Mailing List Archive: Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy?

Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy?

Jan 5, 2001, 7:07 PM

Post #1 of 5 (946 views)

Hi all. I hope at least a few of you can counsel me on this.

The Construct demo uses, as the manual states, single-level
categorization for its items. I would like to change it to support
two-level categorization. To provide a practical usage example, here are
two categories and subcategories of parts I would like to list:

Mustang parts
Suspension
Interior
Drivetrain

Camaro parts
Suspension
Interior
Drivetrain

...etc.

So basically I have taken the existing categories like Nails, Hammers and
Ladders, and have changed them to Suspension, Interior and Drivetrain.
I've then made them subordinate to what I might call a 'primary category'.

I would like to then modify the pages so that the user first picks a
primary category (e.g. Mustang or Camaro), then goes to a page much like
Construct's current index, where categories are listed (e.g. Suspension,
Interior, etc.) and parts suggested.

Beyond the obvious stuff like adding another column to the Products
table, can a few of you provide an outline of how you'd go about solving
this problem? And if you have any shortcuts (like a different
architecture), I'd love to hear it.

Thanks so much,

Steve Freitas

Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy? [ In reply to ]

doug at lathi

Jan 8, 2001, 8:24 AM

Post #2 of 5 (934 views)

Permalink

Steve Freitas <sflist@ihonk.com> writes:

> The Construct demo uses, as the manual states, single-level
> categorization for its items. I would like to change it to support
> two-level categorization. To provide a practical usage example, here are
> two categories and subcategories of parts I would like to list:
>
> Mustang parts
> Suspension
> Interior
> Drivetrain
>
> Camaro parts
> Suspension
> Interior
> Drivetrain
>
> ...etc.
>

I have just finished a catalog that is just like this (but with
cellular telephone accessories). It was a little tricky, but I
finally got it.

Basically, I used another field in the products table for the
Mustang/Camaro stuff (addl_category in my case). I then added a form
to one of the template areas that will allow the customer to easily
change from Mustang to Camaro. This form's submit action is a dummy,
middle page. The purpose of the middle page is to extract the value
selected and enter it into a scratch variable. The middle page then
bounces to some predermined page. Finally, in the code for the left
hand side I had to modify the bar_link subroutine to generate a
coordinated search of the scratch variable and the primary category.

I'm working on getting a site up that will allow you to download all
the little tricks and hacks for IC I've written. Once I get that done
I will have the code for doing this up. It may be another week or two
before I'm done.
--
(__) Doug Alcorn (mailto:doug@lathi.net http://www.lathi.net)
oo / PGP 02B3 1E26 BCF2 9AAF 93F1 61D7 450C B264 3E63 D543
|_/ If you're a capitalist and you have the best goods and they're
free, you don't have to proselytize, you just have to wait.

Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy? [ In reply to ]

sflist at ihonk

Jan 8, 2001, 2:20 PM

Post #3 of 5 (941 views)

Permalink

>I have just finished a catalog that is just like this (but with
>cellular telephone accessories). It was a little tricky, but I
>finally got it.

Thanks for the description of your strategy, I really appreciate it.

>I'm working on getting a site up that will allow you to download all
>the little tricks and hacks for IC I've written. Once I get that done
>I will have the code for doing this up. It may be another week or two
>before I'm done.

Wonderful! I'm looking forward to it. Thanks!

Steve Freitas

Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy? [ In reply to ]

n6rej at tcsn

Jan 8, 2001, 6:09 PM

Post #4 of 5 (933 views)

Permalink

where in which manual does it state the differences in the catalog types?

Troy

----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Alcorn" <doug@lathi.net>
To: <interchange-users@minivend.com>
Sent: Monday, 08 January, 2001 07:24
Subject: Re: [ic] Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy?

> Steve Freitas <sflist@ihonk.com> writes:
>
> > The Construct demo uses, as the manual states, single-level
> > categorization for its items. I would like to change it to support
> > two-level categorization. To provide a practical usage example, here are
> > two categories and subcategories of parts I would like to list:
> >
> > Mustang parts
> > Suspension
> > Interior
> > Drivetrain
> >
> > Camaro parts
> > Suspension
> > Interior
> > Drivetrain
> >
> > ...etc.
> >
>
> I have just finished a catalog that is just like this (but with
> cellular telephone accessories). It was a little tricky, but I
> finally got it.
>
> Basically, I used another field in the products table for the
> Mustang/Camaro stuff (addl_category in my case). I then added a form
> to one of the template areas that will allow the customer to easily
> change from Mustang to Camaro. This form's submit action is a dummy,
> middle page. The purpose of the middle page is to extract the value
> selected and enter it into a scratch variable. The middle page then
> bounces to some predermined page. Finally, in the code for the left
> hand side I had to modify the bar_link subroutine to generate a
> coordinated search of the scratch variable and the primary category.
>
> I'm working on getting a site up that will allow you to download all
> the little tricks and hacks for IC I've written. Once I get that done
> I will have the code for doing this up. It may be another week or two
> before I'm done.
> --
> (__) Doug Alcorn (mailto:doug@lathi.net http://www.lathi.net)
> oo / PGP 02B3 1E26 BCF2 9AAF 93F1 61D7 450C B264 3E63 D543
> |_/ If you're a capitalist and you have the best goods and they're
> free, you don't have to proselytize, you just have to wait.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Interchange-users mailing list
> Interchange-users@lists.akopia.com
> http://lists.akopia.com/mailman/listinfo/interchange-users
>

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy? [ In reply to ]

steveandpatti at wubs

Jan 8, 2001, 6:36 PM

Post #5 of 5 (938 views)

Permalink

+N6REJ wrote:

> where in which manual does it state the differences in the catalog types?
>
> Troy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Doug Alcorn" <doug@lathi.net>
> To: <interchange-users@minivend.com>
> Sent: Monday, 08 January, 2001 07:24
> Subject: Re: [ic] Answers Wanted: 2-level categorization: Best strategy?
>
> > Steve Freitas <sflist@ihonk.com> writes:
> >
> > > The Construct demo uses, as the manual states, single-level
> > > categorization for its items. I would like to change it to support
> > > two-level categorization. To provide a practical usage example, here are
> > > two categories and subcategories of parts I would like to list:
> > >
> > > Mustang parts
> > > Suspension
> > > Interior
> > > Drivetrain
> > >
> > > Camaro parts
> > > Suspension
> > > Interior
> > > Drivetrain
> > >
> > > ...etc.
> > >
> >
> > I have just finished a catalog that is just like this (but with
> > cellular telephone accessories). It was a little tricky, but I
> > finally got it.
> >
> > Basically, I used another field in the products table for the
> > Mustang/Camaro stuff (addl_category in my case). I then added a form
> > to one of the template areas that will allow the customer to easily
> > change from Mustang to Camaro. This form's submit action is a dummy,
> > middle page. The purpose of the middle page is to extract the value
> > selected and enter it into a scratch variable. The middle page then
> > bounces to some predermined page. Finally, in the code for the left
> > hand side I had to modify the bar_link subroutine to generate a
> > coordinated search of the scratch variable and the primary category.
> >
> > I'm working on getting a site up that will allow you to download all
> > the little tricks and hacks for IC I've written. Once I get that done
> > I will have the code for doing this up. It may be another week or two
> > before I'm done.
> > --
> > (__) Doug Alcorn (mailto:doug@lathi.net http://www.lathi.net)
> > oo / PGP 02B3 1E26 BCF2 9AAF 93F1 61D7 450C B264 3E63 D543
> > |_/ If you're a capitalist and you have the best goods and they're
> > free, you don't have to proselytize, you just have to wait.
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Interchange-users mailing list
> > Interchange-users@lists.akopia.com
> > http://lists.akopia.com/mailman/listinfo/interchange-users
> >
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.225 / Virus Database: 107 - Release Date: 12/22/2000
>
> _______________________________________________
> Interchange-users mailing list
> Interchange-users@lists.akopia.com
> http://lists.akopia.com/mailman/listinfo/interchange-users

They are all the same with exception of Basic. Only difference is look. Test is
also all by itself..

Steve