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So, I just purchased this WP eStore plugin and, even though I’m pleased with the multitude of configuration options available, I’m still confused as [moderated] due to the information overload.
There’s many things that I need to tamper with in order to get the look and feel that I want for my website, but for now, the thing that bugs me the most is the categories.
More specifically, when I create a product I assumed that the plugin will create a page (having a template for such a “product details” page would be awesome imo) where I can enter the content of the product in. But, apparently the plugin doesn’t create that “product’s details page” automatically and I have to create manually using the “create post” setting of WP. Which I won’t mind doing, but… then another issue pops up, namely the categories. Do I need to create categories both in WP and in your plugin, then pair them up, or do I only create categories inside of your plugin? Or only inside of WP? I’m confused as [moderated], I swear. And in case that both options work which of the 2 is best? By best I mean: less clutter, better page / site loading speeds, higher customization availability, etc.
I will want to have a list of categories in the sidebar of my website and when people tick the checkboxes of each category I want your plugin to filter out all other products / categories and only display the products in the selected categories to the customers who do this. So, in this case where us it better to create the categories (inside of your plugin, or inside of WP) for this option to be available to me??
Last, but not least, product attributes… I’m selling digital downloads (ebooks, audio files, etc.), and I need each of the products that I’m selling to have a few standard attributes (file size, number of pages – in the case of ebooks, obviously – and maybe another attribute called “rights”, where I specify what type of rights the users have for their downloads). So, 3 attributes in total. I could eventually specify them on each product’s page as I create those pages, but given the HUGE quantity of customizing options that your plugin has there’s probably a way for me to automate the adding of those attributes, but probably that I didn’t figure it out yet.
Whew! This was a long post. I apologize for its length, but it was necessary… hopefully
John
Most “product details” can be entered into the product database, and are displayed when various product shortcodes are used. The use of “product pages” is optional.
https://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/ecommerce/wordpress-estore-plugin-demo-175
An eStore “Product Category” is not the same as a WP “Post Category.”
https://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/ecommerce/wordpress-estore-product-categorization-431
We also have a FREE addon that facilitates product displays by category:
https://www.tipsandtricks-hq.com/ecommerce/wp-estore-browse-products-by-category-addon-2056
What you are calling “attributes,” are referred to as “product variations.”
Um, no, not really. Product variations are one thing, and product attributes are a different thing. For example, an ebook that is 30 pages long has an attribute of 30 pages, not a variation of 30 pages, because it can’t be any other size than 30 pages since it’s already 30 pages long. And the same goes for the file size (measurable in MB, or Kb, or whatever). These are all attributes, not variations.
The other 2 links I will check in a moment
Ok, I have thoroughly checked all these links, and I’m sorry to say but my issues are still not fixed. None of those links tells me if I should create the categories inside of the plugin, or inside of WP with regards to page loading speeds or high customization power. Moreover, I’m being instructed to insert the shortcode into a page, and that’s not what I want. I specifically mentioned that I want the categories to be displayed in the sidebar, and when people tick the checkboxes of the categories they wish to view products from the products from all other categories get filtered out by the plugin and the remaining products (the one that the visitor wishes to see based on their filtering) are displayed on the homepage of my website. I don’t know how else I can explain this, but it’s a pretty widespread and normal feature in most ecommerce websites that have this product filtering option. Maybe I didn’t explain well, maybe you didn’t understand what I mean, I don’t know where the problem is, but with the (basic) understanding I’m having about this plugin I can’t see how those links will help me. Sorry.
As for the product details page, I know that I can enter product descriptions into a field somewhere in the product’s options when I create products, but that description field is too small in order for me to be able to see the full view of the description. A simple post would be better for my needs, but then I don’t know how to map the post to the corresponding product inside of your plugin. Can you please explain how to go about this? I need to create details pages that contain more than a few lines of text. I need those pages to contain tables of contents of the products (ebooks), and at least 500-600 words of other content, maybe add extra images, too, and let’s not forget the product attributes (file size, ebook size, etc.) which again, I still don’t know how to automate. Eventually I could enter these attributes as simple text on each product’s page, no big deal, but the other 2 issues are still important
So, could you please be specific about my needs instead of just referencing me to the documentation? You are probably right and my answers are in there somewhere but I swear that I’m mentally blocked at the moment due to the information overload. Just help me sort these things out so I can have my website up and running ASAP, and then, as time goes by and I go through the various options of the plugin in more depth I will figure out stuff on my own.
Cheers!
I figured out most of how this works, but I still can’t figure out the categorizing issue. I have tried absolutely ALL of the shortcodes that are available and, unless I’m missing something, there is no easy way (via shortcode) to do what I need. More specifically…. I want to have ALL of the categories listed in the sidebar with products count, with parent-child structure (for example, the parent category Health & Fitness needs to have 2 childs: Health, and Fitness, but I don’t know how to do it), and also with filtering option that keeps the filtered products ON THE HOMEPAGE instead of me having to create a specific page for categorizing the products.
Right now, I’m using this shortcode in my storefront page so I can display the products the way I want, and I’m pleased with the current design of my website:
[wp_eStore_random_products number=50 style=3 type=1]
The problem is – and I repeat – that, in order to do what I need I will either have to create a page that deals with categorizing specifically (which I do not want to do because it’s not normal for such an advanced plugin not to be able to do such basic stuff as product filtering), or duplicate the categories I’m creating with this plugin in WordPress so I can match them and be able to shoot 2 birds with one stone: create hierarchies (parent-child type of hierarcy), and manage product filtering easier with the help of another plugin.
If anybody knows how I can solve my hierarchy and product filtering issues using this plugin let me know cause I’m out of ideas…
Also, the description of the last shortcode in the “Category Specific (Extra) Shortcodes” entry has a small typo. It should say “Category ID” instead of “Product ID”…. probably. No big deal, but I thought I should let you know anyway
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