Dynamic Images / Content

[ssiAdmin]

Looking for ways to incorporate dynamic images and content for advertising purposes within a Miva Shopping Cart.

Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance,
Art

[sebenza]

Can you be a little more specific as to how you want to incorporate the content?

[ssiAdmin]

Personally I'd like to use php includes but I know that is not possible (at least to the best of my knowledge).

I want to have random ads at a minimum in the category tree. Better yet would be the capability to target the ad based on the category chosen. Selling advertising space on a popular store simply makes cents!

Second I would like to have random text or links in specific locations in the body of the store. Maybe the footer has a random text based ad in it.

Third, I would really like the ability to use some kind of "include" technology. Where I can load an external file's html code (like a php include or server side include... shtml).

Fourth, the ability to add some logic to my includes. If someone pulls up a category for sporting goods, choose an ad at random (an include file) that someone interested in sporting goods my also be interested in. Don't pull up an ad for junk food on the sporting goods category.

Does that help a bit? May not be the best example but hopefully there are ways to do some of the things I want to do. I can't imagine I am the only one interested in doing something like this with Miva. Your thought?

Once again, thanks for any suggestions you may have.
Art

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

You need to do a search for ad banner software. There is one "module" specifically for Merchant by scot ranney of scottsscripts (www.scottscripts.com or mivacentral.com) although I don't know if its really intended for "selling" advertising just delivering it. If you are selling advertising, you need a whole system of not just delivery but tracking as well. One client i know uses "phpAds" but I don't know just how complete it is in the compliance sense.

[ssiAdmin]

Thank you very much for your reply Bruce. Actually Scot's link is:
http://www.scotsscripts.com/

The link you gave didn't work and I can understand why. I probably would have made the same mistake had I been the one sharing it.

php Ad rotation software would be fine and I could write it myself if none existed but Miva can't process php (unless you can tell me how because I am very interested in this capability). Another benefit of being able to use php with Miva is the ability to use modular programming techniques. I believe Miva answers this with it's "page" tools but I am still learning how it all works.

As for tracking an ad campaign (non-miva based of course). I'd share the link but I'm not on the office computer right now. Looks very good though. Will share the link when I am back in the office.

Also I had a terrible time with modules in the past from 3rd party vendors (back when I was using Miva 4.x) in some cases (not all!). I will need to have a very comfortable feeling about them and their approach to customer service before "trying a new one out". Again I think Miva 5 may better handle modules. I just have a bad taste in my mouth from the last time and would proceed with caution this time around. One place I did find excellent modules was with 4 The Best:
http://www.4thebest.com/

Thanks again Bruce. Do you know of a way to use php or some kind of server side includes and miva together? Any other thoughts that may help?
Art

[Bruce - PhosphorMedia]

You might be able to call the PHP script through a simple HTTP call in an Iframe. For example:

<IFRAME SRC="http://www.hereiam.com/phpAdBanner.php?source=&mvt:unique_code_from_merchant;" height="90" width="620">

[SO-Will]

i would just call/include any php file with weilands toolkit module... i suggest picking it up... very very useful.

[ssiAdmin]

Got a link for this mod (weiland's toolkit)? I did some searching and found some mods from Weiland but I'm don't think I have found the one you are speaking of.

Also does this mod work with Miva version 5?
Thanks for your help.
Art

[Vic - WolfPaw Computers]

It is only for MM5 and you can find it here:
http://www.emporiumplus.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=wcw&Product_Code=1AA00223

[ssiAdmin]

Thanks for the link. That look's pretty cool. The price is right and we are running version 5. I'll check it out.
Art