X-Cart forums

[gb2world]

They probably used a pull down form because they wanted to save space and did not like the xcart default template that shows a group of manufacturers, then a link to a page with all the manufacturers.

You can open up webmaster mode and take a look at the smarty variables, it could provide clues and tell you when you are referring to variables incorrectly. You can also look at the resulting source (html) code and get clues as to why your form submission is not working.

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[Anty]

Exactly gb2world, thats why we used the pull down form.The problem I have now is to get the links working in the menu. I would like to use webmaster mode although I'm not an expert coder and would prefer not to (might mess things up).Any advice on how to fix my problem with links.

Thanks

[gb2world]

If you are going to want to make template modifications on your own - you are really handicapping yourself by not using the tools available (webmastermode and firebug are essential). I keep a "sandbox" non production cart available so I can try things without worrying about hurting anything. You'll need to be fearless in order to come up that learning curve!

You might also consider posting links - it makes it easier for people to help you.

One thing I can see that would cause problems is if you are using the same name for two forms:
name="form_manuf"
onchange="document.form_manuf.submit()

The onchange might be confused about what to do with 2 forms with the same name.

You could try changing the second form to:
name="form_manuf_b"
onchange="document.form_manuf_b.submit()

Maybe to help with the SEO issue Steve is advising you on - you should try and think of a way the spiders can still crawl your manufacturers. I think there are sliders built with css so you could still have all your links there - but the display could take up less space. Also - maybe if you have a link to an html site map, it could help with the problem.

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[cflsystems]

One thing I can see that would cause problems is if you are using the same name for two forms:

Damn didn't even come to my mind the whole thread here is to use 2 forms, I was kinda focusing on the correct code Yes you can't have 2 forms on the same page with the same name.

[Anty]

Thank you gb2world,
your valueable advice solved my problem !!.For SEO I have CDSEO Pro with xml site map generator so the manfacturer pages will be crawled there......I think and hope.What do you think Steve?

[cflsystems]

SE will read from the sitemap.xml yes but it won't be able to read the different manufacturers pages from the dropdown menu - there are no links there. Your individual pages will be crawled from the sitemap yes

[Anty]

Hi Steve,
so at the end of the game the pages will get indexed, happy with that even though it would have been better for links to be there to make the home page sturcture more SE friendly,but it will do for now.Thanks to Steve and gb3world for your help.If anyone wants any help doing this customization for their site I'll be glad to help even though simply reading the thread could get the job done.

Cheers

[gb2world]

I was thinking more along the lines of an html site map that you link to from your front page, perhaps in the footer or a help menu. Then, a spider could crawl your manufacturers from the front page. I'm not an SEO expert - not sure if the xml accomplishes the same thing as far as ranking pages.

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[cflsystems]

Both sitemaps are helpful.

[Anty]

Hi again,
thanks for your help. I would like the menu I created to be showing only in a certain root category and all its subcategories.Was thinking of something like this in the home.tpl.

{if $location[1].0 eq "rootcategoryname?" }
{ include file="customer/menu_rootcategoryname?.tpl" }
{/if}

But doesn't work. Could someone help me point out
the mistake.I'm using 4.2.2.

Thanks a million