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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Hello Smith guys -
I am running Smith Cart version 5.56, and DNN 7.01
I am attempting to implement the "Tree View with CheckBoxes" category module setup. I have run into a curious bug, and I wanted to know your thoughts on it.
The issue is with product filtering of categories in a "multi-level" category setup. Let take three products for example:
Product1, Product2, and Product3
Here would be the categories for each product:
Product1:
Colors~Orange
Product2:
Colors~Purple
Product3:
Colors~Blue
Now, I have tested this thoroughly, and here is how "Tree View with CheckBoxes" handles displaying the above products with their associated categories.
If a user selects the category "colors", they will see all three products.
If a user selects the subcategory "orange", they will see all three products.
If a user selects the subcategory "purple", they will see all three products.
If a user selects the subcategory "blue", they will see all three products.
This is due to the fact that all three of the above products are also in the root level category of "colors". If I remove all three products from the "colors" category, then when a user selects the category "blue", they will correctly see a single product, Product3.
I've sat here and thought about it for a long time. How could the current functionality of "Tree View with Checkboxes" be helpful? If selecting a sub-category does not narrow down the displayed products of it's higher level category, what is the point of even having it? The only answer I can come up with is that it is a bug, and non-intentional.
This same scenario is true for a three and four level category structure. Ultimately, the products displayed will always include the products from all upper level categories, making the sub-category appear as if it's non-functional.
I REALLY like the idea you guys have going with this tree view with checkboxes. If these bugs could be worked out, I'm sure it will rock!
Thanks for looking into this,
Alex
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Quick testing update.
I tested how the standard "TreeView" category setup functions with subcategories. It correctly filters down it's parent category, functioning as one would expect.
Since "TreeView" correctly filters the products, I can now safely assume that the issue I am experiencing with "TreeView with Checkboxes", is indeed, a bug.
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Joined: 7/28/2009
Posts: 1452
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The tree with checkboxes uses the CheckChildNodes property that implements the following behavior:
- A parent Node's CheckBox is checked then all child Nodes' CheckBoxes are also checked.
- A parent Node's CheckBox is unchecked then all child Node's CheckBoxes are also unchecked.
To achieve the filtering you are looking for, go to your manage product categories admin screen and only add the product to sub cats and not the parent category. This should fix the issue you are reporting.
At your service,
Dave Smith
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Dave,
As my first post indicates, I understand that removing the item from the parent category will cause the sub-categories to show the correct items.
However, this does not does not filter the products. Essentially what I have then created is a category structure that on the surface appears to be mutil-level, but in reality it is only a single level category structure.
If in order for sub-categories to work, an item must be removed from the parent category, then the category menu module is not filtering the products at all.
Let's stop for a moment and think about how the end user would perceive this category setup:
Product1:
T-shirts~Orange
Product2:
T-shirts~Purple
Product3:
T-shirts~Blue
If a user was shopping for T-shirts on my website, the categories displayed to them would show that they could view all of the webstores t-shirts by clicking the "T-shirts" category, or they can filter down all my store's t-shirts by color by selecting a sub-category color option. However, by implementing categories per your suggestion, the cateogry "T-shirts" would merely be a placeholder, and contain no products. This could lead a user who is indifferent to t-shirt colors to think that there are in fact no t-shirts on my website. Since that user would never filter the products by color, they would not see any t-shirts in my product listings.
To re-iterate, if I have to remove a product from the parent category for the sub-category to work, then i am not filtering products. I then have a glorified single level category structure with placeholder parent categories that are non-functional.
I don't think I need to explain further why the filtering functionality of this "tree view with checkboxes" should be changed, as the standard "Tree View" category display option works exactly as one would expect. The standard "Tree View" category setup allows for products to be in both the parent and sub-categories, and it correctly filters down the parent category when a sub-category is selected.
Again - I may be incorrect in assuming, but I can't see how this is anything but a bug.
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Joined: 7/28/2009
Posts: 1452
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Hi Alex,
We will try to replicate the issue you reported and will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thanks for your feedback,
At your service,
Dave Smith
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Sweeeet. If you can get tree view with checkboxes working properly, that would be awesome!
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Joined: 7/28/2009
Posts: 1452
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Alex,
To fix the issue do the following:
- Go to your \desktopmodules\smith.categorymenu folder
- Open CategoryMenu.ascx
- Find the control with the ID "tvCheckBoxTree"
- Set the property TriStateCheckBoxes="false"
Thanks,
At your service,
Dave Smith
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Hey Dave,
I completed the above steps, and now child categories are functioning normally. Thank you.
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Dave -
I was curious if the below is possible:
Menu style "treeview with checkboxes"
Currently, when a user selects two separate checkboxes, they are displayed all items in both categories. I was wondering if it was at all possible for this to behave differently.
Instead of checking two boxes showing all products in both, It would be nice if they would only display products that are listed in both categories. This way, if a user selects multiple check boxes, they are filtering down even further their selection, rather than adding to it. This is the behavior I have come to expect when shopping other carts that use checkbox product filtering.
Thanks - Alex
EDIT: I don't think this is a bug. I can see the logic in doing it both ways. I just think the option to choose would be excellent!
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Joined: 7/28/2009
Posts: 1452
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Alex,
I am not following what you are asking can you clarify your question?
thanks,
At your service,
Dave Smith
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Joined: 2/2/2012
Posts: 278
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Sure Dave -
Right now on Tree View with Checkboxes, if a user "checks" two boxes, they are presented with a complete product list from both categories. In effect, checking more than one box is "additive". They are not filtering their results by checking another box, they are simply adding to their results.
I would love it if I had the option to make the checkboxes "subtractive". So, when a user checks two box's. Instead of them seeing a total list of all products in both categories, they would only see a list of items that are in both categories. In effect, checking a second box would "narrow down" their results, not add to them.
The reason why I say that I can see the logic in both ways is that with the current category module setup, subtractive categories would most likely not be a good idea. However, thinking down the road to a time when the "custom xml template category module" is functional, I could see a whole new Smith cart arise which functions much like some of the bigger webstore software. A user would pick a single checkbox from their "main" category. They would then pick a "color checkbox" to filter their main category by color. They would then pick a "price range checkbox" to again filter their results by main, color, and price.
I think a setup like I mentioned above would greatly improve the "shop-ability" of Smith Cart. Although like I said, this setup would not be for everyone.
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