Need help with categories/descriptions

[mhtrozzo]

Hi,

I'm working my way thorugh osC and definitely like it. I've been able to accomplish most of what I want to do so far, but not yet all.

Does anyone have advice on this idea:

In the topmost category, I want to just have an intro page with a general overview of what the category is about. The items for sale would be in the subcategories. When I click on the subcategories, there'll be the listing of the items as there is (name, price, link to buy) in the default setup, but also the description of the item as shown when you click the individual item. Since I'd be doing it all on the subcategory page, I could probably get away with disabling the link to the individual item page (product_info.php). Something like:

Category1 --> Overview
Subcat1.1 --> Items Listing (w/description of each item)
Subcat1.2 --> Items Listing (w/description of each item)
Category2 --> Overview
Subcat2.1 --> Items Listing (w/description of each item)
...

Thanks

[jpf]

Have you looked at the MAX version? It already has this Catagory discription contribution already added- as well as several other great contributions....

[mhtrozzo]

Thanks for the reply. I tried to download it from the site, but it took me around in circles...maybe a problem with the coding in the download link.

I found contributions that will do what I said above. However, I've been advised that something different is desired. What the owner (who also happens to be my wife ) wants is the following:

Category 1 --> Main category page w/links to subs (as it is now); can have description if needed
--Page with descriptive overview of entire category (this link to show up and look like a subcategory)
--subcat --> Items Listing (w/description of each item) // have the contrib for this
--subcat --> Items Listing (w/description of each item)
Category 2
--Overview
--Subcat
--Subcat
...


I'm going to poke around a bit on this...I searched the contributions and didn't have luck. Do you (or anyone els who may read this) know of any contrib that might do the trick? I'm honestly trying to avoid having to attempt writing the contrib myself, but if I have to bite the bullet...

[michael_s]

Turn off your software firewall, it prevents you from downloading oscmax. Then you will be able to get it.

[mhtrozzo]

Good news: The poking around was successful. I made a new subcategory that will be the overview page. I commented out the following in product_listing.php:

/*else {
$list_box_contents = array();

$list_box_contents[0] = array('params' => 'class="productListing-odd"');
$list_box_contents[0][] = array('params' => 'class="productListing-data"',
'text' => TEXT_NO_PRODUCTS);

new productListingBox($list_box_contents);
}*/

By disabling this, I don't get the message saying 'There are no products in this category'. Since the only categories that will have no items are the ones that will be devoted to overviews, I have no problem with this. By using the Category Description contribution, I can write the HTML that will be the body of the overview page.

SWMBO* is very happy.

Thanks for the help!


-------
*SWMBO: She Who Must Be Obeyed

[fridgemags]

mhtrozzo,

Can you put your site address so i can see what you did?

[mhtrozzo]

fridgemags,

Right now, I only have it on my local server. I'll be going away for a week, but when I get back, I'll be bringing it live. I'll make sure to message you with the address so you can see it.

I also used the Products Short Description contribution, which puts a short description (!) of the items on the category page. I tweaked it so that the description is under the item name and put a "more>>>" link in.