VirtueMart Forum

VirtueMart 2 + 3 + 4 => 3rd party extension => Topic started by: Jumbo! on December 20, 2012, 21:12:32 PM

Title: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag for Facebook sharing
Post by: Jumbo! on December 20, 2012, 21:12:32 PM
(http://virtueplanet.s3.amazonaws.com/vmogmetatag-logo.png)

Most of the VirtueMart websites are using Facebook Like button widgets in their websites. But when a person clicks on the like button you need to pass correct structured data to Facebook so that your product information gets displayed correctly with the correct product image on the liker's timeline. So it is just not about liking your page but letting people know what exactly they like. It brings greater business possibilities to your online store and helps retain customers. And the only way to pass correct information to Facebook is through OGP tags. That's exactly what this plugin does within a minute.

VM OG Meta Tag Plugin enables you to integrate your Joomla and VirtueMart website into the Open Graph Protocol. The Open Graph Protocol enables you to integrate your Web pages into the social graph. By adding Open Graph tags to your website, you can classify and describe the content you attach Like buttons to. This allows Facebook to present the right image, category, and other information about your site when Likes of your content appear in news feed stories and user profiles. Your page will show up in the same places that Facebook pages show up around the site (e.g. search), and you can target ads to people who like your content. The structured data you provide via the Open Graph Protocol defines how your page will be represented on Facebook.

It not only takes care of the VirtueMart pages but also takes care of your general Joomla Pages and Articles. You can even use the plugin on the site which does not use VirtueMart.

It's a FREE plugin that can be downloaded and used by everyone without any limitation.

Compatible with Joomla! 4, Joomla! 3, Joomla 2.5, VirtueMart 4, VirtueMart 3, VirtueMart 2.6 and VirtueMart 2.0.

Detailed Product Description: https://www.virtueplanet.com/extensions/vm-og-meta-tag

Free Download: https://www.virtueplanet.com/downloads/vm-og-meta-tag/

We have installed this plugin on our VP Merchant Template demo site. Check the source code of the site to see the OGP Meta Tags on any page. Click on the Like button on the product details page and you will find the product details with the correct product image in your Facebook timeline.

Link to the demo site: https://demos.virtueplanet.com/vm3/

Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on June 15, 2013, 14:58:45 PM
VM OG Meta Tag Plugin has been update. The latest version 1.1 of the plugin is now available in your site.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on March 31, 2015, 10:10:20 AM
VM OG Meta Tag Plugin has been update to version 3.0. Now it is compatible to Joomla! 3, Joomla 2.5, VirtueMart 3, VirtueMart 2.6 and VirtueMart 2.0.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: franayala on May 05, 2015, 21:18:17 PM
Hi Jumbo!

And how to get the Facebook App Unique ID to configure the plugin?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on May 14, 2015, 21:15:06 PM
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: hk on May 16, 2015, 13:18:14 PM
Hi Jumbo,

Is there any Set Up documentation for this plugin?

I just downloaded and installed. Aftering providing the App ID and making the plugin Enabled, it crashed with below error:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STATIC in /home/xxxx/public_html/plugins/system/vmogmetatag/vmogmetatag.php on line 59

Can you please assist.

Joomla version: 2.5.20
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on May 18, 2015, 22:45:03 PM
The setup of the plugin is extremely straight forward. You just need to fill up the information fields in the plugin and enable it.

You are seeing PHP error in your site. Which version of PHP are you using in your site?
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: hk on May 19, 2015, 11:57:05 AM
Hi Jumbo!,

My PHP version is 5.2.17
Once I delete the vmogmetatag.php file, my site is up. So I guess its something to do with the plugin.
Can you please check.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on May 19, 2015, 12:11:11 PM
The plugin needs PHP 5.3+. PHP 5.2 is not supported.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: hk on May 19, 2015, 12:35:04 PM
Thanks for the info!
Let me use the plugin after I get my PHP upgraded.

Can you let me know, what is the purpose of Facebook App ID for this plugin?
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on May 19, 2015, 15:32:33 PM
You can track the shares and do many other things with your own App ID. To learn more visit: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/opengraph/getting-started
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: jjk on January 30, 2017, 22:31:29 PM
Hi Jumbo!
just wanted to let you know that there might be a problem with version 3.0 of this plugin when using the latest VirtueMart 3.0.19.x. When I have the plugin enabled, VM category views don't switch language with the first click on a language flag in a multilingual shop. After the first click some meta tags fail to switch their language. See here:
http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=136543.msg477296#msg477296 (http://forum.virtuemart.net/index.php?topic=136543.msg477296#msg477296)
However, as far as I can see, the plugin doesn't use onAfterInitialise in the code, as described by Milbo in the forum thread.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on January 31, 2017, 23:49:14 PM
Thanks jjk. I will check it.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on July 22, 2017, 15:59:07 PM
First I want to thank Jumbo for the great plugin.

I have the following question:
The pictures of my products are 1000x1000 pixels. When shared on Facebook, the top and bottom of the photos are missing. Accordingly they look very bad. Is there salvation for this?
The only thing I have as an idea is that maybe the product picture should be less than 400x400 pixels. Then the photo will remain on the left and the text on the right.
I do not know. Please give an idea.


Something else - I noticed is that Facebook has a problem with the weight of the product if it's in kilograms.
I do not know why, but the following data is provided: weight: units "content =" KG" (in capital letters).
So I have to make the following changes to the vmogmetatag.php:
from:
$this->setData('product:weight:units', $product->product_weight_uom);
to:
$this->setData('product:weight:units', strtolower($product->product_weight_uom));

Once again I thank you for the plugin. I've tried many others (including some have bought), but this plugin is, in my opinion, the best.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on July 24, 2017, 07:28:58 AM
Thanks for your input on product weight unit.

Facebook shares expect your images to be is a specific proportion. Use images that are at least 1200 x 630 pixels for the best display on high resolution devices. At the minimum, you should use images that are 600 x 315 pixels . Refer to this Facebook documentation to learn more - https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/best-practices
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on July 24, 2017, 11:48:19 AM
Hello Jumbo,

Yes, I know the requirements of Facebook. But I notice that Amazon and Ebay have solved this problem.
My idea is that perhaps this problem can be solved with some dynamic resizing of the image (if it is square).

For example, on my old site I've set up to add a watermark to each photo. This is only achieved by adding two files - php and htcccesses.
In my opinion, it should be possible to set htaccess to determine where the photo request comes from, and if it comes from facebook, resize the photo horizontally. Simply add transparent fields to the left and right of the photo to achieve the required size.
For example, if the photo is 1000x1000 pixels, resize to 1900x1000 pixels without losing content.
What do you think about that?
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on July 25, 2017, 06:47:23 AM
Quote from: Venci Gentchev on July 24, 2017, 11:48:19 AM
My idea is that perhaps this problem can be solved with some dynamic resizing of the image (if it is square).

For example, on my old site I've set up to add a watermark to each photo. This is only achieved by adding two files - php and htcccesses.
In my opinion, it should be possible to set htaccess to determine where the photo request comes from, and if it comes from facebook, resize the photo horizontally. Simply add transparent fields to the left and right of the photo to achieve the required size.
For example, if the photo is 1000x1000 pixels, resize to 1900x1000 pixels without losing content.
What do you think about that?
Yes, that is possible. But IMHO that does not really come under the scope of a meta tag plugin.

Thanks for the ideas.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on July 25, 2017, 18:26:42 PM
Hello Jumbo,

I succeeded in the task.  :)
htaccess calls a php file which from a 1000x1000 pixel image, recreates a 1900x1000 pixel image, giving transparency to the left and right. Just for facebook or whatever else is needed (for example, for google).
I am very happy about this. :)
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on July 25, 2017, 18:29:33 PM
That is great.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on July 25, 2017, 18:39:55 PM
If you want, I can send you the files. Perhaps it is good to improve the plugin by including the files in it. Additionally, you can select the output size of the image in the plugin settings. And under what conditions to act.
Of course if you have time for that.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on July 26, 2017, 18:28:21 PM
Sure, I would love to take a look at it.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on July 27, 2017, 07:06:41 AM
Ok, just a little more I can do it, and I'll write to you a private message.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on July 27, 2017, 18:26:45 PM
Okay. Thank you.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on August 22, 2017, 18:43:43 PM
I tried to send you a message, but:
User 'Jumbo!' has blocked your personal message.

:)
If you want, write to me a personal message with your email so I can send you the files.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on August 22, 2017, 18:52:19 PM
Sent :)
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Ventsi Genchev on August 22, 2017, 20:42:25 PM
Received  :)
You have mail.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on August 22, 2017, 20:45:42 PM
Thanks :)
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: YodaStudio on November 13, 2017, 20:20:59 PM
Hello Jumbo,

your extension (https://www.virtueplanet.com/extensions/vm-og-meta-tag) is what I'm looking for a website I'm working on.
My only doubt is about last update: it looks like nothing has been done since 31 March 2015.
Is that an abandoned project or is still an active extension?

Furthermore, does it have any conflict with the K2 OG generator?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on November 14, 2017, 08:03:51 AM
The plugin still works fine with latest Joomla 3.8.2 and VirtueMart 3.2.4. Therefore we have not released any newer updates.

We have not tested it using K2. If you need you can disable the plugin for K2 pages.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: YodaStudio on November 14, 2017, 21:19:16 PM
Thanks a lot for your answer.
I'll give it a try and let you know about how it works with K2.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: YodaStudio on December 18, 2017, 10:54:16 AM
I installed it and it seems to work fine.
Thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on December 20, 2017, 15:26:26 PM
Thanks for the confirmation.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Marttyn on February 23, 2018, 20:10:21 PM
Do we need to manually add OG information like title, content, image, etc for each product? Or is it automatically extracted from the product information?
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on February 23, 2018, 20:55:40 PM
Products, categories, articles etc information are incorporated automatically. No manual interventions are needed.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Marttyn on February 24, 2018, 17:29:27 PM
Thank you my friend!
I just installed it and now my FB links show the product picture! Thats grate!
Just one thing ive notice, the og:type is always "website" no matter what i choose.
And i think that for VM products the og:type should be "product", so the other tags like price will be valid. Now the FB developer website tells me that the following tags are not valid for "og:type website":

product:category, product:brand, product:price:amount, product:price:currency, product:sale_price:amount, product:sale_price:currency, product:retailer_part_no, product:availability, product:weight:value, product:weight:units

Regards!
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on February 26, 2018, 20:12:31 PM
That's strange. Are you sure you have selected it correctly in the plugin settings? Check again. Clear cache of your after making the change.

Also post the site link so that I can check it myself.
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: firman on October 01, 2019, 09:26:04 AM
Hi Jumbo,

I one of your customer VP Merchant, I downloaded Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin, share link in WhatsApp image show up

https://demos.virtueplanet.com/merchant/women/clothing/dresses/special-colored-multi-variant-detail

but in my website, image won't show, is there setting fo this?

Regards,
Firman
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag Plugin
Post by: Jumbo! on October 01, 2019, 10:54:28 AM
VM OG Meta Tag plugin adds Open Graph Meta Tag to the site. These tags are used by Facebook. This has no relation with WhatsApp.

Moreover, please note that this not our support forum. If you have any queries regarding any of our products then please post your query in our support forum - https://www.virtueplanet.com/forum/
Title: Re: Free VirtueMart Open Graph Meta Tag for Facebook sharing
Post by: Jumbo! on May 16, 2022, 18:33:03 PM
VM OG Meta Tag v4.0 released. This update makes the plugin also compatible with Joomla! 4 and VirtueMart 4. It also included important improvements. We recommend all existing users install the update as soon as possible.

Refer to the changelog to learn more - https://www.virtueplanet.com/extensions/vm-og-meta-tag