing like the real SKU's you will be using, although that really won't matter if are deleting all the products afterwards. After importing ... - If ONLY the products you imported are set as "Inactive" use “purgeInactiveProducts.asp” which is available from the WIKI page linked to below. - If they are the ONLY products then use “purgeProducts.asp” where you can choose to purge them all. The notes on the WIKI link below arte IMPORTANT - please read and understand all the ramifications before running the code. http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/how_to/remove_all_products - http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/how_to/remove_all_products Note - If you already have real products loaded including inactive ones then you would end up having to delete the "fake" products individually, in which case this is not likely to save any time, unless, as above, you can make them the only "inactive" products. I HAVE NOT TESTED THIS, but if your doing this with an empty DB then there is no real risk. ------------- Editing ProductCart Code? See http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/developers/editcode" rel="nofollow - WIKI Guidelines for Editing ProductCart's ASP Source Code |
Posted By: johnway2
Date Posted: 03-January-2009 at 2:26pm
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Hamish, I needed the categoryID to load deeper levels of categories where the categories have the same name, per the PC documentation and sample category template. But I just was thinking and I don't think you can use the product import feature with more than two levels IF you have categories with the same name. For example, let's say I have three top categories, Car, Truck & Van and then under each of those I have Dodge, Toyota & Chevrolet and then under each of those Red, Blue and Green. When I perform a PRODUCT export, products in Car - Dodge - Red will have the same Category (Red) and Parent Category (Dodge) as the products in Truck - Dodge - Red. I probably just need to create a flatter hierarchy. Any thoughts on a better category approach to this situation? Thanks, ------------- John |
Posted By: Hamish
Date Posted: 03-January-2009 at 9:00pm
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Hi, Are these categories the real ones, or just an example? For this scenario I would probably use product options for the color, or, if the different color indicates a different SKU then I would use the Apparel add-on - see http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/productcart/products_options - http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/productcart/products_options Note, although it's called the "Apparel" add-on that's just one use for it. If you have specifics about the categories that you don't wish to discuss on the public forum then you can drop me a PM. The optimum category structure is a subjective thing and totally depends on whatever will make it easy for customers to get to the products they wish to purchase quickly and simply, so they are not tempted to shop elsewhere. That's one of the great things about the Apparel Add-on. Instead of the customer perceiving that, for example, there are 36 different versions of the same product in a list which they then have to select from, they are offered a single "product" and select the (say) size and color that they wish on a single page. ------------- Editing ProductCart Code? See http://wiki.earlyimpact.com/developers/editcode" rel="nofollow - WIKI Guidelines for Editing ProductCart's ASP Source Code |