How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by ogomo » Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:11 pm

On September 22, 2011 Google Merchant Center will require several items in product feeds, which were previously recommended but not required. I'm having a lot of difficulty implementing one of these, Google Product Category, which uses their own taxonomy.

Here's what Google has to say about it:
Google Product Category: We have added a new required high-level attribute called [google product category] that contains the category of the item in Google’s taxonomy (currently only required for a select number of categories). This is in addition to the current [product type] attribute.
I am using Opencart v 1.4.9.4 and Google Base Improved v1.4.8.

I originally misunderstood this and thought I could just add Google's categories to my existing list of categories, and set their sort order to -1 (to not display on the storefront). This unfortunately just adds these categories to the product_type attribute.

Has anyone figured out how to add google_product_category to their product feeds? I'm hoping there's a way to simply add categories with a sort order of -1 to the feed as the Google category.
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by ogomo » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:25 am

So I think I'm half way there. In the file /catalog/controller/feed/google_base_improved.php, I copied the following code:

Code: Select all

                $categories = $this->model_catalog_product->getCategories($p['product_id']);

                foreach($categories as $c) {
    				$path = $this->getPath($c['category_id']);

    				if ($path) {
    				    $cats = array();

    					foreach (explode('_', $path) as $path_id) {
    						$category_info = $this->model_catalog_category->getCategory($path_id);
    						if ($category_info) $cats[] = $category_info['name'];
    					}
                        if(count($cats)) $item->appendChild($this->_c('g:product_type', implode(' > ', $cats), false));
    				}
                }
And duplicated it with one small change to the last "if" line:

Code: Select all

                $categories = $this->model_catalog_product->getCategories($p['product_id']);

				foreach($categories as $c) {
    				$path = $this->getPath($c['category_id']);

    				if ($path) {
    				    $cats = array();

    					foreach (explode('_', $path) as $path_id) {
    						$category_info = $this->model_catalog_category->getCategory($path_id);
    						if ($category_info) $cats[] = $category_info['name'];
    					}
                        if(count($cats)) $item->appendChild($this->_c('g:google_product_category', implode(' > ', $cats), false));
    				}
                }
Now my feed lists the product categories as both <g:product_type> and <g:google_product_category>.

Now what I need it to do is list only the categories that are visible in my storefront as the <g:product_type>, and the ones that aren't (i.e. the categories with sort order = -1) as <g:google_product_category>.

Any ideas??
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by Xsecrets » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:28 am

well the correct way to do this is going to be to add a google taxonomy field to the database. Even then that only gets part of the problem. If you sell aparrel electronics or media I think those are the three then you have to add other attributes as well, and they all have to be listed on different lines, which is going to be a nightmare with opencarts structure, and impossible to do in a standard manner that works for all stores.

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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by uksitebuilder » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:40 am

The biggest problem as mentioned by X is the variants (or OC product options)

I have overcome all requirements for sinlges item sellers but that with my extension at present, I will find a way to somehow tackle variants too, but it probably wont be for a week or 3
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by ogomo » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:43 am

Well I've added the categories according to Google's taxonomy to my database, however those are set to sort order = -1 so they don't display in my store, but display on the product feed.

My store is located at http://www.ogomo.com and the feed is located at http://ogomo.com/index.php?route=feed/g ... e_improved

As you can see, the first item lists 6 <g:product_type> entries and 6 identical <g:google_product_category> entries.

The first two are the categories that show up in my storefront, and the remaining ones are correct according to Google's taxonomy. I just need to tell the feed to list <g:product_type> as all categories with the sort order being >=0 and list <g:google_product_category> as all categories with the sort order being = -1.
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by uksitebuilder » Fri Sep 09, 2011 2:52 am

Google only allows 1 google_product_category per product
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by ogomo » Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:01 am

Simon,
I just noticed the link to "Google merchant/base xml feed" in your signature. Two questions:
1 - Does this work with the US as the target country?
2 - Does it work with OC 1.4.9.4? (Pretty sure this is yes, but 2x checking)
If so, I'm sold...
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by uksitebuilder » Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:03 am

1- Yes all countries
2- 1.5.x is fully compliant )apart from variant products) 1.4.9.x Will be by Wednesday next week now that 1.5.x is out and feedback has been positive
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[SOLVED] How to list Google product categories in product fe

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Post by ogomo » Fri Sep 09, 2011 3:20 am

Just set my calendar reminder to purchase this on Wednesday.

Thanks for your help!
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by uksitebuilder » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:59 am

1.4.9.x Version is now available.
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by hbg » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:38 am

I wish I discovered this earlier. It would have saved a great deal of headaches.

Opencart Version 1.5.1.3
https://www.opencart.homebrewinn.com.au/shop/

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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by sbproduction » Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:55 pm

Hi here is my product feed:
http://www.livelifesports.co.uk/index.p ... e_improved
right now google say that i need to add availbility. Is this simple or do i need to buy you add on simon? If i do will that answer my problems. I have two shops one runs on 1.4.9.3 and the other on 1.5 does that mean i will need to purchase twice?
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Re: How to list Google product categories in product feed

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Post by uksitebuilder » Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:29 pm

If you have 2 separate installations of OC, then yes, you should buy 2 separate licenses

This is the same for all OC Commercial extensions unless they specifically say otherwise
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