Xbanners
 

hi

has anybody used the following?

http://www.thexcartstore.com/xbanners-banner-module-for-xcart.html

and is it easy to setup?

Thanks

B

Re: Xbanners
 

Yes, I've used these for multiple client sites.
The good thing about using a true X-Cart banner mod, ie one built for X-Cart is that it has a complete backend so you can easily add your banners etc.
Because it is so powerful, in terms of campaigns, filters etc - it can perhaps be a little daunting initially - but you don't have to worry about some of the steps.
It's not super easy because of the toolkit it brings, but it's straight forward and logical. And the end result is excellent. Given some practice you can do some really nice stuff too - for example I'm just setting one up now with banners on top of banners to create more of a presentation effect.

Re: Xbanners
 

Does anyone know if it comes with free updates? I really dont want to have to rebuy these mods every year.
Thx eh!

Re: Xbanners
 

Cheers Paul - thanks for the great feedback/comments, really appreciate it.

Hi Timmer,

Will here from The xCart Store, we are the developers of xBanners. As Paul mentioned, xBanners is a very powerful banner manager module for x-cart. To answer your question, "yes" - all upgrades are free. We have been upgrading xBanners with each iteration of x-cart and we have also added some extra features throughout this time - all updates are free to existing customers.

We do have plans to create an "xBanner 2" module in about 6 months - this will be a total re-write of the module with many extra features, transitions, etc. Mostly likely, we will offer existing xBanners customer a 50% discount if they would like to upgrade to this new version. As xBanner2 will be a totally new product, we can't offer this an an free upgrade as it will contain a large number of new features not seen in xBanners1. That is how we are thinking about it at the moment.

That's the general plan anyway :)
Let me know if there is anything else.

Re: Xbanners
 

thanks Will. It just seems to be the story of my life...always a 'big' upgrade just down the road. Thats why ive stopped buying mods altogether.

In the same breath though, thats why I bought x-cart. There were numerous monster upgrades with x-cart over the last 10 years since I first purchased but yet the next version is always sitting there in my file section.... no charge. Its better to keep a customer then to keep trying to buy them back every upgrade. Eventually they lose interest.

Let me know if something changes on how you wish to proceed.

Thanks...

Re: Xbanners
 

Hi Timmer,

I guess its the nature of the beast, as developers we want to improve our products as time goes by, this benefits all involved and keeps our products relevant. The same is true for x-cart, upgrades and improvements are part of the life cycle of the product. Keep in mind, you didnt get a free upgrade to x-cart gold plus, after they changed versions recently (after the price changes, etc).

We won't know for sure how much work is involved in developing the new version of xBanners until we get started, who knows there may or may not be an upgrade fee.

As I said, we won't be in a position to definitely say either way in about 6 months.
We'll keep you posted on our plans.

Re: Xbanners
 

i have the full kit, Xtreme gear template and add ons included xbanners.

you can see it up and running on my site www.wnc2.biz

very powerful with lots of options.

i agree with pauldodman, in the first steps, you must stay focused and concentrated, but there are very helpful video manuals on site.

besides support is very fast

Re: Xbanners
 

Will, if you ever bring out Xbanners2 could you make it so we can have banners in category descriptions - thanks

Re: Xbanners
 

I disagree.
I'd rather pay for major upgrades, as long as the upgrades ADD NEW FEATURES and are not simply bug fixes.
I also have no issue paying for version compatibility upgrades -- someone has to do the work, and someone has to be compensated for it. As long as the upgrade charge for maintenance is "nominal", it's the cost of being in business.

Where X-Cart has failed you and me and the community, is they have NOT made stable, working versions of the core - and they bundle bug fixes with new features, and they never charge for the new features -- so they have no incentive to fix anything.

I think Will's business plan is more logical: free maintenance releases if bugs are discovered, and for new features (a major release) a substantial discount to product owners.

If you want your developers to stay in business, this is the model they must follow.

Re: Xbanners
 

Does anyone know if you have to insert a generated banner code into the smarty templates for xbanner or does the mod do everything for you?

Re: Xbanners
 

You will insert ONE xBanners smarty tag into the destination template, for each "location" you want xBanners.

WATCH this video:

http://vimeo.com/17148930?height=540&width=960

Re: Xbanners
 

It's very simple piece of code though - in the mod, you set a banner position, the mod generates a piece of code for you to use, such as:
{$txs_xb_pos_1}

and you drop that into your template where you want the banner to appear.

Re: Xbanners
 

xBanners is a good idea and I used to use it but if site speed is important to you then it is worth considering that this mod will put extra calls into your database to get the information it needs for all the banners in the rotator. It did slow my site down. I would trial it before you decide.

Re: Xbanners
 

ya, speed is a concern. thx

Theres alot of mobile traffic so I wasnt sure if the banners got pushed to the mobile site or not?

Re: Xbanners
 

another thing..Im running the responsive temp so would the banners xbanners generates be responsive too?

Re: Xbanners
 

No, they're not responsive and I'm struggling fitting them into my responsive templates.

Re: Xbanners
 

Hi guys,

Just letting you know, we hope to release a new version of xBanners very soon (within the next week) - xBanners2.

It will be fully responsive and crammed full of great new features.
I will let you know when it is ready :)

regards
w.

Re: Xbanners
 

I have Xbanners2 installed with ModernLiving Theme for version X-Cart DB Version: 4.7.6 GOLD.

But Transition Effect are not working, it gives error message in console
Uncaught TypeError: Failed to execute 'animate' on 'Element': 1 argument required, but only 0 present.

Let us know your views on this to make it working ?

Re: Xbanners
 

I can not raise the PHP, the site crashes when it's upgraded to php 5.6. This is what my Server says -"Here's the error_log, you need to upgrade the site since, specifically the TXS_XBanners2 module.
[24-Feb-2017 18:38:18 UTC] PHP Fatal error: The file /home/XXXX/public_html/modules/TXS_XBanners2/config.php was encoded by the ionCube Encoder for PHP 4 and cannot run under PHP 5.5 or PHP 5.6.
Please ask the provider of the script to provide a version encoded with the ionCube Encoder for either PHP 5.3 or PHP 5.4 or PHP 5.5 or PHP 5.6. in Unknown on line ". Can anyone lead me in the right direction? Thank you, Sue

Re: Xbanners
 

You will need to unencrypt it, remove the mod or update the module..

Personally, I'd remove it and install a slider such as iosslider or OWL-carousel - https://owlcarousel2.github.io/OwlCarousel2/ (free) since I despise encrypted php..

I found xbanners to be slow.

Re: Xbanners
 

Hi, I am looking for someone that is very familiar with X-Cart and would be willing to talk with me about the version I am in 4.6.4 and whether to upgrade to 4.7.7- Pros/Cons. Also I have been trying to raise the php and Xbanners needs to be upgraded and a few other issues. I just had the security patches done. Thank you, Sue Coffee