X-Cart forums

[jwilkers]

NOTE: SKIP TO THE LAST POST - RESOLVED

I'll start by saying that, if you're considering this for the 4.4 branch, as of the date of my posting here, DON'T DO IT, unless you like cleaning up a mess. The zoom will actually work, but the product page will throw the error:

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in yourdomain.com/shop/skin/2-columns/magictoolbox/core/magiczoomplus.php on line 404

I have been working with someone via their support email address who kept referring me to their readme_manual.txt install instruction file for manual installs, indicating that it is confirmed to work for 4.4.

They were quick to ask for ftp access, which, I think most store owners agree, isn't something we're going to hand over to an individual or organization that we don't know, or haven't vetted. They said that I seemed to not want help because I wouldn't give them access.

They also recommended that I use the auto installer, which I would normally avoid, but tried it on a fresh install, just for the heck of it. It does not work.

The problem was that they were not accounting for the skin folder structure, with

/skin
/2-columns
/common_files

So, if you followed their instructions, the install would definitely not work, and to add to it, their instructions referenced going to your "current skin directory", yet they were referencing files that did not exist in the 2-columns directory, for example, if you happened to be using that skin.

I've spent a while going back and forth with them on it, asking about the inconsistencies in the wording of the manual install instructions until they realized, and acknowledged that the install instructions were not valid for 4.4

Support came back to me with an updated readme_manual.txt that their "developer" verified. They seemed to account for the directory structure more clearly, and I thought, "great" it looks as though I can get this thing rolling. NOPE, same error, but now the zoom doesn't work at all.

The technology clearly works, as evidenced by their demonstrations of it, and it is definitely slick. The problem seems to be in their ability to accurately communicate the install procedure for 4.4.

I'm not sure if it is a language barrier, or what, but it's a shame, because I love the technology of the magic zoom plus product. They've also tried pretty hard to help, even if we haven't gotten anywhere

I'd be interested to know if anyone has successfully implemented this on a 4.4 installation, or if there is a viable alternative out there.

Thanks all,

[jwilkers]

The folks at Magic Zoom replied that the install instructions work for them and they cannot help me further without FTP info. (up to this point I think I've actually been helping them in bringing the install instruction errors to their attention)

I set up a fresh x-cart 4.4.1 install on another server, where I could limit FTP access to that directory. I followed their install instructions precisely and FAIL.

So I emailed them FTP info and now I'm just waiting to hear back.

I will post resolution here, if there ever is one, and it may help some other 4.4.1 users

[balinor]

I had problems with the install too - they said it works fine, but when I sent them FTP instructions they made all sorts of changes and didn't tell me what they were, but they did get it working. I think they need to update their install instructions for the new version

[jwilkers]

I'm glad to know (and sorry at the same time) to find out one of the X-Cart guru masters on here had problems too.

At first it was just a problem with their communication of the install, but now that they have "fixed" the instructions, it seems to be a bigger problem than that.

Their last response was literally:

"We have successfully installed the module using the manual instructions onto a
fresh X-Cart 4.4 installation.

We can't replicate your issue, so this is as far as we can take this. For us to
help you further with this, we need FTP access to your store to see what the
problem is.

Alternatively, you can install the module using the automatic installer which is
what 99% of X-Cart users choose."

It's a little hard to believe, considering the auto installer FAILS that they would so adamantly suggest it. They seem like a cool group, but this ultimately might end up not being a good solution for 4.4.1 users.

I provided them the FTP info, and asked that if they do make changes, that they provide me the details so that I can use the product on other installations. If they don't, or can't, and I cannot replicate a successful install on a fresh 4.4.1 cart, then I'm done, and I'll use another option.

If that is the case, then anyone on 4.4.1 considering using Magic Zoom plus should have the benefit of knowing so they don't waste valuable time.

[balinor]

I used the manual install method, I didn't trust the installer.

[jwilkers]

Same here, I only tried it after several manual install failures, on a fresh cart, just to see what it would do.

Have you heard of any similar zoom mods that work with 4.4.1?

[balinor]

Oh this one works, don't give up, it is a great mod

[jwilkers]

Will do. It does seem pretty awesome. I hope the guys at Magic can work through it with me. If I can get it taken care of, I will post complete details here so others can benefit

[jwilkers]

Great news!

No need to purchase the Magic Zoom Plus mod (or fight with the install)

I cannot believe I did not know this, but Cloud Zoom is integrated in X-cart 4.4 and above!

In the settings for the Detailed Images module, you set the "Display detailed product images" option to: "in a popup window"

Next to:

"Widget to be used for displaying detailed images in a popup window. Warning! For ColorBox to operate correctly, detailed images must be stored in the file system" :

Select:

Cloud Zoom

To configure it just the way you want it, you will need to tinker with two files:

1) skin/common_files/lib/cloud_zoom/cloud-zoom.css -

This will allow you to tinker with the border, border color, font and color of the title if you want that active, etc. Look and Feel stuff.

2) skin/common_files/modules/Detailed_Product_Images/cloudzoom_image.tpl to configure the size and position of the zoom window and lens:

In that file, look for:

<a href="{$product.image_url}" class="cloud-zoom" class="cloud-zoom" id="cloud_zoom_image" rel="tint:: '#fff', position:: 'right', smoothMove::3, adjustX:: 50, adjustY:: 0, zoomWidth:: 500, zoomHeight:: 600">

You can visit professorcloud.com to see what the various settings actually do, but basically:

zoomWidth and zoomHeight control the zoom window size and also seem to scale the zoom lens.

"Position" has default values such as left and right, etc. for the zoom window position. You can also fine tune the window position with the adjustX and adjustY properties.

The only other thing you have to factor in is that you must have a detailed image in the product, even if you are just using one product image and a thumb as I am, you will still need to 'put the larger image you're using in the detailed images.

Also, you need to decide if you want to detailed image thumbs displayed below the product on the product page, which is controlled by the "Display detailed product image thumbnails below the product image" option in the settings for the Detailed Images module.

After all the time I've spent trying to get Magic Zoom Plus to work unsuccessfully (and it costs about 60 bucks or so depending on exchange rate) I'm really happy to find out a feature like Cloud Zoom, with almost identical capability is integrated in X-cart 4.4.

I'm also excited that this might help some people out there playing with 4.4 that could use this feature.

Cheers,

[nickff]

With Cloud Zoom, has anyone else had issues with the loading of detailed images on click? When I click on the thumbs of detailed images, they kind of "pop out" for a second, then disappear and correctly load into the image div. Sometimes it just takes me to the large image altogether:

http://65.98.76.82/~cannon/product.php?productid=149&page=1

Let me know if you have experienced this at all. Thanks!