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View Full Version : Problem with getCategoryPath + Quality of Data


Jon
05-05-07, 13:26
Hi Folks,

For some reason getCategoryPath is not returning anything, this was working fine on Thursday, here's the soap msg:-

<SOAP-ENV:Body>
<m:getCategoryPath xmlns:m="http://api.productserve.com/">
<m:iCategoryId>4</m:iCategoryId>
</m:getCategoryPath>
</SOAP-ENV:Body>

And here's the response:-

<SOAP-ENV:Body>
<ns2:getCategoryPathResponse>
<ns2:getCategoryPathReturn/>
</ns2:getCategoryPathResponse>
</SOAP-ENV:Body>
</SOAP-ENV:Envelope>

Anyone else having trouble with this Breadcrumb?

Also, I've noticed that the data coming back is highly inconsistent, products with 0 prices, missing logos for merchants. This simply breaks the site aesthetically and from a consumer point of view will drive them away rather than encourage them to purchase. I think for a beta API Affiliate Window have produced an excellent solution, however, like any data driven service that is consumer facing is only as good as the data it presents. Consistent data will portray a professional image and generate trust in the consumer leading to higher conversion rates. Everyone wins!

So perhaps for now until the data is consistent you could only return products that have prices, and retailers who have bothered adding their logos' or add a filter so that we can set this ourselves?

Sorry for the rant but it has taken a lot of work implementing this for .Net and the data is letting it down....:(


Cheers,

Andy
05-05-07, 15:22
Fully agree that the feed quality is letting everything else down.

I have created a work around for the missing logos problem, whereby if the logo is missing from the feed, it will default to using the same logo that you see in your AffWin account.

not sure how this will be recieved by AffWin or Digital Window, but at the end of the day, it's something they could have implemented originally.

missining image workaround code: http://www.shopwindowforum.com/showthread.php?p=802#post802

Jon
05-05-07, 23:17
Nice one Andy thanks for the reply...

Andy
05-05-07, 23:23
No sweat FC.
All in the interests of community spirit!