Google Missing Product Type Values

[scythe000]

How do I add them so Google Base won't complain about it?

Thanks!

[Dirty Butter]

I manually added a google_product_category column to the inventory table and set the most common one as default. It means I have to adjust the table entry when I add a doll, as the default I set is stuffed animals.

Then I added to the array for products.export.inc.php so it's included.

$header_fields = array('id','link','title','description','image_link','price','condition','upc','ean','jan','isbn','brand','availability','google_product_category','product_type');

    $fields  = array('product_id', 'url', 'name', 'description', 'image', 'price', 'condition','upc','ean','jan','isbn','manufacturer','availability','google_product_category','google_product_category');

If you have lots of different product categories this would be more trouble than it's probably worth.

[scythe000]

Hmm, a bit beyond my abilities. This really isn't built in to CC yet?

[Dirty Butter]

I think one of the developers is working on a v5 mod for this. Found it - << 3rdparty url removed >>

[scythe000]

Agh, another L9.99...I think i'll experiment with your manual plan, as i only have 4 categories.

[Dirty Butter]

Here's my addition to the _inventory table. I used a large number of possible characters and chose varchar because of the >. Default choice is As Defined, and then I put in the most frequent category. The Null check box is NOT checked - that makes the NO in the screenshot. Hope that helps.

[WhiteWillowStitching]

I found the least headache causing way to do this was to export the catalog in google base format than paste it all into a spread sheet and make my changes then paste it back into the txt format and upload it manually to google. It was a bit of work at first but now takes me about 5 minutes to do once a month after I add new products. I also need a manufacture part number vs ISBN, EAN, JAN or UPC. Using the spread sheet also allows for quick changes, quick new additions, and format changes so that I can use it for feeds other than Google as well.

[Dirty Butter]

Glad you worked something out that's easy for you. I used to do it exactly as you described. I'm on a Windows 7 computer, so when I Export I use the Open, rather than Save option and have it set to open with Excel. That saves the copy/paste step. I rename the old feed, save the open one and send it to Google.

[scythe000]

I found the least headache causing way to do this was to export the catalog in google base format than paste it all into a spread sheet and make my changes then paste it back into the txt format and upload it manually to google. It was a bit of work at first but now takes me about 5 minutes to do once a month after I add new products. I also need a manufacture part number vs ISBN, EAN, JAN or UPC. Using the spread sheet also allows for quick changes, quick new additions, and format changes so that I can use it for feeds other than Google as well.

Oh, wow, awesome!

so, something like this? I just added the field, and for the moment, made them all the same category.

gbasetest1a.txt

[Dirty Butter]

Yes, that should work for now. I don't do it that way now, because I have it in the array in CC. But what you've done will work IF Google doesn't object to the category being incorrect for some of your items.

[scythe000]

It did work. FYI, Al said this should be fixed in 5.0.9.

[Guest Chris Palin]

Does anyone know whether this was fixed, I'm running 5.1.0 and experiencing the same problem as described above.

Thanks

[Dirty Butter]

Hmmm. Since I've been using my own array, I hadn't checked to see what 5.1.0 was exporting until just now. I get the correct product type, BUT there is a huge gap from item 2784 to 3123 where nothing shows in that column. Then the last one I added as a cloned item has the correct product_type listed - and the one it was a clone of has the correct product_type.