Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

[MusicMan]

Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer? I have the toolkit module if that helps.....

[Brennan]

Re: Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

There isn't a specific toolkit function for this. Do do have the ability to load all top level categories (parentcat function) and subcategories of a specific category (subcat function), but you would need to come up with some creative logic to load a random grouping.

[MusicMan]

Re: Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

Yeah I have been trying to think outside the box on this one..... I'll keep trying and will post the solution here if I figure it out. Thanks Brennan!

[MusicMan]

Re: Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

I was able to load a list of URL's in an external txt file and use this:
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="sassign|randomurl|https://www.store.com/mm5/random/%nrandom%.txt" />
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="vglosub|randomurl,%nrandom%,g.nrandom" />
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="vcallurl|text_insert|randomurl|GET|" />
&mvt:global:text_insert;

Not exactly what I was looking for but I can live with it if I can get it to work in the Global Footer. What's weird is that it works on "other pages" but not in "PROD, CTGY, or SFNT pages..... I did check to see if the toolkiit item was assigned to those pages but still not working. Any ideas?

[MusicMan]

Re: Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

Never mind,
I figured it out, I forgot to add the first line of the code "<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="random|nrandom|1" />" to my string (duh)....
So even though this is not exactly what I want, it is working.
Here's the full code for anyone who wants a workaround on displaying random url's (kind-of):

<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="random|nrandom|1" />
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="sassign|randomurl|https://www.store.com/mm5/random/%nrandom%.txt" />
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="vglosub|randomurl,%nrandom%,g.nrandom" />
<mvt:item name="toolkit" param="vcallurl|text_insert|randomurl|GET|" />
&mvt:global:text_insert;

[jsisk]

Re: Is it Possible to Display a List of Random Categories in the Global Footer?

We use the random function to create random content on our sites, and our method would work for URLs as well.

First, we add this to the search page so what we create doesn't come up in the search results:
<mvt:if expr="NOT('f-' IN l.settings:product:code)">

Then, whatever content we want to be displayed is entered as the description of new dummy products we create. The code for the products starts with "f-" so it is excluded from search results due to the code listed above.

We then created a hidden/inactive category. Under this category we created sub-categories for Specials, Reference articles, Featured products, etc. None of the categories can be found by a shopper, nor can the dummy products.

We then just use the toolkit random function to display the content.

Here, our specials rotate each time you hit refresh:
http://www.asianartmall.com/

Here, we pull from two different sets of content. Each changes on refresh so the page is never the same twice:
http://www.uncommontreasures.net/

Here, we use it to display random comments from our customers that have been submitted. Again, they always change.
http://www.puzzleboxstore.com/4-sun-...xes/19238.html