Parent category

[mark +]

v4.1.3 Developer


Custom - Fluid


All

I am having a problem resolving the parent category in Showlistings.
We have set up 45 parent categories that relate to UK Counties. Then in each parent category there are 160 sub categories which relate to where a user can place an ad. All seems to be working OK with this type of set up.

In Showlistings.tpl, I have turned off the display for users county as this regularly does not relate to which county the listing has been placed. I do, however, want to display the parent category for the listing; which in our case relates to the county that the listing has been placed. By placing a small mod in the Listings.php I can retrieve the sub category name that the listing is placed and also the parent_id for that sub category.

Is there any way that I can resolve the parent_id within showlistings.tpl? I have tried using {getcats} but this returns nothing.

Thanks in advance

Mark

[Lhotch +]

If the category name variable isnt available in DEBUG, then you will have to do another query to the catagory table using the category ID and look up the category name for it to be displayed.

[mark +]

Hi Larry

Thanks again for the rapid response.

Not too sure where i should make this call, from within Listings.php or can it be done from within showlistings.tpl?

Mark

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by mark

Hi Larry

Thanks again for the rapid response.

Not too sure where i should make this call, from within Listings.php or can it be done from within showlistings.tpl?

Mark

You could do it right in listings.php but I am not a big fan of editing core code files because it makes future upgrades a pain. I would probably create a plugin and place it in the loop that displays the ads. The plugin should be able to take the variable for the category id at the template level and use that in the query.

[seymourjames +]

If you upgrade to 4.1.6 then I believe the variable you want (category ID) becomes available to you. Otherwise you need to edit core files which basically amounts to the same thing.

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by seymourjames

If you upgrade to 4.1.6 then I believe the variable you want (category ID) becomes available to you. Otherwise you need to edit core files which basically amounts to the same thing.

In v4.1.5 the {results} array has the variable "section" in it which should be the category the ad is placed in if I am not mistaken.

So if you are working within the loop

{foreach from=$results item="entry"}

{entry.section} will hold the section number and you should be able to pass that along to the plugin.

[seymourjames +]

OK - I knew it was recent that this was added. Thought it was 4.1.6 . Mark is quoting 4.1.3

[Lhotch +]

4.1.3 has the section in the {$results} array as well.

[mark +]

Thanks again Larry

Must admit, we are always going to have a bit of an issue with upgrading. I have to check each of the altered files given in the documentation for each upgrade.

Still being a bit green in PHP etc, I managed to do the call from withing Listings.php. As I get more experience I'll try to create a few modules. At the moment, I would not know where to start creating these.

Cheers

Mark

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by mark

Thanks again Larry

Must admit, we are always going to have a bit of an issue with upgrading. I have to check each of the altered files given in the documentation for each upgrade.

Still being a bit green in PHP etc, I managed to do the call from withing Listings.php. As I get more experience I'll try to create a few modules. At the moment, I would not know where to start creating these.

Cheers

Mark

Modules can be a bit tricky and are a lot more work than just hacking a core file but they are more transportable and sit outside the code.

What I suggested was a plugin actually. These dont get installed via the 68C admin at all, they are basically just php scripts that sit in the /plugins folder and are called by using their name in curly brackets from within a template. Just like the featured listing plugin.