Google Product Search

[Jonathan Read]

AKA Google Base!

We had an email from Google stating the addtion of a new required field labelled condition which should have values new, used, or refurbished. Details on this field are at http://base.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en_GB&answer=148684. This required field will need to be in place by 30th June.

We have a scheduled export which creates a file and is submitted to Google Base (Product Search) every week. I cannot see how we can add a field to specify condition without manually editing the file and manually submitting the file.

Submitting product data to Google Base is something not to be missed as a large proportion of our traffic comes from this source.

This might be a question for Richard?

Regards

[Jonathan Read]

I have an answer to this if anyone is interested. It involves adding an attribute to each product named 'Condition' with the entry of 'new', 'used' etc.

Then, in the product export you need to add the new attribute as one of the fields.

It may be required that you export your product data, make the changes and re-import - but, its not for the feint hearted!

Perhaps there's an easier way, but for now...

Regards

[Chris]

Well done for raising this Jonathan, and you are right. This is how we do it for other feeds we have. One small thing to add is that you can make the attribute "hidden" so that it doesn't appear on the product detail page.

[entertaintoday]

would it not be faster to open the feed in excel and manually add the column and copy and paste "new" all the way down? that's what I plan anyway. Otherwise it's something extra to think about everytime you add a product.

[Rich]

This has now been changed in the Export Manager, plus the outdated "Froogle" logo has been replaced.

[entertaintoday]

cool - thanks Rich :)

[Chris]

would it not be faster to open the feed in excel and manually add the column and copy and paste "new" all the way down? that's what I plan anyway. Otherwise it's something extra to think about everytime you add a product.

It depends on your perspective really. I prefer to make changes only once that keep everything automated. If you forget to add the attribute to a new product then only that product fails to get listed. If you forget to manually do the google upload then no products get listed.

Rich, having a custom column to add to an export that has a default value would negate the need for extra hidden attributes. Just a thought in case it was possible to do.

[Rich]

Rich, having a custom column to add to an export that has a default value would negate the need for extra hidden attributes. Just a thought in case it was possible to do.

Actually, there is an undocumented feature which can do this for you (please don't read into this that there are hundreds of undocumented features, this is one of the very few!).

Go to the product export page, where you make the column designations, and pick any column that isn't required on the export. Enter the Custom Column Heading as the following:


[h]Heading[d]Data

The words "Heading" and "Data" can be replaced with the values you require, so it could look like this (for the Google Base example):


[h]condition[d]new

[Chris]

Wow, that's absolutely fab. Thanks Rich!

[entertaintoday]

amazing as ever - good work, thnx

[Robin]

I have been using the condition attribute for quite some while now. By adding it to my feed before it was needed my results came well placed.
I have this in each product as an attribute so I can set as need, I sell a second hand / used hot tub every so often.
If Google Base results are very important to any one who uses blue park then p.m. me and I will expand info. Sorry not public post as open forum.

[bubble]

"We have a scheduled export which creates a file and is submitted to Google Base (Product Search) every week"

How do you do that, so it is all automated?

[Dave]

"We have a scheduled export which creates a file and is submitted to Google Base (Product Search) every week"

How do you do that, so it is all automated?


Catalogue--->Data Scheduling allows you to automatically run any import/export routines you have created in Catalogue--->Import/Export Data. You can configure it to import/export the data from/to other servers via FTP

Note Data Scheduling is only available in Enterprise Park

[bubble]

I have an answer to this if anyone is interested. It involves adding an attribute to each product named 'Condition' with the entry of 'new', 'used' etc.

Then, in the product export you need to add the new attribute as one of the fields.

It may be required that you export your product data, make the changes and re-import - but, its not for the feint hearted!

Perhaps there's an easier way, but for now...

Regards

So I have created a new attribute called 'Condition'. Where do I put in the 'new' or 'used' fields?

[Dave]

So I have created a new attribute called 'Condition'. Where do I put in the 'new' or 'used' fields?

You need to assign the new attribute to each product in the product manager.

Click on a product and then the attribute tab. Select the attribute from the dropdown box and click the assign button. Then in the value field enter 'new' or 'used' and save the product.

You need to do this for every product.

There is a quickier way of doing this via export/import of product data but unless you are 100% sure of what you are doing it could cause problems!