Items filtered by date: December 2014

Normally, we will use a built-in download manager for installing Magento Extensions (add-ons) directly from their Magento Connect service. However, it may not always be available or be the best option because you want to test the extension first or you are installing it on a development site which does not have internet access. You should never really install extensions straight on to a live site.

This article is a collection of tools and instructions that allow you to download the magento extensions as zip files, either in their orginal format or in a zip file that is ready to FTP or copy and paste into your site. The tools are required because getting the extensions is normally a closed system through Mageno Connect so there is no direct access to the files otherwise.

• How To Install Magento Extensions – Magento Extension Installation Guide - This is an article on how to install extensions the normal way
• Download Magento extension directly (Mirage Design) - easy to follow instructions and tool
• Download Magento Extension (Freegento) - this tool does not seem to be updated anymore and does not created ready to paste zips
• Direct Download Magento Extension Without Pear - this tool works but does not support ready to paste zips

Unfortunately Magento does not have the function built into its setup to allow you the option to change a products attribute set once you have created a simple product.

So you need to either create the configurable product you want in the first place or alter Magento so you can change a products type

Solution 1

With the following coding updates, you can add the functionality to change a simple products attribute set directly on the Catalog > Manage Products page:

Click here for article and code

This code is untested but seems like a lot of people use it.

Solution 2

Use an extension which has all the code alterations done for you. The reduces the risk of damaging you site. THe follwoing Extension does just that.

Flagbit Change Attribute Set

Case Study

Question

I have inserted many products (T shirts) as simple products , without entering any special attributes. i now want to create configurable products for various T shirts so that customers can pick a color ( various t shirts come in various color options ).

• can i add new attributes to these simple products.
• I have tried using the add new attribute but , it added the attribute to all products in the shop , and also did not appear when i created a new configurable product.
• i read the tutorial that explains how to do these ( 1. create attributes 2. create simple products 3. create config product) , but is it possible to do it in a different order.

if it is not possible , than what happens if in the future i have another attribute i need to add to the config product (v neck vs regular neck)?

Answer

Yes you can always add attributes to a product once it is created, but remember attributes are assigned based on an “Attribute Set” not on a per-product basis, so if you’re products are all using the Default attribute set and you add an attribute to that set it is also added to all the products in that set.

NOTE: If you want an attribute to be available when creating a configurable product, “Only attributes with scope “Global”, input type “Dropdown” and Use To Create Configurable Product “Yes” are available.”

The key here is to set up good attribute sets before creating your products because, to my knowledge, you cannot change a product’s attribute set after the product has been created. Hope that helps.

However as we now know we can actually change a products type with the methods laid out above.

Magentos search feature sucks. This is a collection of articles that will help you understand how to configure the search and get the best out of it.

1. Improve Magento Sales With Better Search Results
2. Improving search results in Magento
3. Improving Search on Magento - Video
4. Magento Basics - Setting Up Google Analytics (Including eCommerce Tracking + Site Search)

Method 1

This is the normal way of disabling SSL if you have access to the admin section

1. Login to the admin site of Magento.
2. Go to System / Configuration
3. Choose the Web from the left tabs
4. Open the Secure settings.
5. Change any https:// you see to http://
6. Set Use Secure URLs in Frontend to No
7. Use Secure URLs in Admin to No
8. Clear the Cache from the admin

Method 2

If you do not have access to the admin section, perhaps because you have just moved domains or server you can use the following

1. Go into the database and in the table “core_config_data” update the record with the “path” of “web/secure/use_in_admindata” by setting the “value” field to 0.
2. Repeat this process using the record with the “path” of “web/secure/use_in_frontend” and again set the “value” field to 0.
3. Using SSH, log into my hosting account, and issue a “rm -rf ~/public_html/magento/var/cache” command, or you can use FTP to delete the same cache files

The last step is required because the “cache” cannot be cleared from the admin backend, since you can’t log into it. This does it manually.

Method 3

This is an untested method looks good and might also fix other issues.

This will set the same Base URL for secure links as it it for unsecure.

Run the following command in PHPMyAdmin or your MySQL command line.

One of the things that you have to get used to when running Magento is dealing with the indexes that it relies on. Usually you can do this from the admin panel by going to System -> Index Management.

These articles are about rebuilding the indexes from the Magento Admin

• Fixing URL Rewrites with Magento

When Reindexing in Magento Admin Fails, Use The Command Line

Another failing of Magento is that when a shop gets to a certain size the rebuilding of the indexes cannot be successfully rebuilt from the Magento Admin.

The following article gives all the reason why Re-Indexing fails. The main one is still the size of the shop.

• Catalog Search Index refresh running slow or halting/freezing (This article also described what the Indexes do)

When indexing fails from the admin panel you get a message saying that it failed with no reason why it failed. Now in most cases you cannot ignore this. You may find that most (if not all) of your products has disappeared from the front end of the website.

How To Re-Index from the command line

The following articles show you a variety of articles of rebuilding the index from the command line. Rebuilding the indexes from the command line requires less resources and allow the task to complete successfully. A CRON job is a scheduled command line command.

• Executing Magento Indexer From Shell
• How To Run Magento Indexer From Command Line
• Rebuild the Indexes VIA a CRON job

Magento 1.4+ includes a nice feature that allowed you to throw the store into “maintenance mode” if you need to do/work or make changes. Which is great, freeze people out of the store while you work or make changes.

just create a file in the root of your store called maintenance.flag

The only problem with the method above, is it also freezes YOU out of the store so you can’t make the changes you need to. So here is a little bit of code, that allows you and other you set to work on the site while everyone else sees its maintenance mode.

All we need to do it edit 3 lines.

Open: index.php in root and above line 57 add (remembering to edit the ‘allowed’ array to contain the IP’s you want to be able to access the site);

$ip = $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'];
$allowed = array('1.1.1.1','2.2.2.2'); // these are the IP's that are allowed to view the site.

then change the line

if (file_exists($maintenanceFile)) {

to

if (file_exists($maintenanceFile) && !in_array($ip, $allowed)) { 

Simple. Now you can access the site, while others see its maintenance mode.

Conversely

“Service Temporarily Unavailable” – disabling maintenance mode in Magento – maintenance.flag

If you’re seeing the “Service Temporarily Unavailable” screen when you attempt to load your Magento store (there’s a somewhat related thread here on magentocommerce.com), the most likely cause is you’ve made some updates to Magento recently, and the maintenance.flag file in your Magento root directory wasn’t successfully removed by the Magento Connect tool.

Fixing the Service Temporarily Unavailable error in Magento

Nice and simple fix for this one! Remove the maintenance.flag file in the root directory of your Magento installation.

This can be triggered by running updates or installations of extensions in Magento Connect; the file is removed on successful completion of the upgrade or installation, so if it fails for any reasons, you’ll see this screen.

What is EPP Code?

EPP Code Stands for Extensible Provisioning Protocol which is alpha-numeric code required to transfer domain from one registrar to another registrar. EPP Code is also known as Authorisation Key Or Transfer Secret Key.

Authorization (or EPP) keys/codes are generated by the current registrar and verified through the global registries for validity. Authorization (EPP) keys are a security code required by the registry for domain transfer, thus are unique to every domain name. No two EPP/authorization keys are the same, thus if you are transferring more than one EPP domain, you will need to obtain each domain’s specific code separately for the security reasons.

EPP key is one of the security precautions to protect your domain being transferred illegally. If anyone other than your registrar requests your EPP Key, you should ensure that you validate the request.

EPP domains: (.com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, .us, .cn, .com.cn, .net.cn, .org.cn, .cn, .tw, and .in)

Domain Transfer Process

1. Above mentioned domain TLDs require an EPP/authorization key for transfer.
2. Only Current registrar can generate EPP Code which is automatically sent to Registrant email address of a domain.
3. Gaining Registrar initiates transfer request for the domain with the EPP/authorization key provided by the customer. This request automatically goes to Registrant and Administrative contact email address. Once domain transfer request is accepted, domain is transferred successfully within 5-7 days under new registrar account.

In order to transfer a domain between registrars, a domain must meet the following requirements:

1. Domain must be unlocked and should be 60 days old from the date being registered or transferred.
2. Registrant and Administrative contacts should be valid to approve transfer request.
3. A domain must be in “ACTIVE” or “OK” status. If a domain is in “REGISTRAR-LOCK”, “REGISTRAR-HOLD”, “REGISTRY-LOCK”, “REGISTRY-HOLD”, "EXPIRED", “REDEMPTION PERIOD” or “PENDING DELETE” status, the global registries will not allow registrar transfer.
4. Domain contacts should respond to verification mail because domain cannot be transferred unless transfer request is approved which goes to Registrant and Administrative Contact email address.

Please note that Domains cannot be transferred without an EPP Code. In short EPP/authorization key plays major role for transferring domain from one registrar to another registrar. EPP Code is not required for UK Domains as UK Domains are transferred by changing IPS TAG only.

EPP Code for a domain name

ICANN regulations, a verification email or fax transfer authorization is also required.The concept was followed to protect and secure the transfer of the domain names between two registrars for some selected extensions.

The EPP code can be gained/obtained from the Domain Registrar. Each domain registrar has a different panel to manage the DNS and the Whois records for a registered domain through them. Mostly, you can seek the EPP code under the tab - MANAGE in the control panel provided by the domain registrar.

Please note that EPP codes are case sensitive. If you are having difficulties gaining the EPP Code/ Authorization Key for your domain from your current registrar in regards to transferring the domain, you can contact ICANN to help you transfer the domain name.

When you setup your domain registrar you get the following error:

CURL Error: 7 - couldn't connect to host

Things I have done:
- Configured API settings at reseller club (with support checking IP was correct too)
- Configured WHMCS Register settings (ID and password checked!)
- Contacted my server host (Curl is functioning fine!)

It is most likely then that you are giving the registrar the wrong ip address. For instance when you are running a website on a shared host such as justhost.com and you have your own dedicated IP address it is not this address that communicates with your registrar, your dedicated IP only really workd for http traffic.

Solution

• Download this CURL IP Checker and see what IP address is actually being used.
• change the IP in the registrars whitelist or appropriate section to match the required IP address
• original thread here

XAMPP is a great software containing Apache, MySQL, PHP, File server and many other modules/programs that make web development much easier.

But sometimes after installation and selecting English language as default the selection will not affect phpMyAdmin and its interface is in German.

The trick is simple, you will need to look up the phpMyAdmin folder inside the installation root, then you will find config.inc.php file, open it, then paste these two lines of code at the very top of the page:

{code class="brush: php;"}$cfg['DefaultLang'] = 'en-utf-8'; // Language if no other language is recognized{/code}

or

{code class="brush: php;"}$cfg['Lang'] = 'en-utf-8'; // Force this language for all users{/code}

Save the file and reopen phpMyAdmin

Taken from this Blog

The following instructions tell you how to change a colour in to the transparent colour. It can also effectively be used to swap a colour.

This is a small How-To on changing the background color of a image to transparent using open source GIMP Image editing application. The idea is to add alpha channel, select by color and cut it.

1. Open the Image in GIMP
2. Navigate Layer -> Transparency -> Add Alpha Channel.
3. Navigate Select -> By Color
4. Mouse click on background color of image
5. Navigate Edit -> Cut
6. Save it in format of your choice (Warning: JPEG does not support transparency, so opted for PNG format)