HACK: AutoGen Metadata Metatag. Product, Category. Title, Description, Keywords

[nirajlama]

Thanks Forrest for the tip. I have downloaded it, READ the instructions carefully, and am executing it right now.
And thank you Orasis for the advise.

[Forrest]

nuller-joe: I can only assume you have not copied over the files correctly, or did not update the database with the .sql file included.

[Stefanos]

Hi Forrest what's up, how is it going with the plugin, how about the image meta ?

cheers, happy holy days

[Forrest]

No rest for the weary. No progress on image meta, and probably not for another month (if at all) at this rate.

[zazu]

I note in the example url that the product name is appended as in:

http://www.ruggedradios.com/race-racing-communications-store/details/619/82/intercoms/jeep/browse-by-product/4-watt-vhf-car-to-car-radio-kit.html

I have disabled sh404sef as per the Google Webmaster Official blog and my urls are now like:

/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=9611&category_id=241&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=71

Is the appending of product name part of the hack please?

[Forrest]

Not in the URL. This hack has nothing to do with URL structure. Just TITLE, DESCRIPTION, and KEYWORDS METADATA.

sh404sef will alter the URLs. I use router.php, which does the same thing.

[zazu]

Thanks

Where can i find router.php please?

[Forrest]

Search the forum for it.

[Stefanos]

Forrest I believe that many of Joomla users do use some SEF plugin and are already able to use metadata for virtuemart that way, so I believe image metadata is what is left to be done, and I find it much more important at this point. Sorry but I think you should reconsider this case.

cheers

[Forrest]

That may be so, however:

1. This hack has been downloaded 1000+ times since I posted first rev 2 1/2 months ago. This hack fills several needs that SEF plugins do not.

2. As I stated before, what you are asking for is a completely different hack. This hack is for PAGE METADATA, not IMAGE tags. The core files to hack, and functions associated with them, will be different.

So, considering time and efforts, it's not going to happen any time on the short future.

[klutzon]

Forrest I believe that many of Joomla users do use some SEF plugin and are already able to use metadata for virtuemart that way, so I believe image metadata is what is left to be done, and I find it much more important at this point. Sorry but I think you should reconsider this case.

cheers

I don't think an Image Meta generator is necessary, VM already has all the facilities to assign images short and long descriptions which you could then apply to the images on the front end, however it does not use this information by default (the long description entry input isn't even available on the File / Image Upload form, but it is in the database) and doesn't make it clear how to use them, so I don't blame you for thinking such a generator would be required.

It would not take much to create a script that auto-populated the short and long descriptions for each additional product image in the database, although I'd recommend entering it yourself to give each image better context, and then it would just be a matter of assigning each description as a variable you can use on the front end and off you go.

I've got a product image slideshow set up for the site I'm working on, I will post the link when it's ready for the public.

[Jimvertical]

For those using Virtuemart, CSVimproved and this hack... it is possible to use CSVimproved to upload meta-keys in bulk with a CSV file.

I am by no means a Joomla or Virtuemart expert.
I just thought I would try this and it worked for me. If it doesn't work for you, I probably can not help you (sorry).

Here is how I did it:

1. I added a column to my CSVimproved CSV file called "product_metakey" (see attached screenshot).
2. I added a "Field Name" to my CSVimproved template called "default" (you can find it in the drop down box). This was on my CSVimproved page called "Template fields::CSVI Product Import" (screenshot attached).
3. I added a column header in this same template called "product_metakey" (note that it matches the column in my CSV file).(same screenshot as #2)
4. I made sure the check box for this hack called "Turn On Manual Edit of Meta Title/Description/Keywords" on the Metadata tab for the products in Virtuemart was checked.
5. Uploaded the CSVimproved CSV file, checked my product in Virtuemart, clicked the tab for "Metadata" and my uploaded keywords appeared.

It was used here on a few items:
http://www.maximummidrange.com/

Regards

[zazu]

This hack an excellent product. One question, the first page of the shop that lists all the categories, simply has the title tag "Shop" - is it possible to change this to something more meaningful?

[EDIT] Dumb question! its in the parameter section of the menu module

[Forrest]

[Forrest]

[UPDATE] 04-04-2010 -> download v1.6

• Fix: Minor update in commenting of hacked code (metatab name). Not necesary to download if you already have v1.5 working.
  
• Files modified: product.product_form.php

Note: You can download the update from first post / first page of this thread.