Magento Help - Facebook Help http://www.imagedia.com Imagedia - Maximizing and developing ecommerce Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:33:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 en hourly 1 Transfer Entire Site From One Server To Another Using SSH http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/transfer-entire-site-from-one-server-to-another-using-ssh/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/transfer-entire-site-from-one-server-to-another-using-ssh/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:33:58 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=386 This will start as a partial post regarding transferring a complete site from one server to another using SSH or how to copy files from one server to another using SSH. This outline is intended to be helpful for Magento users that may be transferring their Magento Commerce site from one server to another, but [...]]]> This will start as a partial post regarding transferring a complete site from one server to another using SSH or how to copy files from one server to another using SSH. This outline is intended to be helpful for Magento users that may be transferring their Magento Commerce site from one server to another, but obviously these directions work for moving any kind of directories or website files.

First, you need to login to the server you want to transfer the files from using SSH.

You then need to login as a super user using the command line prompt: su

Enter the super user password.

Navigate using cd to your directory you want to backup, copy or move.

Use this command: tar -cpzf magento-3810.tar.gz ./

This creates a complete tar.gz file of all files and directories in your directory.

I use this procedure because I want to make sure I’m doing everything correctly. You could actually transfer the entire site from one server to another, but if you’re working with live sites or have a lot of work involved without a full backup, you want to have some feeling of security.

So next, I FTP to my server where I just created the tar.gz file and transfer that file to my local machine. I then unzip and untar the file and have a look over things just to be safe.

I then, trnasfer by FTP the same tar.gz file over to my new server directory.

Now, that tar.gz file is on the new server.

Go back to your shell screen.

Navigate to where you just put that backup file.

Use this command to untar the whole thing:

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/transfer-entire-site-from-one-server-to-another-using-ssh/feed/ 0 Park City Real Estate Website and IDX Integration http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/park-city-real-estate-website-and-idx-integration/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/park-city-real-estate-website-and-idx-integration/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:19:31 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=378 If you’ve never done any work on a real estate website, I have to say, you may want to think about it again. This is one we’ve been involved in developing for a Park City Utah Real Estate Agent. The real estate market is extremely guarded by the companies that specialize in real estate websites. [...]]]> If you’ve never done any work on a real estate website, I have to say, you may want to think about it again. This is one we’ve been involved in developing for a Park City Utah Real Estate Agent. The real estate market is extremely guarded by the companies that specialize in real estate websites. It’s amazing what some of these companies charge for real estate websites, even though it’s not rocket science. The biggest hurdle is getting an IDX or RETS feed on the website. Most companies that provide an IDX solution apparently think there code is gold, and apparently it is. We’ve talked with some of these companies that want $350.00 / month just to provide the software that serves up the data feed, and they require you to host your site on their server since they don’t want anyone stealing their code. Then, there’s the frameset method, which is just the other companies website framed into your website, therefore giving them all the benefits of SEO, while getting nothing for the hosts real estate website.

I know I sound like I’m ranting and I suppose I am. If anyone out there knows of a good solution for IDX feeds for Real Estate Websites, feel free to add your comments here.

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/park-city-real-estate-website-and-idx-integration/feed/ 0 How To Change Callouts in Magento http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/how-to-change-callouts-in-magento/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/how-to-change-callouts-in-magento/#comments Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:31:01 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=372 Here is an easy way to change your left column callouts in Magento. Convert the callouts from a template file item to a CMS Static Block. The static blocks are stored in the database, not as files on the server so updates and changes are much easier.

The Magento demo store has a couple of static [...]]]> Here is an easy way to change your left column callouts in Magento. Convert the callouts from a template file item to a CMS Static Block. The static blocks are stored in the database, not as files on the server so updates and changes are much easier.

The Magento demo store has a couple of static block examples. Log in as admin to see them. I think the home page has the “New Products” block, which is pretty useful and shows the syntax for how to use a block in a page.

In Magento,  callouts are hardcoded in the default layout xml to be files on your server. What you want to do is change them to static blocks instead, so you can manipulate them in the admin instead of in the layout files.

Here’s what to do:

In the default theme, the catalog.xml file has this for the left callout: By the way, catalog.xml is in the folder – app/design/frontend/*/*/layout/

<reference name=”left”>

<block type=”core/template” name=”left.permanent.callout” template=”callouts/left_col.phtml”>

<action method=”setImgSrc”><src>images/media/col_left_callout.jpg</src></action>

<action method=”setImgAlt” translate=”alt” module=”catalog”><alt>Our customer service is available 24/7. Call us at (800) DEMO-NUMBER.</alt></action>

<action method=”setLinkUrl”><url>checkout/cart</url></action>

</block>

</reference>

Changed it to this code below. This is just a basic implementation, you can make it whatever you want.:

<reference name=”left”>

<block type=”cms/block” name=”left.permanent.callout”>

<action method=”setBlockId”><block_id>left_column_block</block_id></action>

</block>

</reference>

Next, add a CMS Static Block with an ID of left_column_block. You can put whatever you want in there from the backend (including empty) and it will show in the left column. You can do the same thing with the right column, and can add more in strategic places for future editing in the backend. Good news is, even if you have not created the static block yet, you won’t get any errors.

So there you go, how to change callouts in Magento the easy way.

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/03/how-to-change-callouts-in-magento/feed/ 0 How to add attributes to product grid or list view in category in Magento Commerce http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-add-attributes-to-product-grid-or-list-view-in-category-in-magento-commerce/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-add-attributes-to-product-grid-or-list-view-in-category-in-magento-commerce/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:14:59 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=367 How to add attributes to product grid or list view in category in Magento Commerce

There is actually a post on the Magento wiki that addresses how to add attributes to product grid or list view in category in Magento Commerce, but when we tried to do it, we came up with no results. After trying [...]]]> How to add attributes to product grid or list view in category in Magento Commerce

There is actually a post on the Magento wiki that addresses how to add attributes to product grid or list view in category in Magento Commerce, but when we tried to do it, we came up with no results. After trying many different methods resulting in either no results or Magento error messages, we finally came up with this solution.

  1. First create your new attribute field in Magento Admin.
  2. Note what you name the new attribute field “code”. In our case, the attribute is names “freeshipping”.
  3. When you define this in the code side of Magento in the following steps, keep in mind you have to call it up with each word being capatalized, in this case it would be “FreeShipping”. (Don’t use the quotation marks I added unless you see them in the example code.)
  4. Open app/design/frontend/default/yourtheme/layout/catalog.xml
  5. Find the line that reads: <block type=”catalog/category_view” name=”category.products” template=”catalog/category/view.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list” name=”product_list” template=”catalog/product/list.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list_toolbar” name=”product_list_toolbar” template=”catalog/product/list/toolbar.phtml”>
  6. Change it to read something like this:<block type=”catalog/category_view” name=”category.products” template=”catalog/category/view.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list” name=”product_list” template=”catalog/product/list.phtml”><!–I added–><action method=”addAttribute”><name>FreeShipping</name></action><block type=”catalog/product_list_toolbar” name=”product_list_toolbar” template=”catalog/product/list/toolbar.phtml”>
  7. Next find the line in the same file that reads: <block type=”catalog/category_view” name=”category.products” template=”catalog/category/view.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list” name=”product_list” template=”catalog/product/list.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list_toolbar” name=”product_list_toolbar” template=”catalog/product/list/toolbar.phtml”>
  8. Change it to read something like:<block type=”catalog/category_view” name=”category.products” template=”catalog/category/view.phtml”><block type=”catalog/product_list” name=”product_list” template=”catalog/product/list.phtml”><!–kj added–><action method=”addAttribute”><name>FreeShipping</name></action><block type=”catalog/product_list_toolbar” name=”product_list_toolbar” template=”catalog/product/list/toolbar.phtml”>
  9. Save the file.
  10. Open app/design/frontend/default/yourtheme/template/catalog/product/list.phtml
  11. Insert a line of code like this where you want it to appear: <p><h4> <?php echo ($_product->getFreeshipping()) ?></h4></p><p><h4 class=”product-free-ship”> <?php echo ($_product->getFreeshipping()) ?></h4></p>
  12. You’ll need to do this twice, once for “List View” and once for “Grid View”
  13. Save the file.
  14. Refresh your Magento Cache. You should now see your new entries including your Magento attributes.
]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-add-attributes-to-product-grid-or-list-view-in-category-in-magento-commerce/feed/ 0 Problems Adding HTML Tables in Magento Commerce http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/problems-adding-html-tables-in-magento-commerce/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/problems-adding-html-tables-in-magento-commerce/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:53:57 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=362 If you’ve ever tried to add standard html into product descriptions or category descriptions in Magento, you’ll probably come up with a really long page with the table data spread out from top to bottom.

Here’s the solution we found:

This code comes from one of our websites, Summit Equipment, selling truck equipment. This particular product is [...]]]> If you’ve ever tried to add standard html into product descriptions or category descriptions in Magento, you’ll probably come up with a really long page with the table data spread out from top to bottom.

Here’s the solution we found:

This code comes from one of our websites, Summit Equipment, selling truck equipment. This particular product is a Warn DC2000 Electric Hoist. When adding the specs, we used this html table code: (This is a much shortened version here).

<tr>

<td><table width=”100%”>

<tr height=18px>

<td><b>Maximum Rated Load:&nbsp;</b>2000 lbs (907kg)</td>

</tr>

<tr height=18px>

<td><b>Maximum Wire Rope Recommended:&nbsp;</b>1/4″ 7000 lbs (3182kg) minimum breaking strength</td>

</tr>

It turns out, Magento does not like linebreaks. So, remove all your linebreaks, so now you have this spaghetti code:

<tr> <td><table width=”100%”><tr height=18px> <td><b>Maximum Rated Load:&nbsp;</b>2000 lbs (907kg)</td> </tr> <tr height=18px> <td><b>Maximum Wire Rope Recommended:&nbsp;</b>1/4″ 7000 lbs (3182kg) minimum breaking strength</td> </tr>

There you go. Your html table in Magento now displays properly!

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/problems-adding-html-tables-in-magento-commerce/feed/ 0 Magento Charges Tax in California and New York http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/magento-charges-tax-in-california-and-new-york/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/magento-charges-tax-in-california-and-new-york/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 15:57:10 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=360 In case you’re using Magento Commerce and you’re not in California or New York, you may want to disable Magento from charging taxes in those states. By default, Magento Commerce charges tax in California and New York.

To disable, go to Magento Admin>>Sales>>Tax>>Manage Tax Zones and Rates.

You’ll see two tax zones. One for CA and one [...]]]> In case you’re using Magento Commerce and you’re not in California or New York, you may want to disable Magento from charging taxes in those states. By default, Magento Commerce charges tax in California and New York.

To disable, go to Magento Admin>>Sales>>Tax>>Manage Tax Zones and Rates.

You’ll see two tax zones. One for CA and one for NY. Select the one you want to delete and click the delete button.

There you go.

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/magento-charges-tax-in-california-and-new-york/feed/ 0 How To Change Order Status in Magento http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-change-order-status-in-magento/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-change-order-status-in-magento/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:00:10 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=356 I searched all around to find this solution. In Magento Commerce, there is no provision for manually changing order status from the admin panel. We use the “Ship” button in Magento to creating packing slips. We then process our order from that packing slip. This does not mean that the order is “Completed“, but according [...]]]> I searched all around to find this solution. In Magento Commerce, there is no provision for manually changing order status from the admin panel. We use the “Ship” button in Magento to creating packing slips. We then process our order from that packing slip. This does not mean that the order is “Completed“, but according to the Magento Admin, the order is “Completed“. There is no way to change the status. When you try the drop down for “Status“, there is no choice other than “Completed“.

So here is the fix:

locate config.xml under Magento\app\code\core\Mage\Sales\etc\

Find this block of code:

<states>


<states>
                    <new translate="label">
                        <label>New</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <pending/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </new>
                    <pending_payment translate="label">
                        <label>Pending Payment</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <pending_paypal/>
                        </statuses>
                    </pending_payment>
                    <processing translate="label">
                        <label>Processing</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <processing/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </processing>
                    <complete translate="label">
                        <label>Complete</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <complete/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </complete>
                    <closed translate="label">
                        <label>Closed</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <closed/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </closed>
                    <canceled translate="label">
                        <label>Canceled</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <canceled/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </canceled>
                    <holded translate="label">
                        <label>On Hold</label>
                        <statuses>
                            <holded/>
                        </statuses>
                        <visible_on_front/>
                    </holded>
                </states>
Change it to this:
<states>
  <new translate="label">
    <label>New</label>
    <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </new>
  <pending translate="label">
    <label>Pending</label>
    <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </pending>
  <processing translate="label">
    <label>Processing</label>
    <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </processing>
  <complete translate="label">
    <label>Complete</label>
    <statuses>
      <complete/>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </complete>
  <closed translate="label">
    <label>Closed</label>
    <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </closed>
  <canceled translate="label">
    <label>Canceled</label>
    <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </canceled>
  <holded translate="label">
    <label>On Hold</label>
      <statuses>
      <pending/>
      <processing/>
      <holded/>
      <complete/>
      <closed/>
      <canceled/>
    </statuses>
  </holded>
</states>

Save the file.

Refresh your cache in Magento.

That should now allow you to manually change order status in Magento Commerce.

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-change-order-status-in-magento/feed/ 0 How to Import a MYSQL Database using SSH http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-import-a-mysql-database-using-ssh/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-import-a-mysql-database-using-ssh/#comments Wed, 10 Feb 2010 01:02:47 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=349 Using SSH is a much more efficient way of importing a large MYSQL database than trying to use phpMyadmin. But if you’re not used to using SSH / Telnet, it can be a bit awkward.

Here are full and easy instructions on how to import a mysql database using SSH / TELNET.

Use FTP to transfer your [...]]]> Using SSH is a much more efficient way of importing a large MYSQL database than trying to use phpMyadmin. But if you’re not used to using SSH / Telnet, it can be a bit awkward.

Here are full and easy instructions on how to import a mysql database using SSH / TELNET.

  1. Use FTP to transfer your MySQL database to your server
  2. Create a remote connection using your SSH program to your server
  3. Navigate to the directory where you uploaded your MySQL database
  4. Enter this command: mysql -u username -p -h servername data-base-name < data.sql
  5. The system will prompt you for the database password
  6. Enter the password
  7. You’re done.
]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/02/how-to-import-a-mysql-database-using-ssh/feed/ 0 How to Add a Line Break to Product Descriptions in Magento http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/how-to-add-a-line-break-to-product-descriptions-in-magento/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/how-to-add-a-line-break-to-product-descriptions-in-magento/#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:21:15 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=347 This is one of those things you would think would already be in place with Magento Commerce but it isn’t. We want to have line breaks in our product descriptions in our Magento stores. Our clients want these as well so you don’t have to teach someone to add the <br> tags at each line [...]]]> This is one of those things you would think would already be in place with Magento Commerce but it isn’t. We want to have line breaks in our product descriptions in our Magento stores. Our clients want these as well so you don’t have to teach someone to add the <br> tags at each line break.

So here is how to add line breaks to product descriptions in Magento:

  1. Open /app/design/frontend/default/yourtheme/template/catalog/product/view/attributes.phtml
  2. Find this bit of code: productAttribute($_product, $_data['value'], $_data['code']) ?>
  3. Change that code to this: productAttribute($_product, nl2br ($_data['value']), $_data['code']) ?>
  4. Save your file.
]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/how-to-add-a-line-break-to-product-descriptions-in-magento/feed/ 0 Add Changing Images to Magento Home Page http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/add-changing-images-to-magento-home-page/ http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/add-changing-images-to-magento-home-page/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:55:34 +0000 admin http://www.imagedia.com/?p=344 Found this code that uses javascript to change images on your home page in Magento Commerce.

Simply edit your home landing CMS Page and add this code. You’ll have to change the names of the files below and add the complete URL of where you want to be taken when clicking a particular image.

<!–Image Slider Start–> [...]]]> Found this code that uses javascript to change images on your home page in Magento Commerce.

Simply edit your home landing CMS Page and add this code. You’ll have to change the names of the files below and add the complete URL of where you want to be taken when clicking a particular image.

<!–Image Slider Start–> <div align=”center”> <script type=”text/javascript”> var image1=new Image() image1.src=”{{skin url=images/work-truck-equipment.jpg}}” var image2=new Image() image2.src=”{{skin url=images/banner_2.jpg}}” var image3=new Image() image3.src=”{{skin url=images/banner_3.jpg}}” </script> <a href=”http://##”> <img src=”{{skin url=images/work-truck-equipment.jpg}}” border=”2″ name=”slide” width=”890″ height=”277″ /></a> <script> //variable that will increment through the images var step=1 function slideit(){ //if browser does not support the image object, exit. if (!document.images) return document.images.slide.src=eval(”image”+step+”.src”) if (step<3) step++ else step=1 //call function “slideit()” every 2.5 seconds setTimeout(”slideit()”,5000) } slideit() </script> </div> <!–Image Slider End–>

]]> http://www.imagedia.com/2010/01/add-changing-images-to-magento-home-page/feed/ 0