These are the Frequently Asked Questions as distributed with the Amazon Products Feed Bridge Component.

This document contains the answers to the most common questions I am asked about the APF Bridge Component for Joomla. If you don't know what Joomla is then please see: my guide to all things Joomla.
 

Q: I have installed APF Bridge - but don't seem able to generate a list of products.
A: APF Bridge does NOT create product listings itself. It is a bridging component, which essentially means that it links to an EXTERNAL stand-alone script. You need to download, install and correctly configure Amazon Products Feed (APF) by MrRat. Further info from  http://www.mrrat.com/aws/
There is further info about MrRat's Amazon Products Feed in the 'readme.txt' file distributed with this component.


Q: The front page of my store displays correctly - but when I click on a link I am taken to APF, not to Joomla with APF Bridge.
A: This is most commonly caused by incorrectly setting the APF path parameter in the Components -> APF by MrRat

How does this happen:
When APF Bridge retrieves a page from APF the content contains links to the full APF script.
The bridge looks for these links - which by definition contain the correct 'path to APF'
Assuming that your settings are correct APF Bridge looks for the path you specified and replaces links with links to Joomla.
Because you give the wrong path - APF bridge doesn't locate links containing the data you provided - the links are left pointing to the full store.
Any click on such links takes you to the full APF installation


Q: When I click on the APF Bridge link in the main menu I see one copy of my Joomla site 'inside' another.
A: This occurs under the following circumstances:
1) You have SEF Urls enabled in Joomla - or you once enabled them but then disabled them, but still have the .htaccess file in place.
2) You have incorrectly set the url for your stand-alone APF store script within the APF bridge configuration "Components -> APF by MrRat".
The solution is to check your APF url in the administrator section of your Joomla site.


Q: Who is MrRat?
A: MrRat is something of an internet phenomenon. His identity is known only to a few people.
He is the creator of the Amazon Products Feed script which uses Amazon's Web Services to produce a full Amazon store on your site.
http://www.mrrat.com/aws/


Q: How can I stay up-to-date with bugs, bug fixes and new releases.
A: Please pop on over to http://www.deanmarshall.co.uk/ and register for the APF Bridge e-mail newsletter.

Q: Can I add product details to my content items?
A: I currently have a plugin (mambot) under development that will allow for APF generated results to be integrated into content items.
The plugin (mambot) will be very very flexible - and consequently a little complex - but will help you build links to store pages OR integrated actual APF Bridge generated pages into your content: keyword searches, product lists (BrowseNode) or specific products (identified by ItemId), individual product details pages (with buy buttons), etc.

As an added bonus, I am trying to make it so that your embedded APF content can be different for people with pre-set preferred locales. This means that someone with UK set as their preferred locale will see search results from Amazon.co.uk, whilst those with US as their preferred locale will see results from Amazon.com

Q: Can I place a search box on other pages of my site?
A: Certainly, install my module mod_apf_search
This module builds a rather clever little search box that allows users to search their chosen country's Amazon store.
When they select the country the list of available SearchIndexes (product categories) is adjusted.
You - the site operator - can limit the module to specific countries (locales).
There is also a snazzy little feature whereby the visitor can select (and store) his preferred locale.
Once stored a click on your store will show his preferred locale.

Q: I use some other Amazon banners and other ads on the same site, or I operate multiple sites. How can I track sales solely from the APF Bridge generated store.
A:You can use Tracking IDs rather than a plain Associates ID to allow analysis of orders from different sources.
Send an e-mail to the appropriate associates@ address ( This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for US, or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it for UK, etc)
You can request up to 1,500 tracking IDs.
When you log in to Associates Central you specify which tracking ID to see reports on, or you can see aggregate stats.

Questions About The APF Script

Q: What is a mod file
Q: I get a server 500 error
Q: How do I enter my Associates ID
Q: I get a permission error
Q: My site is being bombarded by Search Engine robots - how can I prevent this?

Questions About Dean

Q: Are you MrRat?
A: No I am not - although it is a common enough mistake, some people over on the Amazon forums have made the same mistake, and if you see MrRat's support forums - where I am a moderator - I am a fairly visitor and help out as often as I can.

Please Support My Efforts - and don't forget MrRat

Q: I think APF Bridge and its associated modules and plugins are fantastic and want to send you a boatload of money - how can I do that?
A: Okay, I will hold my hands up here, unfortunately the question is not asked as often as I perhaps hoped, but to spur you on - here is the answer anyway.
You can make a donation to me via paypal using the address This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

If you want to make a one off contribution that is appreciated, if you prefer to make a donation based upon your Amazon earnings using the component then please feel free to send a smaller amount around payment time (usually 30 days after the end of the quarter).

Whilst considering the amount to donate please remember MrRat. His perl script does most of the really clever stuff, I just integrate his product into Joomla.