So to answer a popular question (albeit briefly):

There isn’t a standardised test – as there is a myriad of different testing procedures.

Apache jMeter is our tool of choice, it is a little tricky to configure – but allows you to tailor your test exactly to your type of expected customers browsing habits. By controlling the number of pages they browse, page view time, replicating checkout process, logging in/out etc. It is as close to real-world simulation as you will get.

So instead, we just knocked up a quick script which would associate images to products; the name name has to match the product SKU (with the exception of the file extension). It first copies the images from your media/import directory to the proper Magento structure,

eg. For an image named sonassi.jpg

./media/catalog/product/s/o/sonassi.jpg

If the directory doesn’t exist, it will create it on the fly. Then once the images are in place, it will check to see what images are to be added – then check each product to see if any images are already set, and skip those images if already set.

There is a few different types of images for a product:

small_image
base_image
thumbnail
gallery_image

These have different attribute ids (can be found in eav_entity_attribute), for us the IDs were 74,75,76 and 77 respectively. Then, its just a case of running the script.

To create the directory structure, copy the images and populate the database took under 1 second for 2,500 images; so whilst not the proper Magento way – its saved you a few hours of Dataflow! As always, the below script assumes that the script exists in a subdirectory of the root Magento installation.

Enjoy!

<?php
 
  ############################################################################
  #
  #  Change these variables to suit your store!
  #
  $_mediaBase = realpath('../media/catalog/product').'/';
  $_imagesSrc = realpath('../media/import/product_images').'/';
  $imgAttrIds = array(74,75,76);
  $imageGalId = 77;
  require_once '../app/Mage.php';
  #
  ############################################################################

  umask(0);
 
  error_reporting(E_ALL);
  ini_set('display_errors', '1');
  Mage::setIsDeveloperMode(true);
 
  Mage::app()->setCurrentStore(Mage_Core_Model_App::ADMIN_STORE_ID);
 
  $conn = Mage::getSingleton('core/resource')->getConnection('core_read');
  $connW = Mage::getSingleton('core/resource')->getConnection('core_write');
 
  $images = scandir($_imagesSrc);
 
 
  /*
   *    Relocate the images into Magento friendly format
   */
 
  $imgArr = array();
  foreach($images as $image) {
    if (in_array($image,array('.','..')))
      continue;
 
    $firstDir = $_mediaBase.$image[0];
    $secondDir = strtolower($firstDir.'/'.$image[1]);
    $path = strtolower($secondDir.'/'.$image);
 
    if(!file_exists($path)) {
      echo "Making $secondDir and copying to $path\n";
      if (!file_exists($secondDir))
        mkdir($secondDir, 0775, true);
      copy($_imagesSrc.$image, $path);
    }
 
    $imgArr[] = "'".str_ireplace(".jpg","",$image)."'";
  }
 
  $sql = "SELECT *
          FROM catalog_product_entity
          WHERE sku IN (".implode(",",$imgArr).")";
  $_products = $conn->fetchAll($sql);
 
  $entitySkuMap = array();
  foreach($_products as $product)
    $entitySkuMap[$product['sku']] = $product['entity_id'];
 
  /*
   *    Check the existing images
   */
 
  $sql = "SELECT *
          FROM catalog_product_entity_media_gallery
          WHERE entity_id IN (".implode(",",$entitySkuMap).")";
  $_galleryImgs = $conn->fetchAll($sql);
 
  $sql = "SELECT *
          FROM catalog_product_entity_varchar
          WHERE entity_id IN (".implode(",",$entitySkuMap).")
          AND attribute_id IN (".implode(",",$imgAttrIds).")";
  $_imageAssoc = $conn->fetchAll($sql);
 
  $existingImgs = array();
  foreach($_imageAssoc as $img) {
    $existingImgs[$img['entity_id']][$img['attribute_id']] = $img;
  }
 
  /*
   *    Then associate to the product itself.
   */
 
  $insertData = array();
  $skusToInsert = array();
 
  foreach($_products as $productArrId=>$product) {
 
    $missingImgs = $imgAttrIds;
    $imageName = strtolower('/'.$product['sku'][0].'/'.$product['sku'][1].'/'.$product['sku'].'.jpg');
 
    // Check if it has an image associated already ...
    if ( array_key_exists( $product['entity_id'], $existingImgs) ) {
 
      // Check which images exists and remove those already set
      foreach ($imgAttrIds as $id=>$val) {
        if ( array_key_exists( $val , $existingImgs[$product['entity_id']] ) ) {
          if ( $existingImgs[$product['entity_id']][$val]['value'] == "no_selection" ) {
            $sql = "DELETE FROM catalog_product_entity_varchar WHERE value_id = '".$existingImgs[$product['entity_id']][$val]['value_id']."'";
            $connW->query($sql);
          } else {
            unset($missingImgs[$id]);
          }
        }
      }
 
    }
 
    if (count($missingImgs)) {
      if (file_exists($_mediaBase.$imageName)) {
        foreach($missingImgs as $img) {
          $insertData[] = "(4, ".$img.", 0, ".$product['entity_id'].", '".$imageName."')";
        }
 
        $skusToInsert[] = "(".$imageGalId.", ".$product['entity_id'].", '".$imageName."')";
      }
    }
 
  }
 
  /*
   *    Now add the images to the DB
   */
 
  if (count($skusToInsert)) {
    $sql = "INSERT INTO catalog_product_entity_media_gallery (attribute_id, entity_id, value) VALUES ".implode(",",$skusToInsert).";";
    $connW->query($sql);
    echo "Updated ".count($skusToInsert)." images\n";
  }
 
  if (count($insertData)) {
    $sql = "INSERT INTO catalog_product_entity_varchar (entity_type_id, attribute_id, store_id, entity_id, value) VALUES ".implode(",",$insertData).";";
    $connW->query($sql);
    echo "Updated ".count($insertData)." images";
  }

Try WordPress Deluxe for a fully integrated solution for Magento CE and EE

You can now obtain a copy of the Magento WordPress Deluxe Extension. Our store isn’t live yet, so we are taking orders via email at the moment.

The price is £100 including free installation (theming is not included).

Buy WordPress Deluxe now!

After the success of the first release with over 4,000 downloads, the massive popularity of Magento and the outstanding usability of WordPress, we thought we might release a slightly more advanced version of the Magento and WordPress integration …

the Deluxe edition

You name it, it does it! Both applications have been completely merged.

• Standard Magento admin users are able to handle all administration tasks from the Magento control panel – or standalone users can use the WordPress admin on its own.
• Magento customers have their profiles directly lined to WordPress allowing them to post comments and change profile information with ease.
• Magento layout short-codes can be used within WordPress posts and pages (Eg. {{block type=”" … }}
• The WordPress theme is controlled directly by Magento’s MVC architecture, allowing infinite flexibility with XML layouts … no more get_sidebar()!
• Bundled with a number of starter widgets to get recent comments, latest posts or post tags.
• Support for both Magento 1.3 and 1.4

The deluxe edition is now available on our Sonassi MagentoConnect profile.

What are you waiting for, take the deluxe edition for a test drive!

Whilst we know 1.4 will bring a much improved e-commerce platform, our only concern lies in template compatibility. Those that suffered the upgrade from 1.1 to 1.2 or 1.2 to 1.3 will have been forced to change a small portion of their template to suit the newer methods devised. The major point upgrades were never designed to facilitate an end user easily upgrading their store with 1-click methods.

So, for those of us that have built highly complex template derivatives, will the option to upgrade still remain viable?

Improvements

* Implemented frontend templates for widgets
* Added field scope hints in system admin configuration
* Implemented #15031: paypal checkout allowed through PP logo while allow guest checkout is marked NO
* Simplified core email template store url generation (because all this logic is correctly implemented in the core url model). Completely disallowed to render SID in emails. Moved SID-related logic to cms template filter.
* Adjusted text labels and pre-selected is_active in CMS page edit page
* Added ability to set default value of page layouts, utilized it on CMS edit page (1 column by default)
* Implemented uniqHash() method in core helper. Reduced probability of possible md5(microtime()) collisions in places where it was used
* Implemented #17084: Product “Custom Layout Update” per store view
* Updated indexing management labels, made one of mass actions pre-selected
* Implemented a generic wrapper block for frontend. Purpose is similar to core/text_list, but it also renders a wrapper HTML-element. No need for generic wrapper template in modern theme. Utilized the new wrapper block in onepage checkout for checkout progress
* Implemented aggregation catalog rules and their customer groups and websites to new table for further using in simple getting applied catalog rules
* Made customer checkout and registration “email already exists” messages more informative
* Added Real Media and Windows Media extensions to CMS media browser
* added scrollbars to widgets insertion window
* Adjusted look & feel of wysiwyg and widgets

Changes

* Implemented asCanonicalArray() in simplexml element – same as asArray(), just ignores node attributes
* Changed widget.xml declaration, refactored widgets implementation (Misha promised to post examples – add cross-link there)
* Jammed Exception in customer loginPost action, replaced catch to Mage_Core_Exception
* Changed Db layout Updates to load by default store (0) if no data for current store
* Added “– Please Select –” label to the empty value of websites dropdown in admin area forms
* Added ability to support the directive for menu building (it was in adminhtml.xml, but wasn’t in use). Reviewed all adminhtml.xml:
– checked all existing directives, removed redundant or non-working
– specified sort order for catalog menu
– updated some text labels
* Updated frontend label of region_id attribute of customer address entity
* Prevented email send exceptions spoiling onepage checkout process, order invoicing and order re-sending email
* Provided event perfix and event object for customer address
* Added method addIsInStockFilterToCollection to CatalogInventory Stock Status Model
* Made Mage version getter based on version info getter
* Added new events:
– checkout_cart_save_after – provide entry point after all shopping cart items changes (add/remove/update item)
– wishlist_items_renewed – changes with wishlist items
* Adjusted CSS-classes for salesrules store fieldset
* added ability to override table class and value class for default adminhtml fieldset and fieldset element renderers
* improved cms widget chooser block (hidden element didn’t get all data fields of original element)
* removed redundant non-breakable space in grid column renderer in ‘edit_only’ mode
* Added Known Issue Notice of Firebug VS TinyMCE
* Moved methods getColumnCount, addColumnCountLayoutDepend, removeColumnCountLayoutDepend, getColumnCountLayoutDepend, getPageLayout from Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List to Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_Abstract class
* Added an ability to disable admin menu item rendering via configuration
* Added deprecation message to admin menu/acl config model
* Removed double quote recollect from multishipping checkout
* Adminhtml Manage Currency Rates: Moved services select to separated child block
* removed checkout progress layout in iphone theme, since it uses 1-column layout
* Added ability to return empty JSON object if data to serialize was empty and column names were already added
* Improved Mage_Adminhtml_Helper_Js::decodeInput() – clarified logic, made it ignoring non-numeric keys. Renamed it to decodeGridSerializedInput() (renamed in all places where it was used)
* Removed Mage::log debugging usage and fixed notices in log directory configuration
* Reorganized CMS and Customer menu and ACL in admin area
* Changed label of product visibility “Nowhere” to “Not Visible Individually”
* Updated license notice, tabs to spaces and CRLF to LF, LF before EOF
* Added created_at as a static attribute of customer entity
* Newsletter Module code refactored. Added method Mage_Newsletter_Model_Mysql4_Subscriber::addStoreFilter()
* Upgraded Zend Framework to v.1.9.3PL1 release
* Added javascript console object to prevent JS errors with using this object in browsers accept firefox
* Changed AdminNotification URL

http://www.magentocommerce.com/download/release_notes

Backing up your store is extremely quick and easy, there are two methods, manually via Sonassi domain backup tool and SSH or using Magento’s built-in backup tool. We would recommend the manual option.

Generating a manual Magento backup
Step 1) Log into the client area, select “Disk” from the menu, and scroll to the lower portion of the page to select the domain you wish to backup
   A visual guide can be found here http://www.sonassi.com/blog/2009/06/03/client-area-how-to-generate-a-domain-backup/

Step 2) Log into your SSH account
   A visual guide can be found here http://www.sonassi.com/blog/2009/06/03/ssh-how-to-connect-using-windows-with-putty/

Step 3) Enter the following commands, modifying database, username, password and database_host with your own information.

$# cd /backups/
$# database="DATABASE_NAME"
$# username="USERNAME"
$# password="PASSWORD"
$# database_host="db.DOMAIN.COM"
$# filename=`date +%F-%H_%M-%S`".sql.gz"
$# myqsldump -h $database_host -u $username -p$password $database | gzip > $filename

Step 4) If it is a production site, please attempt an upgrade late at night or during off-peak hours – you don’t want to upset your customers.

“

Magento Version 1.3.2.4 is now available. This version includes a security updates for Magento 1.3.x that solves possible XSS vulnerability issue on customer registration page and is available through SVN, Download Page and through the Magento Connect Manager.

If you are using Magento Version 1.3.x we highly recommend upgrading as soon as possible to Magento 1.3.2.4 If you are using the Magento Connect Manager to upgrade, you should only upgrade Mage_All_Latest package. This package will upgrade all the needed packages.

”

Fast, reliable hosting can be the key to your store’s success, but without a measure for comparison, it can be difficult to select a host. Well, MageBenchmark has filled that gap allowing hosts to promote their service, whilst being measured for performance by a non-biased third party.

Monday 31st of August is the launch date and we invite you all to come and have a look for yourself.

We have been testing several software combinations and are finding our custom build of ZS we compiled is getting better results than standard ZS. Our best performing setup is operating under the core of ZS with all almost all Zend Server functionality disabled (Zend Optimiser+, Zend Data Cache) and running a modified version of Eaccelerator. This is yielding much better results than ZS’s default configuration – which highlights the question – have Zend really achieved anything with Data Cache or Optimiser+ if a third party extension performs better (Ref. early thoughts on Magento and Zend Server)

Changes

• Added configuration to control redirection of customer after login to current page or account dashboard (default)
• Added events for before/after product validate
• Added method validate to Mage_Core_Model_Abstract
• Added validate before save on Catalog Category API
• Made urlrewrites controller load layout after initializing registry. Fixed wrong helper calls.
• Implemented modifiers for Email Template Filter var Directive
• Added ability specify frontend_class for add attribute method
• Removed “validate-postcode” javascript implementation
• Added an ability to specify section redirect & update on onepage checkout order place error
• Made order save call before email send for protect situation when email send but order not saved
• Made parent before save call in order shipment model
• Added ‘adminhtml_catalog_product_edit_tab_attributes_create_html_before’ event to have an ability to disallow display of ‘create attribute’ button on product edit pages
• Added ‘adminhtml_catalog_product_attribute_set_main_html_before’ and ‘adminhtml_catalog_product_attribute_set_toolbar_main_html_before’ events to have an ability to modify attribute set management blocks, added read-only mode on attribute set edit page
• Added ‘sales_sale_collection_query_before’ event and Mage_Sales_Model_Mysql4_Sale_Collection::addStoreFilter function
• Removed redundant save call in newsletter queue controller
• Made adminhtml product validation catching Core Exceptions
• Added event “http_response_send_before”
• Added ability to set sort order for fieldset elements
• Set UTF8 default charset on tables :tax_calculation_rate, tax_calculation_rate_title, tax_calculation_rule, tax_calculation
• Added getGroups method to application object, fixed getRootIds method in category manage blocks
• Fixed custom url rewrites issues (full action name, dynamic admin route name) {adminhtml}/controller/action – supported notation
• Added event for admin blocks before to html
• Added filesystem collection, added ability to specify expression instead of field name for DB collection
• Added column renderer for IP address fields
• Extended backup and extension collection from library file system collection
• Added folder column to extension collection
• Removed Mage_Extension_Collection_Abstract. Please use Varien_Data_Colection_Filesystem instead
• Fixed restriction on GET, POST to make possible to have parameters: module, controller, action
• Added validation for getimagesize function result for images resize
• Moved setOriginalData functionality from collection load method to afterLoad
• Changed using of read_connection to write_connection in flat catalog classes

Bugfixes

• Fixed #11935: Google Base : Unable to connect – BadAuthentication
• Fixed #13014: Magento base birectory unwritable in Magento Connect Manager
• Fixed #13357: downloadable products – always showing pending – mistake in item.php – fix included
• Fixed #13654: Paypal IPN Invalid Completed
• Fixed #13706: Edit Order SQL Error
• Fixed #13728: Admin session timeout, lead to error in Manage Customer.
• Fixed #13730: Customer cloning when placing order from admin area to the website where customer not exist.
• Fixed #13733: Redirect on login page, after session timeout is absent.
• Fixed #13845: PDF: order item getDescription() is always empty
• Fixed #14024: Wrong encoding shipping rate’s name in PayPal Standard when it defined as Cyrillic
• Fixed #14071: categories management – “yellow bar” incorect behaviour
• Fixed #14131: Delete button disappears after scrolling to the down of the page
• Fixed #14138: Display ‘return to stock’ checkbox/column on creditmemo create page based on ordered product ‘manage stock’ option (override ‘can_subtract’ global config value).
• Fixed #14209: Bundle product – > Stock status is “In stock”, but options are unavailable
• Fixed #14222: Bestsellers Report Showing wrong totals
• Fixed #14229: Customers Online
• Fixed #14238: Cannot get into Admin
• Fixed #14248: Upgrade to 1.3.2 causes infinite loop in admin
• Fixed #14249: Shopping cart price rules Actions / conditions duplicated
• Fixed #14265: compiler module small issue with caching backends
• Fixed #14271: Database indexes appear to be equal and one of them should be removed
• Fixed #14279: Alert Email Translation
• Fixed #14281: PDF (invoice/creditmemo/shipping) split label in few lines
• Fixed #14283: PDF: fails if there are custom options for bundle product
• Fixed #14284: PDF in 1.3.2: Downloadable products titles and filenames
• Fixed #14287: customers who check out with paypal express are always sent the “new order” transactional email even when they are a guest
• Fixed #14296: PayPal Standard not capturing funds after invoicing
• Fixed #14301: Products not in category not appearing in search
• Fixed #14304: Low Stock Report even for products not managing stock
• Fixed #14335: Custom cms layouts gone in version 1.3.2.1
• Fixed #14343: Incorrect currency filter on ‘Manage products’ page in admin area when using multiple allowed currencies
• Fixed #14348: Bundle products->“Bundle items” tab doesn’t open when Compiler module is enabled
• Fixed #14349: Unable subcribe to the ‘General Subscription’
• Fixed #14360: Deactivated tagged products shows on “Products tagged with…” page
• Fixed #14369: Email to a Friend does not send the link
• Fixed #14383: Undefined Index: website_price / Tier Pricing Problem with global price scope
• Fixed #14392: Custom option “Time”
• Fixed #14402: Secure URL doesn’t used for ‘My downloadable products’ tab
• Fixed #14417: Bundle items is not printing in the Packingslip
• Fixed #14418: Google Sitemap contains disabled products and deactivated categories
• Fixed #14431: Default customer addresses doesn’t saved.
• Fixed #14442: importing tax rate erro
• Fixed #14508: Incorrect work of the SKU’s checkboxes in the Promotions
• Fixed #14513: Custom option “drop-down” issue
• Fixed #14517: Attribute for Configurable product lead to error
• Fixed #14546: “Sort by” reset
• Fixed #14569: REMOTE_ADDR used instead of HTTP_X_FORWARDED_FOR
• Fixed #14570: On “Customer Information” page, tab “Wishlist – 0 item(s)” does not contain added products.
• Fixed #14575: Incorrect calculating of the free shipping with bundle product with dynamic price
• Fixed #14597: Free shipping is working incorrectly
• Fixed #14600: Incorrect calculating of shopping cart discount with dynamic price bundle product
• Fixed #14623: Import popup – missing ‘charset=utf8’
• Fixed #14634: Invalid Object access while adding Image via SOAP2
• Fixed #14677: Gift message – e-mail displaying
• Fixed #14682: Text field in admin order after invoice
• Fixed #14683: On Customer Information page, Configurable product shown does not correctly.
• Fixed #14684: On Dashboard page, in statistics line, Tax have negative value
• Fixed #14685: On Dashboard page, diagram appears not correct information.
• Fixed #14686: CatalogSearch Result Controller Needs to init checkout/session layout messages
• Fixed #14694: After Delete rating, on front page, “rating star” still presents.
• Fixed #14697: notice when trying to process referrer URL
• Fixed #14699: wrong region code
• Fixed #14722: Broken design in IE8
• Fixed #14724: Sitemap file, does not deleted.
• Fixed #14739: Gift message for Configurable product, work does not correctly!
• Fixed #14760: White screen during Capture online PayPal UK express order
• Fixed #14761: Wishlist e-mail template not configurable by store view
• Fixed #14766: Catalog search failed (Detected an illegal character in input string) with specials chars in URL on Firefox 3
• Fixed #14770: Review Event Observers – make sure getters are used properly; also done in magento core
• Fixed #14773: Bundle products -> Incorrect price range
• Fixed #14775: Install in Console
• Fixed atrribute set validate method validate
• Fixed tag relations (renaming tags by customers)
• Fixed _store_to_url param unset
• Fixed category product root category index
• Fixed compiler ACL
• Fixed exceptions logging
• Fixed incorrect Shop by link for Clear All Items
• Fixed incorrect event observer conflict node on sendfriend module
• Fixed newsletter queue
• Fixed payment method validation in admin order creation
• Fixed required attributes validation
• Fixed strict restriction in methods declaration
• Fixed authorize.net CCV response index, added CAVV response data storage

In the best interests of the community (and the fact we’re always up for a little competition), we’ve soft-launched a new project MageBenchmark.

Its in the early stages at the moment as we are just harvesting URLs, we are aiming for a true launch date of 1st August 2009. We encourage all Magento hosts, be them UK, Europe or Worldwide to take part – its time for everyone to prove their worth!