I’ve created User Tracking Interface (UTI) module for Zen Cart v1.3.8 which recognizes visitors (even if they are not logged in or don’t have account) and stores simple bits of information about them in database. You can use UTI to store such information as favorite currency of each visitor, recently viewed products by particular visitor or recently searched products. The best thing is that even if the visitor will leave Your site and will come back later UTI will recognize him/her and will set site to his/hers preferences.
You can test it Yourself on demo store here:
www.data-diggers.com/contribs/uti/demo-stores/with-uti/
How to test it
- View some products (4-6). The module will remember which items You viewed and will present them in sidebox.
- Search for some stuff like “mouse”, “unreal”, “mary”. The module will remember what You searched for and will present links to previous searches in sidebox.
- Change currency. The module will remember Your last currency and when You’ll be back next day/week/month the site will display with Your currency set.
- Close down Your browser and switch to different one. Visit above site again. The system will recognize You and adjust site to Your preferences.
What UTI is really for
Recently viewed products, recent search terms and user default currency are nice features, but they are just examples of use of UTI. UTI is simple class which developers can use to make user aware contributions. UTI takes care of recognizing users and storing/retrieving information about them in/from database. UTI attaches itself to Zen Cart on each request and creates $uti variable which developers can use to store simple information about visitors in database.
How to use UTI
UTI has very simple interface. Developer should use only two methods:
- $uti->get($attribute) - retrieves visitors value for $attribute from database
- $uti->set($attribute, $value) – store visitors value for $attribute in database
Developer does not have to worry about creating $uti object. $uti object will automatically recognize user and will retrieve all information about him from database.
What UTI can be used for
UTI is tool which can be used to create very simple contributions, for example:
- remembering language of given visitor. On his next visit site can be automatically switched to preferred language.
- presenting recommendations to visitor based on his previous purchases (even if visitor isn’t logged in).
- many more.
What I need from You
Please test above site and report any bugs. You can also install current version of UTI on Your site and report any bugs. You can download current version of UTI here:
www.data-diggers.com/contribs/uti/downloads/uti-current.zip
Installation instructions are in uti-current.zip
