Zen-Cart

Many websites offer free shipping in the USA. The default shipping module for zencart does not allow a store owner to easily handle it. In the configuration of the shipping module, you set the desired country (USA) to display free shipping to, and any of the other options that are available in the standard freeshipper module included with zencart. The zip file contains just 2 files, the shipping total, and a english language define. Install instructions are included in the download. Very easy and fast to install.

You may download the module form bitbucket.org, or even help contribute to it.

1. Mecurial 1.5.4
2. Python 2.6.5
3. Libiconv 1.13.1
4. Gettext 0.18

Download each of the files to your desktop, and login into your FreeNAS webGUI. Then navigate to System->Packages. Click on the “Add” icon to install a new package. On the next screen you will see a browse button and install button.

Click to Enlarge

You will need to install the packages in the correct order to satisfy their dependencies. Click on the “Browse” button, then “Install” button for each in this order:

1. libiconv-1.13.1_1.tbz
2. gettext-0.18_1.tbz
3. python26-2.6.5.tbz
4. mercurial-1.5.4.tbz

Congratulations you now have mercurial installed on your FreeNAS box. You starting hosting your own repositories. I create a folder in my FreeNAS drive and issued a:

$hg init

I copied a few files in the folder from my laptop using Windows Explorer and then typed:

$hg add
$hg commit -m "Import new files into repo"

Now I clone the repo to my laptop using

$hg clone ssh://user:pass@freenas/path/to/repo local-folder

If you omit the user and pass from the url, your will be prompted for them. This seemed like it would be a little more difficult to do as there is very little documentation on the FreeNAS website about packages. I was unable to find any other posts about this setup, so I hope someone else will find it useful.

Update 6-30-2010:

I recently updated the class to enable caching the xml response from the Petfinder server. This should provide a nice little speed boost even though it was already pretty fast . Caching is enabled by default, and caches expires in 3 minutes. The folder “cache_files” in zip folder must have write permissions. As shown in the instructions, you can change the paths of cache files.

This class will parse the returned xml as a data array. This libary requires just 4 easy steps to get data:

1. Add api-password to class
2. Add api-key to class
3. Pass configuration values as an array
4. Call the method in the class

Here is an example of how to use the php class

include_once('class.petfinder.php'); //include class
$pet = new Petfinder(); //create Petfinder object
$pet->setKey('12345'); //your api-key
$pet->setPass('abcdef'); //your api-secret
$pet->set(array('cache_expire' => 360)); //(optional) Time in secs to expire  default shown
$pet->set(array('cache_path' => 'full_path_to_cache_folder')) //(optional) Set cache path 
$pet->set(array('cache_enable' => FALSE)); //(optional) Disable cache feature 
 
$config = array('location '=> '44805', 'animal' => 'dog'); //associative array of values to pass to class. array keys must match arguments from API
$pet->initialize($config) //pass values to the class
$data = $pet->petFind(); //call API method which are accessed by camel casing them (pet.find=petFind)

The xml data is returned as an associative array. The array has been mapped to the xml layout returned by PetFinder. Echo out the variable and you will see the returned status code, the array of returned values, and the xml response data from PetFinder.

Demo Output

Download Class File
Download Demo + Class File

If you would like to donate, you may do so by using Paypal.

As shown in the readme docs, the class is easy to use. Example:

$info = array('lastname' => 'Smith', 'firstname' => 'John');
$data['xml'] = $this->whitepages_lib->find_person($info);

This will search using the find_person method of the API for the name “John Smith”. You can pass any of the fields shown in the documentation in your associative array.

Download CodeIgniter Whitepages.com API Library

Here’s how you will use this library in Codeigniter. First, extract the zip file and place the contents into your /application/libraries folder within your codeigniter folder structure.

Example code:

$this->load->library('geshi'); //load geshi class
 
$config['set_language'] = 'php'; //REQUIRED set language to parse
$config['set_source'] = 'foreach($test as $item){ echo "hello";}'; //REQUIRED set source code to parse
$this->geshi->initialize($config);
 
echo $this->geshi->output(); //output from geshi alias of parse_code

You can pass any geshi method or variable in the config array. Just name the key the same as the method or variable you are setting, and the value to what you would like to pass.

Zen-Cart

Here is another update to the popular add-on for Zencart called Easy Populate. For those unfamiliar with Easy Populate, it’s a fantastic add-on for Zencart. Easy Populate allows user to create comma separated values (.csv) files to editing the list of products in their Zencart installation. A user recently emailed me requesting an additional feature of price break imports to be included in Easy Populate.
Price breaks are created in Zencart by navigation to your cart admin page. Then clicking on the menu I originally tried creating a very complex SQL query that didn’t quite reach it’s potential. I ended coding a solution that worked pretty well. The updated version of Easy Populate is availabe to download below. Instructions are included in the file about installation or upgrading from previous versions of Easy Populate.

This updated version of the script will export the model number, price, discount type, discount qty, discount price, discount qty, discount price, etc. Edit the discount type as follows:

The v_discount_type values are:
0: none,
1: Percentage,
2: Actual Price,
3: Amount off

If any item is set to discount type 0 then any previous price breaks entered will be deleted upon import of file. If you need more columns than what is exported by default, just simple copy the pattern of titles of the columns (ie discount_qty_0, discount_qty_1,…discount_qty_n and discount_price_0, discount_price_1,…discount_price_n).

Download Easy Populate v 1.2.5.8

Zen-Cart

Lately, I have been developing a few modifications for Zencart. One of things I have noticed during the development process, is my shopping cart being lost while typing code and then refreshing the page a little while later. This was no big deal. Just go in add another product, and test again. Then, I got to talking to a few other users who seem to experience the same problem of losing their session. As an end user or a customer this can be frustrating that you have added items to your cart, and then something come ups. They come back to their cart, go to another page, and they have lost their shopping cart. Zencart checks your php.ini for session length. On some hosting accounts, you don’t have access to change this value, or you just want a more user friendly way to adjust this.  This contribution / modification for Zen-cart will fix this problem. No core files are touched with this mod. You can extend the session length / timeout / expiration from the admin page.

Download Zencart Custom Session Timeout

Installation instructions are included in the zip file in readme.txt. Here is a copy of the instructions:

1. -Unzip folder contents.
2. -Rename /admin folder to match the name of your custom admin folder.
3. -Upload files to your server
4. -Login into your admin page for zencart (-This should automatically install this mod)
5. -Goto Admin->Configuration->My Store
6. -Click on Customer Session Time Out in Seconds and set your desired value.
7. -Click [Update] button to save changes.
8. -You’re Done!!

Now, you will be able to change the session timeout / length / expiration for your zencart store.

Zen-Cart

One of the few options to try and combat SPAM on your zencart install, is to try and implement a CAPTCHA text/image on your contact us page. I recently updated a contribution I  created several months ago. This reCAPTCHA contribution will add configuration fields to the database for your api key and password, color theme selection, and enable/disable feature on contact us form.  The original contribution had used native mysql queries, so I have updated the contribution to support zencart’s $db:Factory object.Download the file below, and read the included instructions. There is only one original core file that has been overwritten. The reCAPTCHA logic had to be added to the contact us form validation.

Upload files to your zencart installation folder, and login into your admin page. The contribution will automatically install it’s configuration values. On a page refresh, you should see a new box under Admin->Configuration->reCAPTCHA.

If you are upgrading from a previous install of this mod, append [&remove_recaptcha=yes] to the url in your admin page, and press [Enter]. This will reinstall the contribution.

Download Zencart reCAPTCHA

Zen-Cart

One task I have put off from switching from osCommerce to ZenCart shopping cart platform, was updating the UPS XML contribution.  For those familiar with the shopping cart system, you know by default they only support standard UPS shipping. The cart figures shipping all the items together in one box. However, some products can’t be shipped together, and distorts shipping quotes for UPS. The solution that evolved in osCommerce was using UPS shipping API to get detailed freight quotes.

The UPS API accepts a XML document with shipment details, and returns rates for the various services available.  The current UPS XML  contribution for ZenCart lacked the packing and dimensional support that had been added to the osCommerce version. I was familiar with the code in osCommerce, and started porting the code over to ZenCart. Thankfully, for the override system in ZenCart, makes adding modifications alot easier.

This contribution only overwrites 2 original file. The file is:

/admin/includes/modules/product/collect_info.php
/admin/includes/modules/update_product.php

This edits add the data entry for dimension fields to the add/update products screen. The zip file contains readme instructions for installing this.

Download zencart-UPS_XMLv1.3.6.

I’ve been putting off for quite some time setting up version control for the various websites I work on. I was finding myself sometimes editing a file, saving my changes, and getting uploaded to the site to find I had made an error or broke another feature. I’ve been using Dreamweaver to do my php coding and css editing, and enjoyed the easy benefit of using the synchronize feature.  Dreamweaver makes it easy to get the lastest edits off the server, and have a local copy to work on. Dreamweaver will also save automatically back via FTP. However, it makes for a better WYSIWYG editor than a development environment, and does not offer any backup option.

I tried out a few PHP IDE’s like Netbeans. Wow, coding became alot simpler with the advantages of code completion and hints. Unfortunately, I didn’t seem to find an IDE that uses the synchronization feature, but all support SVN version control. I decided to take the plunge and setup my computers to harness the advantages of version control.

I’ve been using WAMP on several computers, and makes it just as easy to setup as it was in Ubuntu. WAMP is a pre-configured Apache, MySQL, PHP, phpMyAdmin, and SQLiteManager stack for Windows. You can setup a webserver in under 5 mins on your windows box. I have set this up on both Windows Vista x64 and Windows XP SP3. I followed several guides online, and each seemed to be missing a piece here or there. Also, beware of the SVN 1 click installer. The download contains a version of Subversion that’s not compatible with Apache 2.2.11 included with WAMP. I learned this the hard way.

Summary of Folder Layout

c:\clients\project1 -> Working Copy
c:\svn -> Subversion Installation
c:\svnrepos -> Repository Parent Location
c:\svnrepos\project1 -> Sample Repository
c:\wamp ->WAMP Installation
c:\wamp\www\project1 -> Live Copy
c:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN ->TortoiseSVN Installation

You will need 3 things to get a WAMP + Subversion up and running.

1. Wamp v2.0i
2. Subversion v1.6.6
3. TortoiseSVN v1.6.6

First, you need to install each of the packages. During the install of Subversion, select “Bind to Apache 2.2.x”. I chose to install subversion to:

c:\svn

Try to prevent using spaces in your file paths to eliminate any problems in Apache. This will provide the right files to be installed that will work with the version of Apache that’s installed by WAMP. Now, that you have the packages installed, it’s time to marry WAMP with SVN. You will need to copy files between folders.

Copy mod_authz_svn.so and mod_dav_svn.so from

c:\svn\bin to C:\wamp\bin\apache\Apache2.2.11\modules

Copy intl3_svn.dll and libdb44.dll

c:\svn\bin to C:\wamp\bin\apache\Apache2.2.11\bin

Now click on the white half circle tray icon for WAMP->Apache->httpd.conf. We need to add these modules into Apache’s configuration file. Find the lines:

#LoadModule dav_module modules/mod_dav.so
#LoadModule dav_fs_module modules/mod_dav_fs.so

Change to:

LoadModule dav_module modules/mod_dav.so
LoadModule dav_fs_module modules/mod_dav_fs.so
LoadModule dav_svn_module modules/mod_dav_svn.so
LoadModule authz_svn_module modules/mod_authz_svn.so

Save the file. Click on the WAMP tray icon again, and then click Restart All Services. Wait for the icon to turn all white again. When it does you are ready to proceed with setting up your first repository. If you have trouble, try exiting WAMP, and then start the application again.
Now you need to create a repository folder. I chose:

c:\svnrepos

Since I will be hosting multiple projects go ahead and create another subfolder:

c:\svnrepos\project1

Now let’s create the repository by right clicking on the c:\svnrepos\project1 folder->TortoiseSVN->Create Repository Here. You will get a confirmation that folder was created successfully.
Update 2010-02-01:
I’ve noticed the latest build of TortoiseSVN is not creating compatible version for Apache, but will the command line version will work.
Open command line, and type:

cd c:\svnrepos\
svnadmin create c:\svnrepos\project1

Time to setup Apache to allow browsing of the repository. Click on the WAMP icon->Apache->httpd.conf. Scroll to the bottom of the file and above:

Include "c:/wamp/alias/*"

Add:

<Location /svn>
	DAV svn
	SVNParentPath C:/svnrepos
</Location>

Save the file. Leave it open, and click on WAMP tray icon->Restart All Services. Wait for icon to turn all white again. Now you should be able to navigate to http://localhost/svn/project1. If successful, you should see a blank directory listing for project1 – Revision 0.

If you don’t require any authentication, you are done. Go have some fun and enjoy your free SVN repository. In Windows Explorer navigate again to c:\svnrepos\project1, right click on folder->TortoiseSVN->Repo-browser. In the right-hand pane right click again->Create directory. Then type in trunk. Repeat to create folders branches and tags. Now start importing your files into the trunk folder. Do this by right-click in right pane->Add File(Folder). Choose a file/folder, add a comment and click okay. You now have started your repository. You can refresh the browser page and check out the changes.

Ready to add user authentication? It’s easy to setup a basic user/password method. First we need to create a password file for Apache to protect the browsing of the repository. Create the password file by using the command line:

cd C:\wamp\bin\apache\Apache2.2.11\bin
htpasswd -c svnpasswd username

Open httpd.conf file again. You need to add a few commands to the block at the bottom of the file. Below the line:

SVNParentPath C:/svnrepos

Add:

AuthType Basic
AuthName "Subversion Repository"
AuthUserFile bin/svnpasswd
Require valid-user

Click on WAMP tray icon->Restart All Services. Refresh your browser page and you should be asked for your login credentials. Congrats! Remember this authentication method only protects browsing. It does not control who can read/write/edit/commit/delete file from the repository.

Putting It All Together

We’ve got WAMP/SVN up and running, but how do you use this? Here’s what I am doing right now. Get all the files imported into your repository /trunk folder using TortoiseSVN. I created folder for my working copies that I will be developing and testing. I used:

c:\clients

Navigate to this folder create a new folder (ie. project1). Right click on folder->SVN Checkout . Fill out as shown:

Click OK, and all the files from the repository will be copied/downloaded to the folder. In order to be able to debug/test your working copy, create an alias that points to that folder. I use an alias because I use my WAMP webroot for serving real pages. Right click WAMP tray icon->Apache->Alias directories->Add alias. A command prompt will open, type in alias and the path to the folder using forward slashes.

svnproject1 [Press Enter]
c:/clients/project1

Point your browser to http://localhost/svn/project1, and you should see your test site. You have a separate method to test your working copy. Make some changes/edits of files. Commit your changes to the repository by right click on the folder:

c:\clients\project1

Choose SVN Commit, enter a comment, and click OK. Once you have a working copy you would like to move to live, navigate to:

c:\wamp\www

Right click in Windows Explorer->SVN Checkout and fill out as shown:

Click OK, and the latest revision will be copied to the folder. Browse http://localhost/project1. You are running a live copy. Whenever you’ve ready to roll out an update, just right click on the folder->SVN Update. All changes will be synchronized.

I am running this setup at work for one of our small internal web applications. I have the repository on my computer. I’ve created a working copy. I work on adding some new reports, or improving the UI with some jQuery. Test it locally, and fix any bugs. Open a ssh session to the server an issue “svn update” in the webroot, and the applications are updated without going down.