Assigning products to multiple categories

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #108958

Hi,

I have a few questions regarding HikaMarket and assigning products to different categories. My category structure is pretty simple and straight forward. Looks like this:

ROOT
|- Products
|- product category 1
|- product category 2
|- product category 3
|- Vendors
|- vendor 1
|- vendor 2

The vendors default root category is set to ROOT/Vendors. And as a result of that, it's not possible to assign a product (from frontend) to ROOT/Products/product category 2. However, both vendors 1 and 2 (and others) should be able to publish products in ROOT/Products/product category 2 (so it's not an option to create a structure like ROOT/Vendors/vendor x/product category 1 etc.).

Q1: How can I get this category structure work for me?

Q2: Is it possible to 'protect' the vendors default root category so a vendor can't remove this category from a product?

Thanks in advance for thinking along.

Best, Jelger

Attachments:
Last edit: 11 years 5 months ago by praes. Reason: Indent spaces were removed, see attachted screen dump

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #108966

Hi,

It could be done thanks to a little HikaMarket plugin.

We can imagine that, the vendor's root will be: ROOT/Products
At this moment, they would be able to set the "product category" they want.

After that, a little plugin can "catch" the product modification in the front-end and add automatically the vendor category group to the product while saving.
Only the vendors should be impact with the plugin (not the main vendor: your vendor).

It requires some development and PHP skills.
It uses an HikaShop trigger but in the front-end, the HikaMarket plugin are loaded by HikaMarket while saving.
www.hikashop.com/en/support/documentatio...ntation.html#product

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109004

Hi Jerome,

Thanks for your reply.
Just saw that the indentation was removed from the category structure in my first post. Have attached a screen dump to illustrate the story.

Then with respect to your answer.

We can imagine that, the vendor's root will be: ROOT/Products
At this moment, they would be able to set the "product category" they want.

That's correct, they can then set the category they want for products. But the products should also be added to their own product listing: ROOT/Vendor/vendor name. Preferably automatically (and protected so they can't remove that link)

What do you mean by "vendor category group"? Can't find that term in the documentation. Where do I set this parameter? It's not part of Market Options > Categories Options, I guess.

About the plugin you mention, it doesn't exist at this moment? That's a pity since I'm not a coder...

The category structure I mention in my first post is crucial for my project. In my opinion it's one of the basics of a multi-vendor solution that vendors are able to share a category for their products while they have their own vendor category too.

Best regards

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109032

Hi,

www.hikashop.com/en/hikashop/164-hikamar...html#tuto_first_conf

Create category for vendors: Yes
Parent category for vendors: Root/Vendors
Change vendor root category : Yes
Vendor root category: Root/Products

The plugin does not exist for the moment, we still have a lot of things to implement in HikaMarket and it takes some time.
There is one feature in our TODO list, which would allow to set "sharing categories" for vendors.
At this moment, they will have their root category (the category which is created in the ROOT/Vendors for they vendor) and they will have the right to select a category from the other shared categories.

The "vendor category group" is the category which is created automatically (with the two first options).

In your case, you want that products always be in the vendor category (ROOT/Vendors/VendorX) so, it requires a new feature which has to be added directly in the core (but with more flexibility, so it will ask for some development time) or by a little plugin (which will ask for quite less development time).
If you are really interesting by this feature, we could see together how it is possible to implement it.

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109060

Hi Jerome,

Yes, it's quite important to have products always in ROOT/Vendors/VendorX. I do not have strong preferences for either a core solution or plugin.

Then your first answer:

www.hikashop.com/en/hikashop/164-hikamar...html#tuto_first_conf
Create category for vendors: Yes
Parent category for vendors: Root/Vendors
Change vendor root category : Yes
Vendor root category: Root/Products


Have exactly configured HikaMarket like that. See attachted screen dump 1. However, I can't select categories from ROOT/Products. Only ROOT/Vendors/VendorX is available (see attachted screen dump 2. Have I forgotten something? Categories are published etc.

Best regards

Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109084

Hi,

When you use this option to change the root category, you can override it per vendor.
Please check the configuration of "Vendor 3" in order to see what is his root category.

I test it in my local website but I can't reproduce it.

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109096

Hi,

Thanks, I got this part working. Have overridden the default root category. But it also raises a new issue: the relationship with the vendor category is lost.

So I have now a product (which belongs to Vendor 3) assigned to ROOT/Products/product category 2. That's ok. However, due to the override setting, it's not longer possible to link the product to it's very own vendor. Right? And as a result of that, I can't create a page containing all the vendors products. That's not so good... In fact, it's a weird situation for a webshop. Maybe I'm overlooking something again? HikaShop seems very powerful to me but a little complex to configure...

Sorry for all my questions, but I have to know whether or not I can use this category structure. It's fundamental to my project.

Best regards

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109128

Hi,

Yes. That's why it requires a little plugin which will assign automatically the product to the vendor category.
At this moment, the vendor will not require to set his category.

But, if you want to display the vendor's product in the vendor page, you do not require to put all products in the same category.
The product listing module have a little option to sync the listing to the current page (so to the vendor page).
With a category menu, it allows you to see all products in the selected category.
With a vendor menu, it allows you to see all products for the selected vendor.

You have to set a base category (the product category) to search in and activate the option to search in the category and his children.
So, all vendor's products will be display in the module.

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109150

Hi,

Yes. That's why it requires a little plugin which will assign automatically the product to the vendor category.
At this moment, the vendor will not require to set his category.


Can we expect such a plugin shortly?

Your other solution doesn't work for me. Have followed the steps but no cigar...

Best regards

Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109200

Hi,

Is it possible to have a screenshot of your module configuration ?

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109234

Hi,

See attached screen dump.

However, I don't think this will bring a functional solution. My vendors are stored in ROOT/Vendors. Listing these vendors can simply be achieved via a menu-item type HikaShop category (pointing to ROOT/Vendors). After clicking that very menu-item, all vendors are listed. The user will then see an empty module or a module populated with all products, I guess? (Because there's no current vendor.) Both is not the intention. I need a natural click-trough.

I think the plugin you mentioned earlier will provide the solution I need. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that this functionality is not already standard.

Best regards

Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109245

Hi,

I have the same configuration in my local website (Joomla 3) and I see the products in the vendor page.
Is it possible to have an access to your site so I will be able to check your configuration and see what's wrong.
Maybe there is something I missed, maybe something not supported in HikaMarket in your specific configuration. I have to investigate directly in your website because, in my local website, it works and I have the same module configuration options.

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109252

Unfortunately, the site is running on a local MAMP environment. Have to move it then and that will take some time. I will DM you the credentials if ready. Thanks.

Best regards

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109259

Have moved the site to our demoserver. Will DM you the info within a few seconds.

The following user(s) said Thank You: Jerome

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109302

Hi,

I understand better the problem.

You made a category listing, so the page is not the vendor page but a category page.
At this moment, because the products are not assigned to the vendor category (because the little plugin is not implemented), the products are not found : The category is empty.

If we assign the products to the vendor category, the listing is good.

Personally, I was talking about the vendor page which override the associated modules in order to filter the products depending the selected vendor.
But the category page is not the vendor page, that's why HikaMarket does not add his filter.

If you open the page: /index.php?option=com_hikamarket&ctrl=vendor&task=show&cid=4
You will see the result that I have in my local website.

After that, I assigned the products, so the category page now display some elements: /index.php?option=com_hikashop&ctrl=category&task=listing&cid=20&name=vendor-3&Itemid=134

With the little plugin, the category listing should work like that.
I will see to implement it.

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.
Last edit: 11 years 5 months ago by Jerome.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109307

Hi,

Thanks for your investigation.

And yes, I was aware of the vendor page and linked products, but the vendor page is not public. It's not intended for use by the vendors customers. And that's what I need: a category for vendors (and their products) and a category for the products. But I'm happy to hear that you understand my problem. It's sometimes difficult to explain with all the different possibilities of HikaShop... :-)

Do you have a planning in mind for such a plugin?

Best regards

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109330

Hi,

Plugin done !

I can send the plugin by email if you want (using the email of your HikaShop account).

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.
The following user(s) said Thank You: praes

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109338

Yes please! :-)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 44
  • Thank you received: 2
11 years 5 months ago #109345

By the way, the plugin you're talking about, is that a regular joomla plugin?

Best regards

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Posts: 26156
  • Thank you received: 4028
  • MODERATOR
11 years 5 months ago #109346

Hi,

Yes, it is a classical Joomla plugin which will be installed in the "hikashop" group.
You can be install it as a normal plugin, in the "extension manager".

Regards,

Jerome - Obsidev.com
HikaMarket & HikaSerial developer / HikaShop core dev team.

Also helping the HikaShop support team when having some time or couldn't sleep.
By the way, do not send me private message, use the "contact us" form instead.
The following user(s) said Thank You: praes

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Moderators: Obsidev
Time to create page: 0.093 seconds
Powered by Kunena Forum