Characteristics text not showing in frontend

-- HikaShop version -- : 4.3.0
-- Joomla version -- : 3.9.18
-- PHP version -- : 7.0.33
-- Browser(s) name and version -- : CHROME 81.0.4044.122

Hi,

We have a problem where a product (let's name it Pr_A) is not displaying it's characteristics (let's name them Ch_A) in the front end.
We only use dropdown box to show characteristics but I tested with radio buttons and the entries (radio buttons) are there, it's just the text that is not showing next to them (nor in the product title when we chose the radio button)
The characteristics had just been newly created on purpose for this product
All seems OK in the backend, i.e. in the characteristics and in the product page (the name for each show up correctly). I also checked directly in the database (hikashop_characteristic table) and all was OK there.

The characteristics in question had an odd ordering in the database, namely the ID for the parent characteristic (eg. Color) was higher (though consecutive) than that of the children categories (eg. Yellow, Grenn,..).

Investigating a bit tried erasing all variants of the product then adding characteristics (let's call them Ch_B) from an unrelated product (let's call it Pr_B) that was working well (and with the expected ID ordering, i.e. parent having the lower ID). All become OK with Pr_A (with the newly associated Ch_B characteristics). However when erasing that test (erasing the characteristic association in the product) and placing back the original characteristic and creating the variants it had the original problem.

Doing a bunch of test (erasing, recreating etc..) I sometimes managed to make it work OK while concluding that the problem was related to editing the name of the Characteristics (the children ones). That let to all being OK (updated as expected) in the backend and database, but not OK (not display at all - nor old nor new text) in the front end.
I tried editing the name of some of the children characteristics in Ch_B and there we had it in the front end for Pr__B the edited ones were not displaying.

I always cleared the Joomla cache and the CDN (cloudfare). Also cleared the browser cache, tried on Firefox and Edge and even tested the problematic frontend product pages on a computer and browser that had not been previously exposed to that product page (so i was sure not there was no kind of client side 'memory').

I also tested with product Pr_B and Ch_B, editing the name of one of characteristics in Ch_B (not the parent one) and the same problem occurred, i.e. the edited one stopped displaying though the radio button* was there.

• if i reverted the name to the original one al was OK (displaying) again
• if i made a second edit to the name (but not reverting to the original) than it kept not displaying

All the time i monitored in the backend and in the database the updates where correctly being shown.

*I was testing with radio buttons because I got more visual information than with dropdown box, but the same problem occured with the drop down

I also tried editing both Ch_A and Ch_B names (for the children) directly in the database and that went well (i.e. updated on the front end if it was already showing before the direct database editing).
I also think (though not 100% sure about this test) that all was ok when editing Ch_A or Ch_B in the backend as long as i was pressing the OK button while editing a children characteristic, but then pressed the Cancel button on the page characteristics page itself (i.e. the problem only showed up when hitting the Save or Save&Close button!)

I thought this might be related to Characteristics problems in backend as frontendCharacteristics problems in backend as frontend but that was for Hikashop 4.2.3 probably already solved (I'm with 4.3.0).
Also looked into 4.3.0 change log and there seems to be a few some improvements, new features and bug fixes relating to characteristics...

I tried to be thorough hopping that helps you quickly identifying the problem. Saving your precious time to develop the best shop for us all

Wishing the best for Hika team and community

Access sent thought contact form. In case you didn't get it or need more permmisions just let me know.

Also PHP version updated to 7.1.33 ,template framework and template itself updated to most recent version.

Waiting on the good news. Good luck

Hi Nicolas,

Thank you for and sorry for the insuficient access. Do you always need SuperAdmin or am I missing some intermediate level (I haven't looked into Joomla ACL changes since 1.5 - my bad.
Anyway since this is only half-solved (see bellow) I've upgraded your user to SuperAdmin. Please let us know when it's not needed anymore (unless you want to keep teaking our store - we would not say no to that )

We've followed your advice and updated Faboba from 1.4.5 (miraculously hanging on) to 3.3.0 . That also allowed us to upgrade to PHP 7.2.29

I've tested with this changes and the reported problem is not gone. However we have two working 'going around' solutions that will give you more time to investigate:

1. If we insert double spaces in the articles characteristics values the problem is gone
2. If for each characteristic value we hit the OK and then the Save button right aftwerward the problem is also gone

Please note that one thing we alway do when creating a new chatacteristic is saving it as soon as named (before vreating the values). I'm not sure this is still necessary but i recall it was some years ago (because of in the Database having the 'parent' already created when creating the 'children')

I'm pretty sure about (2) working, as I tested it just now. About (1) it was reported by a coleague of mine (who's acutally inserting the products) and I'm not sure we was not going back and forth having to play with (2) saving and resaving until getting it to work on the front end.

Let us know what you can find as permanent solution.

Best of Luck