If you’re a Google user when it comes to email, browsing the web, or using your phone, you’ll know that if there’s one thing the search-engine giant is good at, it’s integrating one Google idea into another seamlessly. Chrome and Android and two great examples, and there are a fair few examples of why you’ll find the two Google products easy to use in sync with one another.

1) Google everyday apps.

Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Reader – all integrated and easy to sync between your two devices using Chrome and Android, whether you’re setting reminders for a party casino tournament, or you’re aiming to finish off an email draft on your phone moments after the draft saves on your computer. It syncs extremely well, and you’ll never feel as though your choice of phone and browser are clashing.

2) Chrome to Phone.

This one feature/extension justifies using Chrome and Android together more than anything else. One click, and the web-page is waiting for you on an archive-enabled app on your Android device. Brilliant for those on the go, or for people who often find themselves having to switch between phone and computer.

3) Chrome on Android.

It’s on its way, and when it arrives you’ll finally realise just how great Chrome can be once it goes portable. Chrome is a powerful, customisable, reliable browser, fun to use and with extensions (and some impressive apps and games – Bastion is one great example), it becomes a necessity for anyone who’s tired of Firefox and duly averse to so much as opening Internet Explorer if there’s an alternative.

These are just a few reasons, but there are many more – the best way to find your own is to test out the Chrome-Android combo yourself. We’re fairly confident you might enjoy them both, even if they’re not linked through email or extensions. Have fun!

You know there is this problem with Magento 1.4.* and 1.5.*, if you are using Paypal Express as payment method and your customer is a new one, when she/he complete the order this is without account association (Customer Group 0 USER NOT LOGGED IN) and the new customer is not created.

To solve this problem you have to install this useful extension: https://github.com/onestepcheckout/PaypalRegister

Follow the README and finally you can get registered users with Paypal Express too.

This is a simple script based upon AWS SDK PHP to manage volume’s snapshots.

It simply create one snapshot per volume (once you run it) and delete snapshot older then 1 month.

Please provide your personal information by copying config-sample.inc.php into config.inc.php.

Run the script backup-snapshots.php with your CRON.

For example:

# Auto AWS Snapshots
00 08   * * *   /usr/bin/php /var/virtual/aws/backup-snapshots.php
00 22   * * *   /usr/bin/php /var/virtual/aws/backup-snapshots.php
00 12   * * 7   /usr/bin/php /var/virtual/aws/backup-snapshots.php

Download AWS EC2 Manage Snapshot Backup

Here is how to get a collection of products best sold in a given date range (could be daily, monthly, weekly, etc…)

<ul>
<?php
$from = date("Y-m-d H:i:s", (time()-2592000));
$to = date("Y-m-d H:i:s", time());

$_productCollection = Mage::getResourceModel('reports/product_collection')
->addAttributeToSelect('*')
->addOrderedQty($from, $to, true)
->addAttributeToFilter('status', 1)
->setOrder('ordered_qty', 'desc')
->getSelect()->limit(10)->query();

foreach ( $_productCollection as $prod ) :
$_product = Mage::getModel('catalog/product');
$_product->load($prod['entity_id']);
($i%2) ? $even = "class='even-li'" : $even = "";
?>
<li <?php echo $even ?>>
<div><a href="<?php echo $this->getUrl($_product->getUrlPath()) ?>" title="View <?php echo $_product->name ?>"><img src="<?php echo $this->helper('catalog/image')->init($_product, 'image')->resize(48); ?>" alt="<?php echo $_product->name ?>"  /></a>
<a href="<?php echo $this->getUrl($_product->getUrlPath()) ?>" title="View <?php echo $_product->name ?>"><?php echo Mage::helper('core/string')->truncate($_product->name, 50) ?></a>
<p><?php echo Mage::helper('core/string')->truncate(strip_tags($_product->description), 130); ?></p></div>
</li>
<?php
endforeach;
?>
</ul>

You know you will need, before or after, to add your own custom RSS feeds to your Magento.
For example, I needed to create some custom RSS Feeds to list bestseller products by date (bestseller weekly, monthly, etc…)
How to do it? It’s quite complex but not so much if you follow this mini tutorial:

First of all, you need to setup a new namespace directory under your “local” dir, this will overwrite your current RSS Mage methods but not all.

So, create your directory app/local/Simplicissimus/Rss. (change Simplicissimus with your own Namespace and change it everywhere)

Create inside it the following directories:

• Block
• Block/Catalog
• controllers
• etc

Starting with the configuration XML, you need to create a file etc/config.xml like this:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
<modules>
<Simplicissimus_Rss>
<version>0.1.0</version>
</Simplicissimus_Rss>
</modules>
<global>
<blocks>
<rss>
<rewrite>
<list>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_List</list>
<catalog_category>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Category</catalog_category>
<catalog_bestseller>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Bestseller</catalog_bestseller>
<catalog_bestsellerweekly>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Bestsellerweekly</catalog_bestsellerweekly>
<catalog_bestsellermonthly>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Bestsellermonthly</catalog_bestsellermonthly>
<catalog_bestsellernarcissus>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Bestsellernarcissus</catalog_bestsellernarcissus>
<catalog_worstseller>Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Worstseller</catalog_worstseller>
</rewrite>
</rss>
</blocks>
</global>
<frontend>
<routers>
<rss>
<use>standard</use>
<args>
<modules>
<Simplicissimus_Rss before="Mage_Rss">Simplicissimus_Rss</Simplicissimus_Rss>
</modules>
</args>
</rss>
</routers>
</frontend>
</config>

Now let’s go create the controller for new RSS urls, create a file called controllers/CatalogController.php

<?php
// Controllers are not autoloaded so we will have to do it manually:
require_once 'Mage/Rss/controllers/CatalogController.php';
class Simplicissimus_Rss_CatalogController extends Mage_Rss_CatalogController
{
public function bestsellerAction()
{
$this->checkFeedEnable('bestseller');
$this->loadLayout(false);
$this->renderLayout();
}

public function bestsellerweeklyAction()
{
$this->checkFeedEnable('bestsellerweekly');
$this->loadLayout(false);
$this->renderLayout();
}

public function bestsellermonthlyAction()
{
$this->checkFeedEnable('bestsellermonthly');
$this->loadLayout(false);
$this->renderLayout();
}

public function bestsellernarcissusAction()
{
$this->checkFeedEnable('bestsellernarcissus');
$this->loadLayout(false);
$this->renderLayout();
}

public function worstsellerAction()
{
$this->checkFeedEnable('worstseller');
$this->loadLayout(false);
$this->renderLayout();
}
}

Now we need blocks, first of all create a file Block/List.php:

<?php
class Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_List extends Mage_Rss_Block_List
{

public function getRssMiscFeeds()
{
$this->resetRssFeed();
//$this->NewProductRssFeed();
//$this->SpecialProductRssFeed();
$this->SalesRuleProductRssFeed();

// SBF
$this->BestsellerRssFeed();
$this->BestsellerWeeklyRssFeed();
$this->BestsellerMonthlyRssFeed();
$this->BestsellerNarcissusRssFeed();
$this->WorstsellerRssFeed();

return $this->getRssFeeds();
}

public function BestsellerRssFeed()
{
$path = self::XML_PATH_RSS_METHODS.'/catalog/bestseller';
if((bool)Mage::getStoreConfig($path)){
$this->addRssFeed($path, $this->__('Ebook Bestseller (All time)'));
}
}

public function BestsellerWeeklyRssFeed()
{
$path = self::XML_PATH_RSS_METHODS.'/catalog/bestsellerweekly';
if((bool)Mage::getStoreConfig($path)){
$this->addRssFeed($path, $this->__('Ebook Bestseller (Ultima settimana)'));
}
}

public function BestsellerMonthlyRssFeed()
{
$path = self::XML_PATH_RSS_METHODS.'/catalog/bestsellermonthly';
if((bool)Mage::getStoreConfig($path)){
$this->addRssFeed($path, $this->__('Ebook Bestseller (Ultimo mese)'));
}
}

public function BestsellerNarcissusRssFeed()
{
$path = self::XML_PATH_RSS_METHODS.'/catalog/bestsellernarcissus';
if((bool)Mage::getStoreConfig($path)){
$this->addRssFeed($path, $this->__('Ebook Bestseller (Narcissus Self Published)'));
}
}

public function WorstsellerRssFeed()
{
$path = self::XML_PATH_RSS_METHODS.'/catalog/worstseller';
if((bool)Mage::getStoreConfig($path)){
$this->addRssFeed($path, $this->__('Ebook meno venduti'));
}
}

}

Well done, now we need to create one block file for each new RSS Feed we wanna publish, this file will be the one with the collection inside. Here I put only one of this for example you should need to complete the others or to remove from the other files:

<?php
class Simplicissimus_Rss_Block_Catalog_Bestseller extends Mage_Rss_Block_Abstract
{

/**
* Cache tag constant for feed reviews
*
* @var string
*/
const CACHE_TAG = 'block_html_rss_catalog_bestseller';

protected function _construct()
{
$this->setCacheTags(array(self::CACHE_TAG));
/*
* setting cache to save the rss for 10 minutes
*/
$this->setCacheKey('rss_catalog_bestseller');
$this->setCacheLifetime(600);
}

protected function _toHtml()
{
$newurl = Mage::getUrl('rss/catalog/bestseller');
$title = Mage::helper('rss')->__('Ebook Bestseller (All time)');

$rssObj = Mage::getModel('rss/rss');
$data = array('title' => $title,
'description' => $title,
'link'        => $newurl,
'charset'     => 'UTF-8',
);
$rssObj->_addHeader($data);

$_productCollection = Mage::getResourceModel('reports/product_collection')
->addAttributeToSelect('*')
->addOrderedQty()
->addFieldToFilter('type_id',  array('like'=>'downloadable'))
->addAttributeToFilter('status', 1)
->setOrder('ordered_qty', 'desc')
->setCurPage(1)
->setPageSize(20);

if ($_productCollection) {
$args = array('rssObj' => $rssObj);
foreach ($_productCollection as $_product) {
$args['product'] = $_product;
$this->addBestsellerXmlCallback($args);
}
}

return $rssObj->createRssXml();
}

public function addBestsellerXmlCallback($args)
{
$product = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->load($args['product']['entity_id']);

Mage::dispatchEvent('rss_catalog_category_xml_callback', $args);

if ( $product->getTypeId() == "downloadable" )
$extendedDescr = "<p><strong>Autore: </strong>" . $product->getStealth_authors() . "<br /><strong>Editore: </strong>" . $product->getStealth_publisher() . "<br /><strong>Protezione: </strong>" . $product->getStealth_drm();
else
$extendedDescr = "<p>" . $product->getShortDescription() . "</p>";

//Mage::log($product->getData());

$description = '<table><tr>'
. '<td><a href="'.$product->getProductUrl().'"><img src="'
. $this->helper('catalog/image')->init($product, 'thumbnail')->resize(75, 75)
. '" border="0" align="left" height="75" width="75"></a></td>'
. '<td  style="text-decoration:none;">' . $extendedDescr;

$description .= '<p>' . Mage::app()->getLocale()->currency(Mage::app()->getStore()->
getCurrentCurrencyCode())->getSymbol() . " " . $this->helper('tax')->getPrice($product, $product->getFinalPrice(), true) . '</p>';

$description .= '</td></tr></table>';
$rssObj = $args['rssObj'];
$data = array(
'title'         => $product->getName(),
'link'          => $product->getProductUrl(),
'description'   => $description,
);

$rssObj->_addEntry($data);
}
}

You are almost done, now to display your new RSS custom feeds on the RSS page on your Magento (http://<magento_root>/rss) you only need to add them to the DB, simply add them to the table “core_config_data”:

• Scope: default
• Scope_id: 0
• path: rss/catalog/bestseller
• value: 1

You are done! Hope you find this guide useful.

Probably you know it’s possible to add a product to the cart via querystring, but may be you prefer code a new module for your needs using Magento objects and methods.

So adding a simple product is easy:

...

$cart = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/cart');

// start adding the product

try {

$cart->addProduct($product, array('qty' => 1));

// save the cart

$cart->save();

$result = null;

} catch (Mage_Core_Exception $e) {

$result = $e->getMessage();

}

But how to add a Downloadable product with its right link? Just try this, it’s a controller I used to integrate an “add to cart” API:

public function cartaddAction()
{
$productId  = (int) $this->getRequest()->getParam('id');
$callback  = (string) $this->getRequest()->getParam('callback');

$cart = Mage::getSingleton('checkout/cart');

// call the Magento catalog/product model
$product = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')
// set the current store ID
->setStoreId(Mage::app()->getStore()->getId())
// load the product object
->load($productId);

$links = Mage::getModel('downloadable/product_type')->getLinks( $product );

foreach ( $links as $link )
if ( preg_match("/epub/i", $link->getTitle()) )
$linkId = $link->getLinkId();

// Here is the trick to add the right link id

$input = array( 'qty' => 1, 'links' => array( $linkId ) );
$request = new Varien_Object();
$request->setData($input);

// start adding the product
try {
$cart->addProduct($product, $request);
// save the cart
$cart->save();

$result = null;
} catch (Mage_Core_Exception $e) {
$result = $e->getMessage();
}

// very straightforward, set the cart as updated
Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session')->setCartWasUpdated(true);
}

If you have to export all or a part of your Magento products you can try this simple script which creates a products collection and writes a simple and custom XML file per product (but you can simply change it to write a single long XML file).

Hope you enjoy it!

<?php
// Magento XML products exporter
// Version 0.1
// by Michele Marcucci
// http://www.michelem.org

require_once 'app/Mage.php';
umask( 0 );
Mage::app( "default" );
Mage::app()->setCurrentStore(Mage_Core_Model_App::ADMIN_STORE_ID);

$_magentoPath = "CHANGETHISTOYOURMAGENTOPATH ex: /var/virtual/magento"
$_urlPath = "";
$_imagePath = $_urlPath . "media";
$_logFileName = "export_products.log";
$_xmlPath = $_magentoPath . "/var/export";

Mage::log( "Export start", null, $_logFileName );

// Prepare collection
$_productCollection = Mage::getModel('catalog/product')->getCollection();
$_productCollection->addAttributeToSelect('*');

/* You can change and uncomment these lines below to filter your products collection */

// Filter by updated_at date, get only daily changes
//$_productCollection->addFieldToFilter('updated_at', array('from'=>date("Y-m-d", time()-86400)));

// Filter by product type, get only downloadables
//$_productCollection->addFieldToFilter('type_id',  array('like'=>'downloadable'));

// Filter by sku get only products with sku like "EBOOK-%"
//$_productCollection->addFieldToFilter('sku',  array('like'=>'EBOOK-%'));

// Limit output to 15 records
//$_productCollection->getSelect()->limit(15);

Mage::log( "Products to be exported: " . $_productCollection->count(), null, $_logFileName );

$i = 1;
foreach ( $_productCollection as $_product ) {

	// Prepare array of variables to grow XML file
    $v['sku'] = $_product->getSku();
    $v['product_name'] = $_product->getName();
	$v['type'] = $_product->getTypeId();
    $v['description'] = $_product->getDescription();
    $v['short_description'] = $_product->getShortDescription();
    $v['meta_title'] = $_product->getMetaTitle();
    $v['meta_description'] = $_product->getMetaDescription();
    $v['meta_keyword'] = $_product->getMetaKeyword();
    $v['created_at'] = $_product->getCreatedAt();
    $v['updated_at'] = $_product->getUpdatedAt();
    $v['url_path'] = $_urlPath . $_product->geturlpath();
    $v['image'] = $_imagePath . $_product->getImage();
    $v['image_label'] = $_product->getImageLabel();
  	$v['price'] = $_product->getPrice();
   	$v['special_price'] = $_product->getSpecialPrice();
    $v['weight'] = $_product->getWeight();

	// Get the Magento categories for the product
    $categoryIds = $_product->getCategoryIds();

	foreach($categoryIds as $categoryId) {
    	$category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($categoryId);
    	$v['categories'][$_product->getSku()][] = $category->getName();
	}

    // If product is downloadable get some informations about links added
    if ( $_product->getTypeId() == "downloadable" ) {
    	$_links = Mage::getModel('downloadable/product_type')->getLinks( $_product );
    	foreach ( $_links as $_link )
    		$v['available_formats'][$_product->getSku()][] = $_link->getTitle();
    }

	// Prepare XML file to save
	$xmlFile = $_xmlPath . "/" . $_product->getSku() . ".xml";

	$doc = new DomDocument('1.0', 'UTF-8');
	$doc->preserveWhiteSpace = false;
	$doc->formatOutput = true;	

	$root = $doc->createElement('product');
	$root = $doc->appendChild($root);

	$occ = $doc->createElement('root');
	$occ = $root->appendChild($occ);

	foreach ( $v as $fieldName => $fieldValue ) {
		$child = $doc->createElement($fieldName);
    	$child = $occ->appendChild($child);

		if ( is_array($fieldValue) ) {
			$value = $doc->createTextNode(implode( "|", $fieldValue[$_product->getSku()] ));
			$value = $child->appendChild($value);
		} else {
			$value = $doc->createTextNode($fieldValue);
			$value = $child->appendChild($value);
		}

	}

	// Save each product as XML file
	$doc->save( $xmlFile );

	Mage::log( "File " . $i . ": " . $_product->getSku(), null, $_logFileName );

	$i++;
}

Mage::log( "Export done", null, $_logFileName );

Here is my current Google Chrome extensions I use every days, hope you find something useful.

You could find your best extensions in the official Google Chrome Extensions site.

SEO Status Pagerank/Alexa Toolbar

SEO Status is lightweight. It will check the Google Pagerank (PR) & Alexa rank for every page. Using this will increase your Alexa.

Chromicious (Delicious Bookmarks)

Chromicious integrates your Delicious bookmarks with Google Chrome and keeps them in sync for easy access.

Chrome SEO

The Google Chrome SEO Extension. Make your SEO tasks easier with Chrome SEO Tools, includes ‘all’ the stats and data you need.

Google Mail Checker Plus

Displays the number of unread messages in your Gmail and Google Apps inbox. Preview mail, read, delete, archive and mark as spam!

Webpage Screenshot

Fast&Simple solution to save JPG screenshots of any webpage. The first extension that captures the whole page.

Tanto per non scordarmeli appunto alcuni suggerimenti molto utili sulla gestione di Magento:

• per disabilitare la frase “Exception printing is disabled by default for security reasons” quando occorre un errore e farlo printare a schermo basta modificare il file “errors/local.xml.sample”
• se invece non volete abilitare il printing (che e’ meglio) ma volete comunque vedere di che errore si tratta i report si trovano in “var/reports/<numero_errore>”
• se usate la versione 1.4.0.1 ho notato un bug che non vi permette di usare Magento Connect, per risolverlo leggete il thread che ho scritto qui: include_path problem with Magento Connect and 1.4.0.1
• per installare la lingua italiana (locale) da shell basta fare: cd root/path/to/magento && ./pear install magento-community/Locale_Mage_community_it_IT
• per cancellare completamente degli ordini installate l’estensione “Delete Orders“: cd root/path/to/magento && ./pear install magento-community/BoutikCircus_DeleteOrders