search function?
 

I'm interested in the search function thats built into xcart, is it capable to search by type (category in a dropdown) color (entered as a searchable tag) and by price like the image depicts in
http://www.islandbangles.com/xcart/home.php
Thanks

Re: search function?
 

You could certainly expand the search function to include these options. As far as I know by default search is limited to category, price and weight, and you can configure these options under General Settings > Product Search in the admin panel.

I'm not terrifically impressed with X-cart's default search, the results are less than desirable IMO. I have recently been using Google custom search. There are also some mods out there that may suit your needs.

Re: search function?
 

?"Ya, took a look at a few of the mods, since im going to need a tag cloud ofthe popular search terms eventually, should I get this
http://www.magneticone.com/store/X.Cart.Modules...Mods/Tag.Cloud.X.Cart.Mod

Re: search function?
 

Maybe. My advice is to keep the store as simple and streamlined as possible. Don't go crazy with mods, the more you have the bigger headaches down the road. So choose carefully.

Two concerns I would have before buying this or any other mod:

1. Encryption and licensing. Is it encrypted? Does it require decryption software like ioncube to run? Can you fully edit the source code? Is it licensed to the domain? How easy is it to transfer or get a development license?

2. Database usage. Does it fill up the database by storing values for every visitor? Slow it down by making lots of excessive calls? Does it limit its storage after a certain point?

Re: search function?
 

Ya dont want to go overboard with installing mods,ill do my research on this mod, but the files are encrypted...Is that a deal breaker?

Should I try the trial version on my test server first?

Re: search function?
 

[rant]
It's not a complete deal breaker for me, but it certainly is frustrating and silly IMO. Some of my favorite mods, CDSEO, Altered Cart's OPC, are encrypted and require ioncube. I think those two are worth the trouble, maybe. :-)

The thing is it makes upgrading, testing, and moving your site difficult. Depending on how the module is coded, moving the site to a test IP address may be impossible or at least difficult. Xcart mods UK are the worst with this. They literally code their mods in a way that completely breaks your site if there are license troubles.

IMO it is pretty pathetic to encrypt the source of your little mod with your few lines of code, when QT gives away the full source of X-cart. The beauty of this cart is it's open source, we can and will make it into whatever we want it to be. Now I understand a dev wanting to "protect" their work and keep thieves from simply copying the code and using it on multiple sites. But the vast majority of merchants that I work with it is all they can do to operate one site.

I can't tell you how many times I have struggled with some licensed encrypted mod, attempting to disable it so I can just load the site up on a local test server to perform some modification. X-cart does it right, display a warning message, but don't disable the site! The other issue is that the only person able to fix or work on the module when it breaks, you guessed it the original module creator. Simply because they want to hide their little code. Skilled developers that could recreate their code or adapt it, are also the ones that appreciate the time savings of modules more than anyone. I charge my clients $50.00 an hour. CDSEO is around $200.00. There is no way I could even begin to write that module in less than 4 hours.

I think my biggest gripe with Ioncube and Zend, is that the right distros have to be installed for your server config. What works on your server today, is probably not going to work when you upgrade, move or expand your hosting capabilities.

Great men and women all over the world have come together to bring us all powerful open source tools like Apache, PHP, MySQL and the like completely for free. But these guys won't show you their scripts even though you paid for it? It just rubs me the wrong way. I have never bought or installed a module that I didn't want to tweak in some way.[/rant]

Re: search function?
 

Off topic but... The great powerful guys you mentioned and XC do not make money from their products - they make money from supporting these products and custom code specific customer requests. And since some of these open source developing companies are non-profit they get their financial support from other guys that want to make money out of the open source. 99.9% of the XC mods are ready to use on any store, any server with no additional changes required. And I know most developers will not charge anything if the problem you have is a bug in their software - they will fix it for free.

What is your desktop OS? Is it Windows? MacOS? Or some Linux? First 2 are not free and are encrypted. Linux is free but think about it - will you go in there and change the system yourself or do just small tweaks? The other every day software you use - not free and not open source as well is it? There is no small or big mods, there are mods that work and mods that don't work.

If you code something one time per client's request you will charge them whatever you feel is fair to compensate your time and knowledge - say $200. If you code it to be used by many users your price will not be $200 per user correct? So it all depends. You can't compare price of a mod with per hour charge.

Protecting your work is necessary and there is nothing wrong with that. I am all for open source and free software but this comes at a price too. Developers protect their code so there is no copying or unauthorize use.

Now take a look at XC again - 4.4.x has a lot of modules in it but that is it. No more. Next XC will be a skeleton and all necessary modules for normal shopping cart functionality will be paid modules. From QT. Take a look at the x-cart extras - all of them long time requested and needed features - being offered as paid addons. Next XC will be nothing more but a framework shopping cart. Yes non-encrypted modules (I guess) but it will cost $$$$ to have good, running, with necessary functionality shopping cart, on top of that add the customization + skin... And I won't be suprised if one day XC is encrypted as well with an option for developers to get un-encrypted version for a special price. Nothing wrong with that or is it?

Sorry islndbangles for hijacking the thread. If you want to have some mod and you tink it will benefit your store it doesn;t matter if it's encrypted or not as long as it works for you. But yes as totaltec said - don't get crazy with mods. Get whatever you need.

Re: search function?
 

Wow, lots to think about there, ashe only needs 2 things I dont know how to do (so I guess i'll cross my fingers)
1) That tag cloud of the categories and search terms
2) The search function (I'll play with it on my test server for now to see if its adequate.

But thanks for the food for thought!

Re: search function?
 

I don't remember ever having a problem getting a module keyed for both dev and production domains/ip addresses.

Re: search function?
 

Does anyone know how to add "variants" to the search options in 4.4.5? I sell candles and if someone is looking for a specific scent and types the name in the search box they get nothing. I have my fragrance listed as variants per candle style.