15 Antworten zu diesem Thema

[nickh]

Hi guys,

 

I've recently upgraded to version 2.5 and noticed that the product (and category) import and export functionality has vanished.  Is this a known issue, or have I missed something during the migration process?

 

Thanks,

Nick

[Marcus Gesing]

2.5 comes with a new import and export framework including profiles, filters, mappings, projections, scheduling, deployment and much more.

See Configuration > Import and Configuration > Export. The export framework is based on providers to let developer easier develop and integrate their own export formats. The former built-in exports like product or category export were redisgned and converted into export providers and are now available as a plugin.

[nickh]

Hi Marcus,

 

So this is expected functionality following an upgrade to version 2.5?  I can see that the plugin is not free, but I was able to export products and categories for free before this upgrade.  Am I now expected to pay to have functionality that was previously available for free in an older version?

 

When I go to my export profiles it says:

 

There were no export profiles found.

 

And there are no standard XML or CSV export providers listed in the drop down menu when I click on "Add".

 

What should I do to regain product export functionality?

[Marcus Gesing]

"Am I now expected to pay to have functionality that was previously available for free in an older version?"

 

Yes and no. No, because provider based exports accomplish much more than the old export manager because they benefit from all the new features of the export framework. Yes, because by introducing new export providers the old export manager became redundant and obsolete and thus has been removed. So for a common CSV or XML export you need the Common Export Providers plugin when you use .NET 2.5 or above.

[nickh]

I appreciate that you've obviously added much more functionality, but I entirely disagree with the decision to remove functionality and then trying to charge for re-adding it.  The ability to import and export to CSV is a fundamental part of ANY e-commerce platform, and I really don't think we should be expected to pay for it.

 

Is it not possible to release a cut-down version of the plugin that restores the previously available CSV export functionality, for free?

[robinmuk]

My customers feel cheated by this. One said "a free open source app is now costing, and I don't know how many other charges will be coming up in the future".  I agree with Nickh that the fair response is to release for free the pluging with previous features.

[nickh]

Hi guys,

 

Have there been any developments on this?  What are your thoughts on bundling a "light" version of the Export plugin, to restore previously existing functionality to export to CSV and XML formats?

[zpatel]

Hi,

 

I suppose the main question here is how are we to trust future releases of the product. With version 2.5 we have lost the shipping restrictions and export functionality which have been replaced by commercial plugins ( and need to be tested for functionality and bugs). The issue here for me is not that the plugins are not commercial but that upgrading a version for bug fixes breaks an existing store and we have to go through the process of testing once again. I would like to hear thoughts from other members of the community.

 

Thanks,

[nickh]

Hi zpatel,

 

I completely agree.

 

If SmartStore is to evolve as a product, it shouldn't remove ANY functionality without having a really strong argument for it - and even then, only when a justifiable work-around is made available so that existing clients are not left in the dark (often with no way back, e.g. if the removed functionality isn't noticed until the "upgrade" has hit their live environment).

 

At the very least, we expect these cases to be thoroughly documented in your release notes, so that your existing client-base can make an informed decision about whether to upgrade or not.

[fashiondreams]

We are having problems with one of our clients for this issue. I would appreciate an official response from the Smartstore team whether it can be  a "light" version of the Export plugin (or any other solution to this problem) as suggested by Nickh

[fashiondreams]

Silence from the Smartstore team does not help to build up trust on Smartstore 

[Alexander MM Kolb]

I just installed Smartstore 2.5 (I previously used another shopping system) - because I wanted a decent .NET enabled Store System as I changed my clients' infrastructure to my Microsoft Azure Account - and so I could kick PHP based system (I am a .NET developer).

 

As a matter of fact I am pretty disappointed about being not able to export any Data as TXT/CSV as well - that's why I started to write an own export plugin.

 

Please PN me, so I will send you that plugin for free - as soon I will be finished writing it.

 

If you have any ideas of what should be included as well, please provide me with that information, then I could expand the plugin for easier use (as developers usually develop plugins for themselves only in minimal functionallities ;-) ) 

 

 

 

*Alex

[Murat Cakir]

[...] that's why I started to write an own export plugin.

 

[...]

 

If you have any ideas of what should be included as well, please provide me with that information, then I could expand the plugin for easier use (as developers usually develop plugins for themselves only in minimal functionallities ;-) ) 

 

Hi Alex,

 

that's exactly the way to go, congrats! SmartStore.NET is open-source, thus open to modifications and extensions of any kind. If you find something to be insufficient, build your own, replace it, donate it, sell it... whatever you like.

 

The ability to import and export to CSV is a fundamental part of ANY e-commerce platform, and I really don't think we should be expected to pay for it.

 

Following this logic, you shouldn't charge for your goods or services anymore but give everything away for free

 

Huge parts of SmartStore.NET - including import - are open sourced and totally free. We implemented a very powerful import/export framework in version 2.5: cron jobs, partitioning, filtering, projections, mapping, FTP/HTTP/FS publishing.... all for free! You only pay for the provider(s) you need, and all providers are based on this powerful framework. The Common Export Providers plugin contains 12 (!) providers. It costs only 99 EUR. Taking into account that some of our competitors (or their community) charge more for export modules with similar functionality, 99 EUR for 12 modules (!) is a reasonable fee I think.

[gerdoel]

Hi Alex,

 

that's exactly the way to go, congrats! SmartStore.NET is open-source, thus open to modifications and extensions of any kind. If you find something to be insufficient, build your own, replace it, donate it, sell it... whatever you like.

 

 

Following this logic, you shouldn't charge for your goods or services anymore but give everything away for free

 

Huge parts of SmartStore.NET - including import - are open sourced and totally free. We implemented a very powerful import/export framework in version 2.5: cron jobs, partitioning, filtering, projections, mapping, FTP/HTTP/FS publishing.... all for free! You only pay for the provider(s) you need, and all providers are based on this powerful framework. The Common Export Providers plugin contains 12 (!) providers. It costs only 99 EUR. Taking into account that some of our competitors (or their community) charge more for export modules with similar functionality, 99 EUR for 12 modules (!) is a reasonable fee I think.

Hi Murat,

 

the problem with the Smartstore is not that you have developed this new Export functionality ( by the way even after 4 updates from you in my shop it works only partly :-) ..the Problem is that there are no clear anouncment from you BEFORE you change this.

 

If a company come to me and say: " Hi customer xyz it is time to bring the Export to a modern level in the next Version , but from this new Version on the Export has to be paid , cause there is so much more pretty things for you inside to work with." Yeah the it is up to me as customer who has choosen YOU to make my mind weather to upgrade to new Version and pay or net.

 

Also i would like to sate that i would have done 1 minimal Export for free so customer come with me to the new version, even when i told them to pay for the complete set of new Export functions.

 

Now it seems many feels traped.

 

There is room for better communications to you customers..as long as they are customers.

 

Cheers

 

Gerhard

[fashiondreams]

I fully agree with Gerhard. +1  . For us users of Smartsto it is important that all available functionalities will remain in the following upgrades. It is fine if you want to add new extra features for a price.

 

Thank you Alexander for your offer , but honestly, the Smartstore team should not be counting on this to cover their deficiencies

[john789]

I just installed Smartstore 2.5 (I previously used another shopping system) - because I wanted a decent .NET enabled Store System as I changed my clients' infrastructure to my Microsoft Azure Account - and so I could kick PHP based system (I am a .NET developer).

 

As a matter of fact I am pretty disappointed about being not able to export any Data as TXT/CSV as well - that's why I started to write an own export plugin.

 

Please PN me, so I will send you that plugin for free - as soon I will be finished writing it.

 

If you have any ideas of what should be included as well, please provide me with that information, then I could expand the plugin for easier use (as developers usually develop plugins for themselves only in minimal functionallities ;-) ) 

 

 

 

*Alex

 

Hi Alex,

I wanted to ask if you have developed the plugin for import/export?

Kind regards,
John