X-Cart forums

[EvanAgee]

I'm looking to add some additional fields to category pages. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with this and would be willing to do some consulting or offer some assistance?

[cflsystems]

You can email me, I can help you. Email in signature

[dmpinder]

Can you share how you achieved this? Thanks

[Eyeglasses Expert]

would you pls share your method here?

[cflsystems]

You have to add the field(s) to categories table, modify the admin template to show the new field(s), modify the php script to read/write in the database for the new field(s)

[Eyeglasses Expert]

Originally Posted by cflsystems

You have to add the field(s) to categories table, modify the admin template to show the new field(s), modify the php script to read/write in the database for the new field(s)

details, and sample code, pls!

[dmpinder]

Originally Posted by Eyeglasses Expert

details, and sample code, pls!

Good news, I figured out how to do this myself, here is my method:



Version: X-Cart Gold 4.4.3

Steps for adding a new column to X-Cart category data

MySQL:
1. To create a new column in the `xcart_categories`, enter the following line into the SQL query box:

ALTER TABLE `xcart_categories` ADD `new_column` TEXT NOT NULL;

PHP:
2. Add the new column to the "// Prepare an array for further processing" array in \admin\category_modify.php using the following example:

PHP Code:

'new_column'              => $new_column, 


3. Create a new array for the new column in the $import_specification['CATEGORIES'] array in \include\import_categories.php using the following example:

PHP Code:

"new_column" => array(), 


If you need to set a default value, use the following example:

PHP Code:

"new_column" => array(
        "default" => "0"), 


If you need to set a type, use the following example:

PHP Code:

"new_column" => array(
        "type" => "B",
        "default" => "0"), 


Smarty:
4. In the {$SkinDir}\main\product_details.tpl file add a new row for the new column so it is editable in the Admin area, for example:

<tr>
  <td height="10" class="FormButton" nowrap="nowrap">New Column:</td>
  <td width="10" height="10"><font class="FormButtonOrange"></font></td>
  <td height="10">
    <textarea cols="65" rows="4" name="new_column">{$current_category.new_column}</textarea>
  </td>
</tr>

5. Place the Smarty tag to call the new data anywhere in a category page, using the following code:

    {$current_category.new_column}

NOTE: You may need to force a cache regeneration if you get an X-Cart SQL error (code 79). It will say there is a mis-match between sent data and database table structure, however this is usually a cache issue. Visit yoursite.com/cleanup.php and/or use "Force Cache Regeneration" in the Maintenance section of the admin area. This usually fixes the error. If not, double check your database structure.

NOTE: If the field you are creating will contain HTML tags, you need to include this new column into a "trusted post variables" array. You do this in \admin\category_modify.php
Inside: $trusted_post_variables = array('
Include: 'new_column',

[sinobest]

If you need to set a default value, use the following example:

i do not understand this, i have tried this, did not find any difference.