Monthly Archives: January 2024

Hi, the Magefan customers and welcome the newbies of our Magefan blog, 

We're happy to share our latest news and product updates of this January. Since we've already published January updates at the beginning of the month, we're happy to share another portion of the product releases our team has been working on this month.

Magento 2 Google Tag Manager Extension

New features of Magento Google Tag Manager!

Features:

• Added compatibility with the Google Tag Manager Server Container (GTM Extra).
• Option to use GTM Server Container or GA4 Measurement Protocol to track only missing purchase transactions (GTM Extra).
• Option to define Google Ads Tag ID (GTM Plus).
• Code Refactor.

The latest available version is v 2.5.0

Request a FREE trial

Magento 2 POS

New features of Magento 2 POS | Point of Sale System!

Features:

• Simplified the installation process for the POS system, eliminating the need for "pos" in the "pub" folder.
• Enhanced cash operations functionality, requiring comments for

Once you configure the Magento XML sitemap, you might wonder whether you need indexing API too. The answer is Yes if you want more control over what gets indexed and when. But where do you start?

You can delve into the technical part and spend hours starting the implementation or configure the Magento 2 Google Indexing API extension. 

Today, we'll talk about the latter since it is way easier to use the indexing API in Magento this way.  

Once you install the Magento Google Indexing API module, navigate to Stores > Configuration > Magefan Extensions > Google Indexing. Then, enable the extension and continue with the other settings.

Indexing Delay

If you decide to send Google indexing requests automatically or manually, note that they are sent immediately.

However, what if you decide to promptly change something else on the page and something else after that? It will create too many unnecessary requests to Google.

To avoid this, set the Indexing Delay (in minutes) to delay the request,

If you decided to remove Magento 2 Google Indexing API, please follow the steps below. You can contact our team for a free consultation in case you have any issues with Magefan's extension.

Remove Extension Files

Removing files instruction depends on the way the Google Indexing API extension has been installed in.

1. If you can find the extension files in the folder

app/code/Magefan/GoogleIndexing

then remove this folder.

2. If the extension was installed via the composer and its files located in the folder

vendor/magefan/module-google-indexing

then run composer CLI command to remove it

composer remove magefan/module-google-indexing

Once extension files have been removed, run these Magento CLI commands:

php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:di:compile
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy

Remove Extension Data (optional)

Attention! This

If you need to update Magento 2 Google Indexing API Extension by Magefan, please follow the steps below.

Update using composer

If the Google Indexing API module was installed via the composer (check if vendor/magefan/module-google-indexing folder exists), then you need to run these simple CLI commands in Magento 2 directory:

composer remove magefan/module-google-indexing
composer require magefan/module-google-indexing ^x.x.x
# replace x.x.x with the version you want to use
php bin/magento setup:upgrade
php bin/magento setup:di:compile
php bin/magento setup:static-content:deploy

Update using archive and FTP

If the Google Indexing API module was installed via FTP (check if app/code/Magefan/GoogleIndexing folder exists), then follow these commands:

1. Download

You can install Magento 2 Google Indexing API by Magefan, using composer or archive installation methods.

Installation via composer (recommended)

Please navigate to your Magefan Account > My Downloads > Install via Composer to get the composer installation instructions.

Satisfying your customers' needs is a demanding task, especially when the items you sell on Shopify come in different sizes. It's frustrating when the long-awaited item doesn't fit, don't you agree? Thus, getting into a cycle of constant returns and unsatisfied shoppers, you lose more than you gain.

The best solution? Provide clear sizing guides for people to be confident in their choices. But here comes the next dilemma — what Shopify app to go for?

With all the available options out there, you may find it difficult to settle for one. So, we prepared a list of the best Shopify size chart apps for you to find a perfect match.

Let's see what these options offer, shall we?

Top Size Chart Apps for Shopify

Icon	App name	Developer	Price	Free plan	Free trial
	Size Chart - Magefan	Magefan	Standard - $4.99/month Pro - $9.99/month
	Kiwi Size Chart & Recommender	Staytuned	Premium - $6.99/month Plus - $12.49/month Ultimate - $24.49/month
	BF Size Chart & Size Guide	Relentless Apps	Premium - $5.99/month

In the world of eCommerce, new stores go live every day. Millions of users choose Shopify for their journey given the platform is relatively simple to use.

Yet, even with all the necessary means at your disposal, it might be difficult to make the first step. With the variety of options, you may be uncertain as to what exactly to settle for. That's a common thing if you want to make your store unique and engaging. 

But don't worry. We've prepared a list of the best Shopify website examples so you can get new ideas and ensure that creativity has no limits.

Ready to get inspired?

1. Allbirds

Combining comfort and eco-awareness, Allbirds is a great Shopify website example to start with. Though the idea of being eco-friendly is not new, the implementation is certainly fresh.

The brand uses unique wool fabric specifically for shoes making them sustainable. Customers are also attracted to the simple but appealing design and recycled packaging. With the variety of colours and sizes, you'll certainly

Making informed business decisions is only possible with accurate data about transactions and orders. Agree? Then, you probably need help with the problem of missing transactions in Google Analytics 4 (GA4). 

You're not alone in your struggle since missing transactions and orders in GA4 are more common than one would think. There are plenty of reasons why it appears, but only a few solutions.

In this guide, we'll cover the most common reasons why transactions are missing in GA4 and what you can do to improve the data accuracy.

Those of you who use Magento, stay tuned to learn about the Magento Google Tag Manager solution to this issue.

Reasons Why Transactions Are Missing in Google Analytics 4

There is no one-size-fits-all answer regarding missing transactions and orders in Google Analytics 4. There could be multiple reasons why it happens or just one. However, identifying it helps you to eliminate the issue and improve the data tracking in your store.

Let's review why some data might

Whether you disable, delete or change Shopify Blog URLs, you don't want readers to end up on the 404 pages. This badly influences your visitors' experience and makes your Shopify blog SEO efforts go in vain. Not the best scenario. 

Thus, to avoid this, you need to create blog URL redirects in Shopify. So, today you'll learn how to create URL redirects for the Shopify Blog App by Magefan.

Auto Redirects for Disabled/Deleted Entities

Whenever you disable or remove some blog posts, categories, tags and authors, the Magefan Blog app creates automatic redirects. Here's how readers are redirected based on a page they try to access:

• Blog post > category > root category > blog homepage
• Blog category > parent category > root category > blog homepage
• Blog author > blog homepage
• Blog tag > blog homepage

You don't need to enable or create anything since redirects from disabled or deleted blog entities are enabled automatically.

Auto Redirects on Blog URL Change

The other case when you need to create

When your sitemaps aren't generated or catalogue price rules aren't updated, the first thing to check is cron jobs. Since they run in the background you notice something's off only when certain tasks aren't performed automatically. 

Sometimes you discover cron issues too late to avoid the damage. So it's important to be aware of the cron jobs processes and fix them timely.

That's what we'll cover in this guide. You'll learn how to set up failed and missed cron job notifications with the Magento 2 Cron Schedule Extension. 

To enable missed cron job notifications in Magento: 

1. Navigate to Stores > Configuration > Magefan Extensions > Cron Schedule and find the Email Notifications section.

2. Enable Email Notifications about missed cron jobs or tasks that failed. 

3. Choose whether to Report Missed Tasks. If set to No, you'll receive notifications only about the failed cron task.

4. Specify the Template, Sender and Receipinets (coma-separated) for the cron job notifications. 

The Magento team regularly releases new versions with stunning features, fixes and security improvements. It's meant to secure your store from security threats, boost functionality and improve performance. But it won't work for you, unless you update Magento 2 timely. 

Some delay the update out of fear of the complicated update process. Some want to avoid the expenses following the update. Some just don't see why they need to update if everything works fine. In any case, you put your store at risk, by running on an outdated version of Magento. 

In this guide, we aim to get you one step closer to Magento 2 update. You'll go through the Magento 2 upgrade process step by step: from creating a backup to fixing the issues that might pop up after the update. 

Ready?

Why Do You Need to Update Magento 2?

Those of you who still doubt whether to update Magento 2 to the latest version, might need to skim through the following benefits.

• Improved performance — a new version of Magento is optimised

Repetitive tasks would be quite hard to handle if it weren't for the automation. Fortunately, Magento 2 has you covered with the cron jobs to manage your store operations effectively.

Except for scheduling the crons, you might need to edit their information. That's when it gets complicated since you need to have some technical background to edit cron details in Magento 2.

But not if you use the Magento 2 Cron Schedule extension to edit cron job information right in the admin panel. Sounds intriguing, doesn't it? 

To edit cron job information in Magento 2:

1. Go to System > Cron > Cron Jobs.

2. Find the cron job you want to edit and click on it.

3. Edit the cron instance, method, group, and status, or reschedule the cron job if needed.

Don't forget to Save the changes once you finish.

This is how easily you can edit cron job information in Magento 2 in a matter of a few clicks. Once all the cron jobs are adjusted, you can also execute them right in the admin panel.

Although browser-based tracking has proven to be effective in collecting data, it's not 100%. Due to 3rd-party cookies and adblockers customers use, some data still doesn't make it to your Google Analytics account. To avoid this, you need to find a way to bypass the 3rd party-cookies.

The only solution is to take the tracking to an entirely new level — server-side tracking. 

You can either set up server-side tracking in Magento using the GA4 Measurement Protocol or GTM Server Container. Today, we'll walk you through the latter and explain how to set up and use it properly. The tool you'll need for a smooth implementation is Magento 2 Google Tag Manager. 

However, before we move to the main part of the guide, let's define what is GTM server container.

What is a GTM Server Container?

GTM server container is a new way of using Google Tag Manager to send measurement data from your server to GTM servers. Once you collect that data you can choose how to shape it and where to route it from

Magento 2 customer accounts are mostly created on the frontend by customers themselves. However, there may be cases when store managers need to create customer accounts from the admin panel.

Nonetheless, creating customer accounts manually may be time-consuming if you need to create a few. Thus, it may be more convenient to create customer in Magento 2 programmatically.

It's exactly what you'll learn today.

Create Customer Using Dependency Injection

To begin with, you can create a customer programmatically using the dependency injection method. Just use the code below:

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Module\Model;

use Magento\Store\Model\StoreManagerInterface;
use Magento\Customer\Api\Data\CustomerInterfaceFactory;
use Magento\Customer\Api\CustomerRepositoryInterface;
use Magento\Framework\Encryption\EncryptorInterface;

class CreateCustomerService
{
  /**
  * @var StoreManagerInterface
  */
  protected $storeManager;

  /**
  * @var CustomerInterfaceFactory
  */
  protected $customerFactory;

An effective store operation is quite a demanding job. It covers many tasks on various levels that require close attention. Yet, inventory is perhaps the most important thing you have to consider.

It’s crucial to have a clear picture of the products you sell and monitor their flow. Fortunately, you can always refer to Magento inventory management tools and use the extensive set of options it offers. 

So, you've landed on the right page. Today, you'll learn more about inventory management for Magento and find useful tips that help to enhance your efforts.

General Inventory Configuration

For starters, it's essential to look into the stock configuration. Not only do these options help you to manage the inventory internally, but also improve the customer experience.

By using the "In Stock" and "Out of Stock" labels you establish indirect communication with your customers. You save them from the unnecessary hassle when the item turns out to be unavailable right before they're ready to purchase.

Making the content of your store responsive and easy to browse through guarantees improved customer experience and seamless shopping. With this thought in mind, product categories will probably be your first resort.

To assign products to categories you need to select them manually in the Products in Category section in the admin panel. However, this may get rather tedious especially if you have an extensive catalog.

Thus, you might want to optimize this process and today you'll learn how. Keep reading to learn how to add products to category programmatically in Magento 2. 

Add Products to Category Using Dependency Injection

One of the most common methods of adding products to categories is dependency injection. Just use the code below.

<?php

declare(strict_types=1);

namespace Vendor\Module\Model;

use Magento\Catalog\Api\CategoryLinkManagementInterface;
use Magento\Catalog\Model\ResourceModel\Product\CollectionFactory as ProductCollectionFactory;

class AssignProductsToCategoryService
{

Magento pricing is one of the first things you start to explore when deciding to create a website on Magento. The open-source nature of the platform does allow you to extend the default functionally and build any features you need. However, how much is this going to cost you?

Here you'll find a breakdown of all Magento costs and fees regarding the licence, hosting, domain, themes, extension and much more. We'll also cover how much Magento costs you to maintain and support, so you can make an informed purchasing decision. 

Before we dive deeper into the Magento pricing and fees, please note that these numbers are just an estimation. The prices may vary considerably. They will depend on the number of customization and changes you need to make to the Magento core and the integrations you want to implement.

Magento Costs Overview

You do hundreds of small tasks in your Magento 2 store daily. While they don't seem to be a significant time-waster individually, together they kill productivity. It happens a lot, especially when you start to scale your business. Your store grows, and so does the complexity and the repetition of tasks you need to complete. 

Magento automation gives time you and your team would rather spend on high-value tasks. So, if you struggling to keep up with product updates, category management and other important tasks, you're in the right place.

Today, you'll learn how to turn the most time-consuming Magento operations into self-fulfilling, automated tasks.

Ready to start?

1. Add Products to Categories

Adding products to categories or rearranging categories is one of the most time-consuming tasks in Magento. You prepare categories for sale, organize new products in categories or gather all best sellers in one place.

And it never changes. Whatever point your store is at, you need to create and

Hello,

We're happy you're reading our first 2024 News and Updates digest. So let us engage you with the new powerful features of our Magento 2 extensions and Shopify App that have been added in the previous and this month.

Magento 2 POS

New features of Magento 2 POS | Point of Sale System!

Features:

• Enhanced user experience by adding the out-of-stock message for products with the "Stock Status" option set to "out of stock".
• Cashiers now can check available quantities from all sources, not limited to the current store location (POS Extra).
• Improved the display time and readability of flash messages for a more user-friendly interface.
• Optimized checkout process.
• The order number is now transmitted to Stripe payments in metadata (POS Extra).
• Enhanced image optimization.

Fixes:

• Resolved the issue where the shipping method was missing during the checkout process.
• Addressed the problem where checkout with products from different sources resulted in an error.
• Fixed a session management issue