Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
    #1

    Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



    Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most important
    features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5, besides
    SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL database, and
    whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard it
    called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or Access to
    connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to type
    product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can someone speak
    to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

    Thanks in Advance

    Jelani




    Tags: None
    #2
    Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



    Hi Jelani:

    Merchant has a product import from flat file
    that you can use with a spreadsheet.=20

    Merchant's databases still have the same
    dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
    (e.g., updating a product through the admin=20
    effects multiple databases, especially if your
    products have attributes) so loading directly
    into a database would not work unless you
    manually address all those other updates that
    need to be done.



    Jen
    Hostasaurus.Com
    Miva Premier Hosting Partner
    813.971.8772
    [email protected]


    -----Original Message-----
    From: [email protected]
    [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
    [email protected]
    Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


    Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most important
    features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5, besides
    SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL database,
    and
    whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard it
    called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or Access to
    connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to type
    product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can someone speak
    to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

    Thanks in Advance

    Jelani




    Comment

      #3
      Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



      Thanks for the reply. I currently use Excel to create Flat files for
      product uploads. The only drawback is that I use HTML for the
      descriptions, so I have to enter it via the admin, which is too time
      consuming. The reason I have to use HTML is that my product descriptions
      have four sections: A section which has three highlights or bullet points,
      the description itself, features, and then technical specs. It would be
      alot easier if I could just enter each item in it's own cell in a
      spreadsheet, and then be done.

      I just started reading books on PHP and MySQL prior to the release of MM5
      in the hopes of creating my own SQL driven site. MM5 fulfills the need.
      However, I really would like to see a solution with product updates. If a
      third party developer is reading this message, and could come up with a
      solution, such as a spreadsheet type maintenance system, it may be of
      value to alot of users. It certainly would be to me. Also, another nice
      feature would be to have the capability to place multiple tabs in the
      product page which reveal differnt information within the product page
      once selected. For example, with my pages, I could have a tab for
      Descriptions, a tab for Specs, and a tab for features, all within the
      product page.



      > Hi Jelani:
      >
      > Merchant has a product import from flat file
      > that you can use with a spreadsheet.
      >
      > Merchant's databases still have the same
      > dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
      > (e.g., updating a product through the admin
      > effects multiple databases, especially if your
      > products have attributes) so loading directly
      > into a database would not work unless you
      > manually address all those other updates that
      > need to be done.
      >
      >
      >
      > Jen
      > Hostasaurus.Com
      > Miva Premier Hosting Partner
      > 813.971.8772
      > [email protected]
      >
      >
      > -----Original Message-----
      > From: [email protected]
      > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
      > [email protected]
      > Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
      > To: [email protected]
      > Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5
      >
      >
      > Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most important
      > features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5, besides
      > SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL database,
      > and
      > whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard it
      > called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or Access to
      > connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to type
      > product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can someone speak
      > to the possibilities of database management in MM5??
      >
      > Thanks in Advance
      >
      > Jelani
      >
      >
      >
      >

      Comment

        #4
        Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



        Storeman from phosphormedia.com has
        some better product management features then
        using the admin and the flat file import for
        Merchant4. I don't what their schedule is for=20
        Merchant 5.



        Jen
        Hostasaurus.Com
        Miva Premier Hosting Partner
        813.971.8772
        [email protected]


        -----Original Message-----
        From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]=20
        Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 5:57 PM
        To: Jen Ferraz
        Cc: [email protected]
        Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


        Thanks for the reply. I currently use Excel to create Flat files for
        product uploads. The only drawback is that I use HTML for the
        descriptions, so I have to enter it via the admin, which is too time
        consuming. The reason I have to use HTML is that my product
        descriptions
        have four sections: A section which has three highlights or bullet
        points,
        the description itself, features, and then technical specs. It would be
        alot easier if I could just enter each item in it's own cell in a
        spreadsheet, and then be done.

        I just started reading books on PHP and MySQL prior to the release of
        MM5
        in the hopes of creating my own SQL driven site. MM5 fulfills the need.

        However, I really would like to see a solution with product updates. If
        a
        third party developer is reading this message, and could come up with a
        solution, such as a spreadsheet type maintenance system, it may be of
        value to alot of users. It certainly would be to me. Also, another nice
        feature would be to have the capability to place multiple tabs in the
        product page which reveal differnt information within the product page
        once selected. For example, with my pages, I could have a tab for
        Descriptions, a tab for Specs, and a tab for features, all within the
        product page.



        > Hi Jelani:
        >
        > Merchant has a product import from flat file
        > that you can use with a spreadsheet.
        >
        > Merchant's databases still have the same
        > dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
        > (e.g., updating a product through the admin
        > effects multiple databases, especially if your
        > products have attributes) so loading directly
        > into a database would not work unless you
        > manually address all those other updates that
        > need to be done.
        >
        >
        >
        > Jen
        > Hostasaurus.Com
        > Miva Premier Hosting Partner
        > 813.971.8772
        > [email protected]
        >
        >
        > -----Original Message-----
        > From: [email protected]
        > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
        > [email protected]
        > Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
        > To: [email protected]
        > Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5
        >
        >
        > Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most important
        > features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5,
        besides
        > SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL database,
        > and
        > whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard it
        > called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or Access
        to
        > connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to type
        > product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can someone
        speak
        > to the possibilities of database management in MM5??
        >
        > Thanks in Advance
        >
        > Jelani
        >
        >
        >
        >

        Comment

          #5
          Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



          Ahh, but the indexes are no longer an issue if you are using
          MySQL.

          An application can be written in C, or whatever language is
          favored, that has a super slick user interface, super fast screen
          redraws, does local caching, does, all sorts of batch insert
          stuff, and then has a publish button to update the MySQL
          databases.

          Actually you could even have such an application publish to
          multiple MySQL databases so that you could first publish to your
          test store and make sure you liked the changes, then publish to
          the real store.

          It was the proprietary indexes that stopped really super slick
          3rd party tools from being created to manage MIVA Merchant data,
          not the cross references to other tables.

          Or at least that is my opinion.

          - Jeff Huber
          President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
          http://4TheBest.com
          [email protected]
          Office: 760-742-1469
          Cell: 760-445-8454
          =20




          -----Original Message-----
          From: [email protected]
          [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
          Ferraz
          Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:15 AM
          To: [email protected]
          Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
          MM5


          Hi Jelani:

          Merchant has a product import from flat file
          that you can use with a spreadsheet.=20

          Merchant's databases still have the same
          dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
          (e.g., updating a product through the admin=20
          effects multiple databases, especially if your
          products have attributes) so loading directly
          into a database would not work unless you
          manually address all those other updates that
          need to be done.



          Jen
          Hostasaurus.Com
          Miva Premier Hosting Partner
          813.971.8772
          [email protected]


          -----Original Message-----
          From: [email protected]
          [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
          [email protected]
          Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
          To: [email protected]
          Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


          Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most
          important
          features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5,
          besides
          SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL
          database,
          and
          whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard
          it
          called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or
          Access to
          connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to
          type
          product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can
          someone speak
          to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

          Thanks in Advance

          Jelani




          Comment

            #6
            Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



            Hi Jeff:

            I wasn't referring to the indexes, but
            to the use of the internal Product ID (e.g.)
            in the other databases, like attributes,
            categories, relprods, etc. Deleting a product
            requires figuring out the internal ID, then
            checking for attributes, categories, etc, etc,
            based on that ID. I think that's more then
            a regular Merchant end-user is going to want to
            do with just tools like Access and phpMyAdmin.


            Jen
            Hostasaurus.Com
            Miva Premier Hosting Partner
            813.971.8772
            [email protected]


            -----Original Message-----
            From: Jeff Huber - Listmail [mailto:[email protected]]=20
            Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 8:16 PM
            To: Jen Ferraz; [email protected]
            Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


            Ahh, but the indexes are no longer an issue if you are using
            MySQL.

            An application can be written in C, or whatever language is
            favored, that has a super slick user interface, super fast screen
            redraws, does local caching, does, all sorts of batch insert
            stuff, and then has a publish button to update the MySQL
            databases.

            Actually you could even have such an application publish to
            multiple MySQL databases so that you could first publish to your
            test store and make sure you liked the changes, then publish to
            the real store.

            It was the proprietary indexes that stopped really super slick
            3rd party tools from being created to manage MIVA Merchant data,
            not the cross references to other tables.

            Or at least that is my opinion.

            - Jeff Huber
            President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
            http://4TheBest.com
            [email protected]
            Office: 760-742-1469
            Cell: 760-445-8454
            =20




            -----Original Message-----
            From: [email protected]
            [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
            Ferraz
            Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:15 AM
            To: [email protected]
            Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
            MM5


            Hi Jelani:

            Merchant has a product import from flat file
            that you can use with a spreadsheet.=20

            Merchant's databases still have the same
            dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
            (e.g., updating a product through the admin=20
            effects multiple databases, especially if your
            products have attributes) so loading directly
            into a database would not work unless you
            manually address all those other updates that
            need to be done.



            Jen
            Hostasaurus.Com
            Miva Premier Hosting Partner
            813.971.8772
            [email protected]


            -----Original Message-----
            From: [email protected]
            [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
            [email protected]
            Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
            To: [email protected]
            Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


            Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most
            important
            features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5,
            besides
            SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL
            database,
            and
            whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard
            it
            called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or
            Access to
            connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to
            type
            product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can
            someone speak
            to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

            Thanks in Advance

            Jelani




            Comment

              #7
              Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



              Yes certainly. With "regular" and "end-user" being the key words
              there.

              - Jeff Huber
              President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
              http://4TheBest.com
              [email protected]
              Office: 760-742-1469
              Cell: 760-445-8454

              -----Original Message-----
              From: [email protected]
              [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
              Ferraz
              Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 5:41 PM
              To: [email protected]
              Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
              MM5


              Hi Jeff:

              I wasn't referring to the indexes, but
              to the use of the internal Product ID (e.g.)
              in the other databases, like attributes,
              categories, relprods, etc. Deleting a product
              requires figuring out the internal ID, then
              checking for attributes, categories, etc, etc,
              based on that ID. I think that's more then
              a regular Merchant end-user is going to want to
              do with just tools like Access and phpMyAdmin.


              Jen
              Hostasaurus.Com
              Miva Premier Hosting Partner
              813.971.8772
              [email protected]


              -----Original Message-----
              From: Jeff Huber - Listmail [mailto:[email protected]]=20
              Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 8:16 PM
              To: Jen Ferraz; [email protected]
              Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
              MM5


              Ahh, but the indexes are no longer an issue if you are using
              MySQL.

              An application can be written in C, or whatever language is
              favored, that has a super slick user interface, super fast screen
              redraws, does local caching, does, all sorts of batch insert
              stuff, and then has a publish button to update the MySQL
              databases.

              Actually you could even have such an application publish to
              multiple MySQL databases so that you could first publish to your
              test store and make sure you liked the changes, then publish to
              the real store.

              It was the proprietary indexes that stopped really super slick
              3rd party tools from being created to manage MIVA Merchant data,
              not the cross references to other tables.

              Or at least that is my opinion.

              - Jeff Huber
              President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
              http://4TheBest.com
              [email protected]
              Office: 760-742-1469
              Cell: 760-445-8454
              =20




              -----Original Message-----
              From: [email protected]
              [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
              Ferraz
              Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:15 AM
              To: [email protected]
              Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
              MM5


              Hi Jelani:

              Merchant has a product import from flat file
              that you can use with a spreadsheet.=20

              Merchant's databases still have the same
              dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
              (e.g., updating a product through the admin=20
              effects multiple databases, especially if your
              products have attributes) so loading directly
              into a database would not work unless you
              manually address all those other updates that
              need to be done.



              Jen
              Hostasaurus.Com
              Miva Premier Hosting Partner
              813.971.8772
              [email protected]


              -----Original Message-----
              From: [email protected]
              [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
              [email protected]
              Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
              To: [email protected]
              Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


              Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most
              important
              features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5,
              besides
              SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL
              database,
              and
              whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard
              it
              called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or
              Access to
              connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to
              type
              product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can
              someone speak
              to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

              Thanks in Advance

              Jelani




              Comment

                #8
                Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5



                If only we all had your programming skills, Jeff :-)


                Jen


                -----Original Message-----
                From: [email protected]
                [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff Huber
                - Listmail
                Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 7:17 AM
                To: Jen Ferraz; [email protected]
                Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


                Yes certainly. With "regular" and "end-user" being the key words
                there.

                - Jeff Huber
                President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
                http://4TheBest.com
                [email protected]
                Office: 760-742-1469
                Cell: 760-445-8454

                -----Original Message-----
                From: [email protected]
                [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
                Ferraz
                Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 5:41 PM
                To: [email protected]
                Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
                MM5


                Hi Jeff:

                I wasn't referring to the indexes, but
                to the use of the internal Product ID (e.g.)
                in the other databases, like attributes,
                categories, relprods, etc. Deleting a product
                requires figuring out the internal ID, then
                checking for attributes, categories, etc, etc,
                based on that ID. I think that's more then
                a regular Merchant end-user is going to want to
                do with just tools like Access and phpMyAdmin.


                Jen
                Hostasaurus.Com
                Miva Premier Hosting Partner
                813.971.8772
                [email protected]


                -----Original Message-----
                From: Jeff Huber - Listmail [mailto:[email protected]]=20
                Sent: Friday, May 06, 2005 8:16 PM
                To: Jen Ferraz; [email protected]
                Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
                MM5


                Ahh, but the indexes are no longer an issue if you are using
                MySQL.

                An application can be written in C, or whatever language is
                favored, that has a super slick user interface, super fast screen
                redraws, does local caching, does, all sorts of batch insert
                stuff, and then has a publish button to update the MySQL
                databases.

                Actually you could even have such an application publish to
                multiple MySQL databases so that you could first publish to your
                test store and make sure you liked the changes, then publish to
                the real store.

                It was the proprietary indexes that stopped really super slick
                3rd party tools from being created to manage MIVA Merchant data,
                not the cross references to other tables.

                Or at least that is my opinion.

                - Jeff Huber
                President, 4TheBest eCommerce Solutions
                http://4TheBest.com
                [email protected]
                Office: 760-742-1469
                Cell: 760-445-8454
                =20




                -----Original Message-----
                From: [email protected]
                [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jen
                Ferraz
                Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 11:15 AM
                To: [email protected]
                Subject: RE: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in
                MM5


                Hi Jelani:

                Merchant has a product import from flat file
                that you can use with a spreadsheet.=20

                Merchant's databases still have the same
                dependencies that they did in Merchant4,
                (e.g., updating a product through the admin=20
                effects multiple databases, especially if your
                products have attributes) so loading directly
                into a database would not work unless you
                manually address all those other updates that
                need to be done.



                Jen
                Hostasaurus.Com
                Miva Premier Hosting Partner
                813.971.8772
                [email protected]


                -----Original Message-----
                From: [email protected]
                [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
                [email protected]
                Sent: Thursday, May 05, 2005 2:10 PM
                To: [email protected]
                Subject: [m5u] Alternative methods of Managing Products in MM5


                Ease of updating/adding/deleting products is one of the most
                important
                features to me as a merchant when considering upgrading to MM5,
                besides
                SQL capabilities. Since MM5 has the option of using a MySQL
                database,
                and
                whatever other SQL type database (Miva-SQL, i believe I've heard
                it
                called), is it possible to use other programs such as Excel or
                Access to
                connect to tables and manage products?? Ideally, I would like to
                type
                product data into a spreadsheet, and be done with it. Can
                someone speak
                to the possibilities of database management in MM5??

                Thanks in Advance

                Jelani




                Comment

                Previous template Next
                Working...
                X