New to Abantecart.
Giving it a try due to it's import capabilities. So first - it takes allot of digging to find all the necessary documents on Import/Export. IE - Action(s) (Update the DOCs)
So getting to grips with the Import process and have found that when using the delete action the
database does not reset Cat_ID #'s. If a user did not have to know these #'s it wouldn't matter but since you must know a parent ID in order to have a child they are very important in importing data.
Which brings my first suggestion - should be able to import via TEXT data only with a maker for child or parent.
Say we have 20 different main categories
CAT-1 through CAT-20. Say each main category has 2 sub categories. So we have another 40 SubCats. (SubCat1 through SubCat40) System as it is now I would assign ID's (making sure database is clear) and Import in 2 parts. With MAIN first and then SUBs 2nd. (I tired in a single file using parent_cat_id but even though the TEST didn't error. The Import did)
After all this anytime you want to import products you will need to know the specific Cat ID #s for the particular item. In my case this is 84 #'s. Instead of Putting the name (ie Subcat-10) into a field one has to refer to a table lookup. If you didn't assign them you have to export.
So is it not possible to have it where we use the names instead of an arbitrary #?
Simple file structure to import Categories:
Header: Category name , Cat. Description, Parent/Child , Parent Cat, cat Image file/path
Data: Main Cat 1 , Main Cat 1 , Parent , 0 , categories/MainCat1.jpg )
Data: Sub Cat 1 , Sub Cat 1 ,Child , Main Cat 1, categories/SubCat1.jpg
In regards to products you would just use Sub Cat 1 under Category instead of the Product_Cat._ID #