Hi there,
I have been successfully using the Basic Auto add-on for around 8 or 9 months.
However over the last few days the data import we use has failed before it finishes. It gets close to the end but then stops.
I have carried out extensive testing and it seems to point to a limit in the total number of images (or something related to that) that can be imported into the database.
I'll explain my testing methods but first an overview of our setup which may help to give more clues....
Each night we have an import of used bike data in the form of a CSV file (the data) and a ZIP file (bike images) which has been uploaded to our server via FTP. We receive the data from a national magazine. We use their online system to input the bikes for print in their magazine, and to appear on their website.
The import script that we use is a modified version of the one we paid yourselves at Interactive Tools to write for us.
This modified version has worked fine for the last 8 or 9 months, until the last few days.
We recently upgraded our package with the bike magazine so that we can have more images in the adverts (from 6 to 9 images). Slowly we have been introducing these extra images with no problem until now. This change is what prompted me see if the extra images are causing the problem, as this is the only variable that has changed.
I tested my theory in a number of different ways.
1 - I split the data in half to 2 separate blocks. Each block imported fine. So I ruled out corrupted or malformed fields, and corrupted JPG files.
2 - I edited the entire data file so that each bike only had one image associated with it. This file also imported fine.
3 - I then edited the original data file which had all images listed in it, but removed the last 7 or so entries (near to where the import fails on the original data file) and this also imported fine.
4 - I then tried editing a copy of the original file this time removing one JPG reference at a time however this proved to be inconclusive as the number of JPGs being imported were different to the results in test number 3 above.
I have visually checked the data file for anything odd, including and hidden characters that may cause a problem.
At this point I am stuck and hoping that you can help me solve this problem ASAP.
Fingers crossed
Paul