VERSION 0.2 NOW AVAILABLE

The is the project page for the ZenTagCloud. Its in development right now, its open source and I’d love input / contributions.

(example: on my test photography site with only 4 categories)

p.s. Don’t hold me responsible if something breaks.

UPDATE: 20-June-07 > The code is now partitioned into relivent files, and I feel confident that it is of a standard worth trialling.

What is a Tag Cloud?

A tag cloud (or weighted list in visual design) can be used as a visual depiction of content tags used on a website. Often, more frequently used tags are depicted in a larger font or otherwise emphasized, while the displayed order is generally alphabetical. Thus both finding a tag by alphabet and by popularity is possible. Selecting a single tag within a tag cloud will generally lead to a collection of items that are associated with that tag.

Features:

• Category tag link to you Zen Cart category pages.
• Product meta keyword tags link to a search for the tag in question.
• Displays tags from product meta keywords.
• Displays tag sizes with either random weights OR custom weights OR proportional to the number of times the tag appears.
• Uses CSS for formatting.

Screenshots / Showcase Site

Here is a screenshot of the Zentagcloud implimented under the product infomation page on a photo gallery site. This particular implimentation shows all tag for the entire from the entire product range.

Click here to visit the show case gallery site. (feedback is appreciated)

Install:

Note: It is recommended that you be comfortable editing php files to proceed with this instillation.

1. Download the zip file and unzip and upload the files in the ‘include’ folder to your site.

1. Copy the code from ‘ztc_pagecode.php’ to one of the Defined Pages using: Tools > Defined Pages Editor. Note: You may use another page, however we recommend using a non critical page for testing. After you have the tag cloud displaying you may move this code to the desired page.

2. Ensure that the Defined Pages module is enables under: Tools > Layout Box Controller (if displaying on a Defined Page as recommended in 1)

3. Visit your site, and go to the defined page you pasted the code into. You should see a list of your sites categories & product meta keywords, with random sizes assigned to each one. Note: Ensure you have meta data turned on for your product and have entered appropriate data as per Zen Cart tutorials/forums.

4. The next step it to attempt to put the code somewhere useful. Perhaps on the product info page.

5. You may customise the tag cloud to only display product keywors, or only catagory titles, or remove the random weights and replace with a constant so that the tag size depends on the number of times the keyword appears.

Donate: (and keep me healthy!)

I, like all living creatures, require energy to survive. Please strongly consider making a contribution (a form of energy transfer) to help this project grow. After all, “from little thing, big things grow.”

p.s. Look at the top of the right side bar for the “Make a Donation” button

Download:

Version 0.2 - beta - Current Version

Version 0.1 - alpha

Todo / Wish list:

- Make GUI in admin panel
- Save weights to database
- Add code to ?category’s page? so that visits to category/products info page changes weights.
- Incorporate some noise in the category’s weights to enable new category’s a fair chance.
- Option to read tags from meta data
- Option to weight tags my relevance to current tag. (If you like a, you might like b type of thing) -> Hard!

With some code from:
- Derek Harvey (www.derekharvey.co.uk)
- Zen Cart Team (www.zen-cart.com)

Security: I have an interest in security and would appreciate any assistance to iron out possible weaknesses in the code. Please contact me if you suspect anything.