Associate-O-Matic Blog

   
     
  Apr 28, 2012 - Associate-O-Matic v5.3.0  released

We're pleased to announce the release of Associate-O-Matic v5.3.0. We recommend that all users upgrade today.

 New Features
 • Category Types - Optional. This allows you to fine-tune your Categories. Not all options are available for all Amazon category types. Note: The associated Category must have a keyword defined.
 • SEO Rulesets (Mod Rewrite) have been cosolidated and updated
 • HTTP Proxy - Optional. If you are using an HTTP Proxy enter the IP address here. Note: You must select the Amazon Connection Method of REST (curl).
 • No Pic Thumbnail - Sometimes product thumbnails are not available for certain Similar Items, Accessories and New Release/Bestseller Box Items. To force the display of the default nopic graphic set this to Yes. Note: This can slow down page load times but should be slight on most servers.
 • Reports Delivery Method - Options include mail (PHP) and SMTP. Note: If set to SMTP, the SMTP settings below must be entered.
 • SMTP Host - SMTP Host (e.g. smtp.server.com)
 • SMTP Port - SMTP Port (e.g. 25)
 • SMTP Auth - SMTP Auth required?
 • SMTP Username - Account username
 • SMTP Password - Account password
 • Pet Supplies (US) - updated browse node
 • Themes README files easily accessible in admin
 • No Pic thumbnails now match the size of the regular item images for that page type
 • Image Filter setting enhanced
 • Template files changed: cart.tpl.php, css.tpl.php, header.tpl.php, item.tpl.php, search.tpl.php
 • Amazon API version: 2011-08-01
   
 Bugs Squashed
 • A few SEO (Mod Rewrite) ruleset bug fixes - update to the latest SEO Rulesets
 • Cart + - icons wrapping in smaller widths
 • RingSize item attribute fix
 • Home Title {PAGE} now included as per docs
 • Subcategory columns bug when in BT or BB
 • API Error pages no longer cached
 • DE - Product Category error in shopping cart fixed
 • Custom Box display error when Search All option only
 • Review Box iframe width not adjusting
 • Canada image cloak now working
 • Kindle duplicate synopsis fixed
 • Removed special characters from URLs such as ™, ®, ©
 • Duplicate add to cart emails in certain situations where the item was already in the cart
 • Caching off - RSS bug
 • Various other smaller bugs squashed

 
  Dec 20, 2011 - Associate-O-Matic v5.2.1  released

We're happy to announce the release of Associate-O-Matic v5.2.1.

 New Features
 • Display Breadcrumbs setting enhanced
 • Buy Button Location setting enhanced
 • Template files changed: css.tpl.php, sitemap.tpl.php
 • Amazon API version: 2011-08-01
   
 Bugs Squashed
 • 1st Page Only in custom boxes no longer worked
 • Quotes in search keyword
 • Search All title/breadcrumb bug
 • Item Accessories displaying empty in some cases
 • Website name was displaying in All - Home Page Format
 • Some newer category icons missing
 • Blended search with no results returned error
 • Custom Page nofollow on sitemap now works
   
      
  Nov 23, 2011 - Associate-O-Matic v5.2.0  released

We're happy to announce the release of Associate-O-Matic v5.2.0.

We'd also like to welcome Amazon Associates from Spain. We now have full support for Amazon.es.


 New Features
 • Support for Amazon.es (Spain)
 • Category Columns - Add 4 and 5 column options
 • Home ASIN Randomizer now also works with the Home Browse Node option
 • Sitemap enhancement - If all of the Category level checkboxes are unchecked for a category it won't appear in the sitemap
 • Updated to latest Amazon API version: 2011-08-01
   
 Bugs Squashed   (t = Forum Thread ID)
 • Similar Items - no follow bug
 • URL placeholder uppercase bug
 • Several special characters stripped from x parameter to fix mod rewrite bugs
 • Some digital download items with cart buy buttons
 • Custom Page and Cart no breadcrumb bug
 • Empty subcategory box was still displaying in the BT or BB locations
 • t=4955 .it Home Garden node bug
   
       
  Oct 1, 2011 - Associate-O-Matic v5.1.0  released

We're happy to announce the release of Associate-O-Matic v5.1.0.

A big thank you to the many testers who helped us with this release.

We'd also like to welcome Amazon Associates from Italy and China. We now have full support for these locales.

Note: Please be reminded of the upcoming changes to Amazon's API. You'll want to upgrade to v5.1.0 before their October 25 deadline so you can take advantage of the changes.


New Features
 • Support for Amazon.it (Italy)
 • Support for Amazon.cn (China)
 • New Categories
Amazon.com - Appliances, Arts & Crafts, Miscellaneous and Mobile Apps (Android Apps)
Amazon.co.uk - [no additions]
Amazon.ca - Sports & Outdoors
Amazon.de - Kindle eBooks
Amazon.fr - Jewelry
Amazon.co.jp - [no additions]
Amazon.it - all categories
Amazon.cn - all categories
 • URL Cloak - similar to the Image Cloak, hides all links that contain Amazon's domain so they appear with your domain
 • Subcategory Descriptions - function similar to the Category Descriptions
 • Google Tracking ID - If entered, this will enable Google Analytics conversion tracking and automatically place the required code in your store at checkout. The ID is assigned by Google and is in the format UA-XXXXX-X.
 • Cache RSS - Causes your internal store RSS feed pages to be cached - enabled by default
 • gzip support added for faster loading of HTML (even cached pages)
 • Item Pages - down from 400 pages of items to 10 pages max (part of Amazon's recent API changes) - All item results are available by a link to Amazon (encoded with your Associate ID)
 • Marketplace Pages - All the best offers displayed at once, no more tabs (updated as per Amazon's latest API changes) - All item offers are available by a link to Amazon (encoded with your Associate ID)
 • Display Breadcrumbs - now a checkbox group you can control by type of page
 • New default button set (e.g. Add to Cart, Checkout, etc...)
 • Settings deprecated (as per Amazon's API) - Markerplace Default, Marketplace Pages, Merchant (All or Amazon, no Featured or Other), Merchant Filter (now filters on name instead of ID).
 • WordPress plug-in - the display of Item information can now be customized in a template file /aom/themes/default/wordpress_item.tpl.php
 • Various other smaller enhancements
 • Updated to latest Amazon API version: 2011-08-01
   
Bugs Squashed   (t = Forum Thread ID)
 • t=4830 - Title bug
 • negative keywords in links fix
 • t=4838 - URL bug under SEO when link contained percent sign or question mark (since v5)
 • t=4799 - Invalid Item Report is only sent for Homepage, Category or Subcategory pages based on your assigned ASINs
 • Header logo would link to current page instead of home page (since v5)
 • Information Box - malformed link tag (since v5)
 •

Template file changes/fixes (see changelog):
- advanced_search.tpl.php
- box_information.tpl.php
- box_vertical.tpl.php
- css.tpl.php
- error.tpl.php
- header.tpl.php
- home_mall.tpl.php
- item.tpl.php
- item_category.tpl.php
- item_blended.tpl.php
- logo.tpl.php
- marketplace.tpl.php
- pagination.tpl.php

 • Bug where certain boxes would not appear at PP, PT, BB or BT locations
 • Several other smaller bug fixes
   
    
  Sep 21, 2011 - Associate-O-Matic v5.1.0 BETA  released

We have released the v5.1.0 BETA for testing. Please see the highlights by logging into the Beta section of the member area.

For those who are members of the AOM Beta Program or who would like to join, please login to the member area.

   
  
  Aug 11, 2011 - Associate-O-Matic v5.1.0 BETA coming soon

The next release (v5.1.0) of Associate-O-Matic is nearing completion. We will be releasing the BETA in September.

One of the major features coming in v5.1.0 is support for Amazon.cn (China) and Amazon.it (Italy). We will also be adding several new features and bug fixes.

Additionally, Amazon made an announcement recently of some changes they are making to their API. These changes go into effect October 25, 2011 so it will be important for you to update your stores by that date.
For an overview of these changes and to see how Associate-O-Matic will be affected, please see this new article in the AOM Talk blog. A big thanks to Michael Carpenter (mcarp555) for putting this together.

To be notified the moment the beta is released, please join the Associate-O-Matic Beta Program from our member area.



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