X-Cart forums

[Anastasia Zhavoronkova]

Hey everyone!
We've released X-Cart 5.4.0 Technology Preview for developers, have a look and tell us what you think. Here is an overview of the improvements: https://devs.x-cart.com/what_is_new/5_4_0_technology_preview_release.html

[cflsystems]

First impression without digging in too much. FYI environment


Core version: 5.4.0.1
PHP: 7.2.15-0ubuntu0.18.10.1
MySQL server: 5.7.25-0ubuntu0.18.10.2 (InnoDB engine support enabled)
Web server: Apache/2.4.34 (Ubuntu)
Operating system: Linux
XML parser: found
GDLib: found (2.2.5)
Translation driver: GetText
Curl version: 7.61.0


All PHP errors, warnings, notices set to show.


1. Changing admin.php and cart.php names has been in config for some time now. But it is a manual change. I was hoping to see this as part of the installation process. Just like other carts do it.


2. I have mentioned this few times already but here it is again. SEO aliases in config - keep them consistent and use dash not underscore. Instead of



new_arrivals = "newarrivals"
sale_products = "sale_products"
coming_soon = "coming_soon"
bestsellers = "bestsellers"
contact_us = "contact_us"


have


new_arrivals = "new-arrivals"
sale_products = "sale-products"
coming_soon = "coming-soon"
bestsellers = "bestsellers"
contact_us = "contact-us"


3. I am not sure I like this - service.php ? What is the purpose of it? Any good reason to separate admin into multiple areas like that?
The "return to admin" link is really small and hard to find.


4. admin.php?target=safe_mode - 404 page not found error


5. Payment methods list - all offline methods have
Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /classes/XLite/Model/Payment/Method.php on line 398



6. Payment methods add popup - all show
Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /Includes/Utils/Module/Registry.php on line 249
Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /Includes/Utils/Module/Module.php on line 74


7. PayPal Credit payment method page - is this really necessary - "I agree with PayPal terms & conditions"?
Why is XC trying to enforce an agreement with PP terms? This is up to PP and merchant. No?


8. admin.php?target=origin_address - the state dropdown moves to its own row instead of to the left of the label


9. Translations page
Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /Includes/Utils/Module/Registry.php on line 249
Notice: Undefined offset: 1 in /Includes/Utils/Module/Registry.php on line 249



10. Storefront - Menu items still do not convert to clean urls wihtin the menus.


11. Storefront - Weight and Sku are still under description tab on product details page. These 2 attributes absolutely do not belong there. They should be under Spects or where product price is.


12. Storefront - Apply coupon field still shows at the very bottom of the page even below checkout button. Not sure what is the logic behind this. It doesn't make any sense.

This block should be well visible and definitely above the checkout button.


13. Storefront - Checkout page, new account. No address. Address Book link opens a popup just to tell me there is no address. I have to follow another link inside the popup to add an address. It will be useful and logical in this case if the popup opens "add new address" automatically instead of requesting yet another click.


14. Admin - Purchases page, middle of page

"Uh-oh... You haven't bought anything yet." with a sad face
Really


15. Admin - Updates & Upgrades shows as text

[empty-upgrade.info]


And a general complaint about all the unnecessary modules included, installed and active during installation. Remove them. The installation package size will be smaller, there will be no confusion if something works or not, and user will get only whatever is needed.
It makes absolutely no sense to have Australia Post, Canada Post and USPS active at the same time.
Color Scheme module is not active but Concierge is active...


And by the way Concierge module must be opt-in not opt-out. Most users unfamiliar with XC will never notice it or remove it or whatever which opens their carts to data collection from QT. This module should be off the installation package or at least user should be asked at time of installation if they want to install and activate it. There is no warning or notice about this module at all.



This is just first impression with stock installation. I did not bother much of checking functionality right now.

[mvs]

Hello,

Thank you for the feedback and for taking the time to check 5.4.0 Technology Preview.
Below are the answers to all 15 questions.

1. Changing admin.php and cart.php names has been in the config for some time now. But it is a manual change. ...

It doesn’t look like a common case to rename these two.
If it’s a rare task, here is a workaround in our KnowlegeBase: https://kb.x-cart.com/general_setup/changing_the_admin_panel_url_(x-cart_5.2.7+).html
If it’s a regular task, you could write a bash script for that.

2. I have mentioned this few times already but here it is again. SEO aliases in config - keep them consistent and use dash not underscore.

We will implement it in 5.4.0 beta release.

3.1 I am not sure I like this - service.php ? What is the purpose of it? Any good reason to separate admin into multiple areas like that?

This was done on purpose, the new upgrade system works independently of your live X-Cart instance, so if something goes wrong, the store continues to work. These are now working independently:
- install / uninstall / turn on / turn off / upgrade / rollback addons
- install / rollback core updates and upgrades
- cache rebuild
- self-upgrade / rollback

So you have more control over the process.

3.2 The “return to admin” link is really small and hard to find.

Thanks, passed this feedback to our UI specialist.

4. admin.php?target=safe_mode - 404 page not found error

It’s a bug, we will fix it, thank you for pointing this out.

5. Payment methods list - all offline methods have ...
6. Payment methods add popup - all show ...
9. Translations page

A notice is an advisory message, so these do not affect your store. Thank you for pointing this out.

7. PayPal Credit payment method page - is this really necessary - “I agree with PayPal terms &conditions”?

We will remove this in next 5.4.0 beta release, thank you.

8. admin.php?target=origin_address - the state dropdown moves to its own row instead of to the left of the label

It’s a bug, we will fix it, thank you.

10. Storefront - Menu items still do not convert to clean urls wihtin the menus.

There is no plan for this for now, but we will discuss it in the team.

11. Storefront - Weight and Sku are still under description tab on product details page.

We’re are going to implement this in next beta release. Thank you for the reminder.

12. Storefront - Apply coupon field still shows at the very bottom of the page even below checkout button. Not sure what is the logic behind this. It doesn’t make any sense. This block should be well visible and definitely above the checkout button.

To be honest, it’s very subjective, we have a mechanism to change the location of this block in 5.4.0.:
1) Create a new template in the place where the coupon entry block should be displayed (or add the required code to an existing twig file)
2) In the existing template with the coupon block code, comment out the code (or simply delete the template).

13. Storefront - Checkout page, new account. No address. Address Book link opens a popup just to tell me there is no address. I have to follow another link inside the popup to add an address. It will be useful and logical in this case if the popup opens “add new address” automatically instead of requesting yet another click.

I’m not sure I understand the problem, please specify more details.
What checkout do you use (One Page or Fast Lane)? Please also provide a screenshot, it will help.

14. Admin - Purchases page, middle of page

We’re are going to fix this in 5.4.0 stable release. Thank you for noticing this.

15. Admin - Updates & Upgrades shows as text

We will fix it, thank you.

And a general complaint about all the unnecessary modules included ...

For some customers, these modules are useful, for some not. We’re focused to provide an easy start ecosystem and the customer free to decide which one to use further, there is no unique bundle.
In 5.4.0.x stable release you will be able to do a core reset, which will turn off all custom solutions and addons.

Australia Post, Canada Post and USPS active at the same time

We will definitely investigate the situation and apply the correction.


Thanks again for your feedback!

[RichieRich]

Is there a demo without having to install it?

Also this from experience with such changes would be a minimum of 18 months after the first release, before even thinking about installing on a live store

[mvs]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Is there a demo without having to install it?
Also this from experience with such changes would be a minimum of 18 months after the first release, before even thinking about installing on a live store

Thank you for your message.
No, it's technology preview for developers, to try it you need to install it.

5.4.0.x Public Beta for merchants will be available for testing in April.
We will write a blog post here: https://www.x-cart.com/blog/category/releases