Magento : FedEx, UPS and USPS Shipment Order Tracking URL

Following are the tracking URL for which Magento generates.

FedEx Shipment Tracking URL :

http://www.fedex.com/Tracking?action=track&tracknumbers=XXXXXXXXXX

Note: Just replace 'XXXXXXXXXX' by your real trackNumber.

UPS shipment tracking URL :

http://wwwapps.ups.com/WebTracking/track?track=yes& trackNums=1ZXXXXXXXXXX

Note: Just replace 'XXXXXXXXXX' by your real trackNums.

USPS shipment tracking URL :

https://tools.usps.com/go/TrackConfirmAction_input?qtc_tLabels1=XXXXXXXXXXX

Note: Just replace 'XXXXXXXXXX' by your real qtc_tLabels1.

Importing Products with the Import Export with Magento 1.5 CE

This tutorial is regarding how to use the "Import Export" feature that has been introduced with Magento 1.5 and above in community edition.

I will demonstrate how to import simple product data via CSV files and CSV product related variants.

CSV format is as follows:

Have to put column names in the first table row

Make sure to keep - Field separator: comma

Make sure to keep - Text separator: double quotation marks (optional)

Make sure to keep character coding set to - Character set: UTF-8

Sample importing product format of CSV file.

We have used comma for separating column only for demonstration. Use CSV file as attached.

Column Names :

store, websites, _attribute_set, _type, sku, price, weight, name, image, thumbnail, small_image, short_description, description, status, visibility, tax_class_id, qty, is_in_stock

Values :

admin, base, Default, simple, sandy_product, 100, 0.5, sandy_product, /image1.jpg, /image1_thumb.jpg, /image1_small.jpg, sandy_product, sandy_product, 1, 4, 2, 100, 1

Magento : Currently running Store info (getStore() info)

// To fetch the current store information 
$_storeInfo = Mage::app()->getStore(); 

Zend_Debug::dump($_storeInfo ->debug());
You can do debugging for all the collections. This will help you a lot in all the case.
 
// To fetch the current store id 
$_storeId = Mage::app()->getStore()->getStoreId(); 

// To fetch the current store code 
$_storeCode = Mage::app()->getStore()->getCode(); 

// To fetch the current store's group id 
$_storeGroupId = Mage::app()->getStore()->getGroupId(); 

// To fetch the current store's name 
$_storeName = Mage::app()->getStore()->getName(); 

// To fetch the current store's sort order 
$_storeOrder = Mage::app()->getStore()->getSortOrder(); 

// To fetch the current store's status 
$_storeStatus = Mage::app()->getStore()->getIsActive(); 

// To fetch the current store's locale 
$_storeCode = Mage::app()->getStore()->getLocaleCode(); 

// To fetch the current website id 
$_websiteId = Mage::app()->getStore()->getWebsiteId(); 

// To fetch the current store's home url 
$_storeHomeUrl = Mage::app()->getStore()->getHomeUrl();

Comparison between Magento and Prestashop.

Magento versus PrestaShop

How to know which is the best e-Commerce platform?

In market there are lots of e-commerce platform rather than these two such as Virtuemart, Lemonstand, Volusion, Merchandizer, Big Commerce, Shopify, Opencart, Cubecart, Storesprite but which fits in your needs and pocket that depends on respective requirements.

But most widely used in market are Magento and PrestaShop.

Most merchants are confusing about to select which platform. We have done comparison between Prestashop and Magento along with the details. It contains the features, customization, functionality, themes related etc.

Topic	PrestaShop	Magento
Release	Mid 2007	2008
Products /Edition	One software contains more than 300 features.	Editions like Magento go, enterprise edition, community edition.
Pricing	Basic version is free but additionally has paid modules.	Community edition is free but enterprise and go is paid. Good enough to set up for an online store with rich features
Written Language(Coding Framework)	PHP and Smarty Template Engine	PHP and Zend  Framework and MVC architecture
Database engine	MySQL	MYSQL, use EAV to store data
Language Support	More than 50 Language, need API	API needed.
No of Downloads	Above 3 Million	Above 5 Million
SEO Compatibility	Useful for small biz	Better support compare to PS Rich SEO implementation and features
Tech support	PrestaShop community and its forums	Magento having large tech support and community help
Design integration/Theme Integration	Ease compare to Magento	Complicated
Open source License	Yes under OSL ( Open Software License  ) 3.0	Under OSL 3.0
Payment Gateway	Paypal, Authorize .Net, Google Check out, Direct Pay,	Paypal, Authorize .Net, Google Check out, Direct Pay and additionally Authorize Emulator.
Currency	Supportive	Supports
Android/iPad/iPod – Responsive purpose	Ease of use and implementation	Little complex

  

The above blog will help you to judge out between two platforms mentioned. It’s totally based on

 needs of the user/customer. Above mention data may be vary is only for information.

Sources:

           Magento       - http://www.magentocommerce.com/

           Magento       - http://www.magento.com/

           Prestashop    - http://www.prestashop.com/en/

                               

Removing index.php from Magento URL

How to Remove .php extension from Magento URL

Here is the solution to remove magento url.

You need to enable mod_rewrite apache server.

Log in to magento admin area.

After that Select System(Probably last menu item) -> Choose Configuration.

Now from left menu panel, under General Section, select web option,

Then in Search Engines Optimization,

Set use web server rewrites to yes.

click on Save configuration to save.

Then Go to the Cache Management under System menu 

Flush magento cache and flush cache storage .

refresh and check the site.

Cherrs  :).

Session Variables in Magento

Following are main of the session variables. 

1. First one is about getting information regardng core session data for magento.

Core Session :- Mage::getSingleton(‘core/session’) 

2. Customer session is for getting details associated with the customer data that is currently in session.
You can play with customer session data in shopping cart in the case of one page check out or another kind of. 

Customer Session :- Mage::getSingleton(‘customer/session’);

3 .Admin session gives you information regarding admin session related with admin modules and permisssions.
You have to back up your source code before using this session. This is very important. 

Admin Session :- Mage::getSingleton(‘adminhtml/session’) 

4. Shopping cart session determines that you can get info about various products in shopping cart and customer data. 

Shopping Cart Session :- Mage::getSingleton(‘checkout/session’)->getQuote() 

User defined session variables: 

How to set a session variable in Magento : 

$data = 'Hello heaven welcomes you.'; 

 Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->setMyData($data); 

OR 

Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->setData('my_data', $data); 

How to get a session variable in Magento: 

$string_data = Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->getMyData(); 

OR

$string_data = Mage::getSingleton('core/session')->getData('my_data'); 

var_dump($string_data ); 

Magento Admin CMS Pages not showing in admin panel

This might be complicated if you have deleted german, french store etc.
Then or else you will receive error 404 while loading CMS pages in admin panel.

To solve this,

Get Turn on Error log on by renaming file named local.xml.sample to local.xml in errors directory

Now, Run following query in mysql window.

SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=0;
UPDATE `core_store` SET store_id = 0 WHERE code='admin';
UPDATE `core_store_group` SET group_id = 0 WHERE name='Default';
UPDATE `core_website` SET website_id = 0 WHERE code='admin';
UPDATE `customer_group` SET customer_group_id = 0 WHERE customer_group_code='NOT LOGGED IN';
SET FOREIGN_KEY_CHECKS=1;

Check your cms_page_store table in database. 
Also, fire this query in window.

DELETE FROM cms_page_store WHERE store_id NOT IN (SELECT store_id FROM core_store)

Magento Admin Access Alternate way :: Admin Password Encryption - Decryption

Hello Everyone,

Here the tip for magento admin access.

Go to "app/code/core/Mage/Admin/Model/User.php"

Now, Comes to authenticate method around 325 line no.

You will find this code in this method.

Just comment on it.

/*if ($sensitive && $this->getId() && Mage::helper('core')->validateHash($password, $this->getPassword())) {

                if ($this->getIsActive() != '1') {

                    Mage::throwException(Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('This account is inactive.'));

                }

                if (!$this->hasAssigned2Role($this->getId())) {

                    Mage::throwException(Mage::helper('adminhtml')->__('Access denied.'));

                }

                $result = true;

           }*/

....................................................................................................

After comment on said condition,

Just write following code before Mage::dispatchEvent('admin_user_authenticate_after', array(); 

$result = true; 

Mage::dispatchEvent('admin_user_authenticate_after', array();

You have access for admin just entering valid username.

Enjoying.

Cheers :)

Magento Product price in Custom Option on Product View Page

Go to app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Block/Product/View/Options/Type/Select.php
Go to line around 60.

Just replace the foreach loop with following code.

//Code for foreach loop
foreach ($_option->getValues() as $_value) {
                $priceStr = $this->_formatPrice(array(
                    'is_percent'    => ($_value->getPriceType() == 'percent'),
                    'pricing_value' => $_value->getPrice(($_value->getPriceType() == 'percent'))
                ), false);
                
                $pro_price = $this->helper('core')->currencyByStore($this->getProduct()->getPrice(),$store,false);                
                
                $select->addOption(
                    $_value->getOptionTypeId(),
                    $_value->getTitle() . ' ( '.$pro_price.' ) ' . $priceStr . '',
                    array('price' => $this->helper('core')->currencyByStore($_value->getPrice(true), $store, false))
                );
            }

How to Check the Magento version different ways | Check Magento version

Here is the tip:

Create file getVersion.php in the root folder.


Now copy and paste following code in getVersion.php:


<?php
      include_once(‘App/Mage.php’);
      Mage::app();
      echo 'You are using magento version named:'.Mage::getVersion();
?>
Run file http://www.domain.com/getVersion.php

Check Magento version for Magento 2 website

Other numbers of ways to check Magento version of the website.
1. Using the HTTP GET Request by adding /magento_version into the domain name

http://<magento2-store>/magento_version

Copy

If your domain name is www.domain.com/magento_version it will give you Magento version and edition running on the website.

2. By third party scanners or informative websites which are as follows:

Open magescan.com and provide domain name (www.domain.com) URL
open MageReport.com (free tool allows to check status of the Magento website and provides useful results.) 
Open builtwith.com and provide the domain name (www.domain.com)


3. Command line

The following command returns the Magento version.
Command:

bin/magento --version

Enjoy.. :)

Captcha Extensions for magento

Captcha Extensions for Magento Forms


http://mydons.com/add-captcha-in-magento-customer-registration-form/


http://www.magentocommerce.com/magento-connect/Fontis/extension/1169/fontis-recaptcha

http://www.fontis.com.au/magento/extension/recaptcha

http://www.magentocommerce.com/magento-connect/outsourceonline-captcha-6034.html

https://store.i95dev.com/i95dev-captcha.html