Joomla 1.5 System Cache and VM cart caching

[cvoogt]

I am running Joomla 1.5.4 with VM 1.1, in native mode (no legacy).
In my global configuration I have caching turned ON, gzip compression turned ON, and in my plugins I have the "System - Cache" plugin turned OFF (disabled).

When I turn the System Cache plugin on, it of course caches the pages on my site, but it is also caching the VM cart module. This is strange, because I thought the cache from the global config is what actually cached modules. I have tested it extensively with various combinations of settings, and I can do nothing but conclude that I have to have page caching (i.e. the "System - Cache" plugin) disabled in order to have the cart showing the correct information to the shopper.

Here is an example of what happens to a shopper when the system cache is turned on:

Shopper enters home page, and the cart shows empty (correct).
Shopper browses to product category pages and adds a couple products. They show up in their cart in the VM cart module (correct).
Customer goes back to home page (using same URL as before), but cart shows empty.

Or, if the customer at first adds just one product, then goes to home, it will correctly show the one product in their cart module. If they then go and add a second product and then return to the home page using the same URL (i.e. http://www.yourdomain.com), it will still only show the one product there ... UNLESS I have the system cache turned off.

I really need the system cache to speed up my site.

Does anyone have advice on this? The VM cart module does not have an option to exclude it from caching, like many modules do, and it does appear to be adversely affected by the Joomla system cache.

I have as I said tested this with the global config's cache off and page caching on, and the problem still happened. Turn system cache off, and the problem disappears. Turning gzip compression on or off made no difference either ... only turning page caching off in the plugins area is what fixed it.

Thanks,
Casper

[benm]

Hi Casper,

I had this exact same problem and I put in a small hack to get around this:

In the file /plugins/system/cache.php

Change line 60:

Code: [Select]

if (!$user->get('aid') && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET') {
to

Code: [Select]

if (!$user->get('aid') && !$_SESSION['cart']['idx'] && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET') {
I'm basically just telling the cache plugin to not display the cached page if the customer has anything in the cart!

Let me know if it works.

-Ben

[trendsettingdesign]

Side note: make sure you upgrade to Joomla! 1.5.6 immediately, if not sooner.  Lots of Joomla sites have been hacked of late, and the 1.5.6 upgrade addresses security vulnerabilities.  It'd be terrible if you got the cache working properly, then lost your site to some loser hacker!

[kiper]

Thanks Ben, that really helped me out. I am wrestling with a webshop that has some heavy traffic right now that consists of Joomla, Virtuemart and JoomFish among other things and the caching proved neccessary unless I want to bring the webserver down...

[krinolin]

This solution saved my life!!!
Thanks!

[jm3d]

It's refreshing to find a good answer on this forum! Thank you for the new code.
-john

[dj_hardbeat]

Hi all!

I'm using VM 1.1.3 and Joomla 1.5.14 and was wondering if this solution is still actual? Is this the only thing to do to speed up? Any other tips or tricks?

Thanks everybody!

[Otto0815]

Yeaah...this seems to work.......using vm 1.1.3, joomla 1.5.14 legacy "on"

many many thanks!!!!!!

[rbalji75]

Awesome!!! thanks a lot

[dsmarket]

Thanks. It is work with virtuemart 1.1.4 too.
www.dsmarket.rs

[QubeSys Technologies]

Hi..
Do I need to keep the System Cache plugin active for this ?

[bulesz]

Thanks benm, its really working! I have put this code to the JOTcache so now it can use with VM..

Zehana: yes, turn on the plugin, but make the hack first....

[QubeSys Technologies]

Did it.

It works for me now.
But client says, it doesnt work for him.
No idea, whats going on..

[vishwa]

hi ben
your code is working for me thanks.

In the file /plugins/system/cache.php

Change line 60:

Code:
if (!$user->get('aid') && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET') {

to

Code:
if (!$user->get('aid') && !$_SESSION['cart']['idx'] && $_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] == 'GET') {

[_fD_]

Hi Ben

i tested it a little bit out and found following bug:

If i deleted the content of the basket and then press back to shop the modul basket shows still a product in the overview. Of coz, if i go to the basket it is empty.

Do you have an idea to fix this too

Then i have a question, if it isnt possible to exclude the link from the basket intead the session, becoz so far i see is the basket session running, when i add products to the basket, only when i click the link to the basket it is empty. Do i add again a product to it, the basket is again filled...

Thank you for your replay.

With best regards,
Urs

VM 1.1.4
Joomla 1.5.22