creating a navigation block that lists categories

[dymaxionfm]

Hello!

I'd like to create a navigation block that lists recently created categories in descending order (most recent at the top, is what I'm trying to say).

Is there a tutorial for this?

Thanks!

T

[Jamie]

The category links that appear in the "Product Catalog" navigation block can be sorted via the instructions on this page:
http://squirrelcart.com/help/?Changi...t%20Order.html

To show newer categories at the top, you can sort by record_number - descending.

That is not going to exclude categories that were created prior to a certain date.

[Jamie]

If you want a separate navigation block that will display the newest categories, try this....

1. Create a new navigation block

2. Put this in the Content field:

<div class="nav_link_container cat_links">
    <ul class="nav_links">
        <?php sc_category_links(sc_query('SELECT * FROM Categories ORDER BY record_number DESC LIMIT 0,5')); ?>
    </ul>
</div>

3. The 5 in the code above controls how many categories it will display. In this case, it will show links for the last 5 category records added.

4. Add that navigation block to your storefront page

[Beery_Asst]

Can one modify that code just a bit to display the most recent products added instead of categories in a navigation block?

[Jamie]

<?php 
$prods = sc_query('
    SELECT 
         record_number
        ,IF(Display_Name,Display_Name,Name) AS Name
    FROM
        Products
    WHERE
            Not_For_Sale !=1
    ORDER BY
        Date_Added_to_Cart DESC
    LIMIT
        0,5
');
if (empty($prods)) return;
?>
<div class="nav_link_container cat_links">
    <ul class="nav_links">
        <?php foreach($prods as $prod): ?>
            <li>
                <a href="<?php print get_product_url($prod['record_number'])?>"><?php print sc_htmlspecialchars($prod['Name'])?></a>
            </li>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </ul>
</div>

That will show the 5 newest products in a nav block.

[Beery_Asst]

Thanks, that's great. One last requet. Where the " Not_For_Sale !=1" is....

What would I add to it to get the right field where it would only display items where cost is not $0?

I have a "Used Equipment" category where customers can submit items via email to me that I will post as a product. I don't sell it for them thus the $0 cost, but list the items on my website as a product to create a draw where people will come back periodically to check out stuff.

Beery

[Jamie]

Base_Price > 0
as in:

<?php 
$prods = sc_query('
    SELECT 
         record_number
        ,IF(Display_Name,Display_Name,Name) AS Name
    FROM
        Products
    WHERE
        Not_For_Sale !=1
        AND Base_Price > 0
    ORDER BY
        Date_Added_to_Cart DESC
    LIMIT
        0,5
');
if (empty($prods)) return;
?>
<div class="nav_link_container cat_links">
    <ul class="nav_links">
        <?php foreach($prods as $prod): ?>
            <li>
                <a href="<?php print get_product_url($prod['record_number'])?>"><?php print sc_htmlspecialchars($prod['Name'])?></a>
            </li>
        <?php endforeach; ?>
    </ul>
</div>

</span>

[Beery_Asst]

Thanks Jamie. Much appreciated.

Beery

[Jamie]

You're welcome

[dymaxionfm]

Thank, Jamie!

This code is working great:

<div class="nav_link_container cat_links">
<ul class="nav_links">
<?php sc_category_links(sc_query('SELECT * FROM Categories ORDER BY record_number DESC LIMIT 0,5')); ?>
</ul>
</div>

One more question, I'd like to show the image associated with each category rather than just the name of the category. Is that possible?

[Jamie]

The sc_category_links() function uses the product_catalog_nav_link.tpl.php template file to obtain the HTML for each link. You would need to alter that template file to add the category's image. You are going to find 2 anchor tags in that template, at line #10 and line #21. To change the name of the category to a link, you need to change:

<?php print $Name ?>

to:

<img src="<?php print SC_IMG_DIR_DYN."/$Image" ?>" alt="<?php print $Name?>" />

That will display the image you assigned to the category's "Image" field. If you want to use the "Image of Name" field instead, change that variable to "$Image_of_Name".

[dymaxionfm]

Thanks Jamie!

I added "$Thumbnail_Image" to show the thumbnail, and it looks nice!

T