Magento - Sort by Date Added

Question

How can I make Magento sort products in the catalog by the date they were added? This isn't an option in the admin so guessing it needs to be done in the code somewhere.

Thanks.

Answer 1

It is quite easy to add a sorting by date option if you're OK (you shouldn't be) with modifying core files. Simply modify app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Model/Config.php file as in example below:

public function getAttributeUsedForSortByArray()
{
    $options = array(
        'position'  => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Position'),

        // HERE IS OUR NEW OPTION
        'created_at' => Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Date')
    );
    foreach ($this->getAttributesUsedForSortBy() as $attribute) {
        /* @var $attribute Mage_Eav_Model_Entity_Attribute_Abstract */
        $options[$attribute->getAttributeCode()] = $attribute->getStoreLabel();
    }

    return $options;
}

---

It is not so easy, if you are not into modifying core files. In that case you must create this bunch of files:

app/etc/modules/Stackoverflow_Catalog.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <modules>
        <Stackoverflow_Catalog>
            <active>true</active>
            <codePool>local</codePool>
            <depends>
                <Mage_Catalog />
            </depends>
        </Stackoverflow_Catalog>
    </modules>
</config>

app/code/local/Stackoverflow/Catalog/etc/config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
    <global>
        <models>
            <catalog>
                <rewrite>
                    <config>Stackoverflow_Catalog_Model_Config</config>
                </rewrite>
            </catalog>
        </models>
    </global>
</config>

app/code/local/Stackoverflow/Catalog/Model/Config.php

<?php

class Stackoverflow_Catalog_Model_Config extends Mage_Catalog_Model_Config {
    public function getAttributeUsedForSortByArray() {
        $options = parent::getAttributeUsedForSortByArray();
        if (!isset($options['created_at'])) {
            $options['created_at'] = Mage::helper('catalog')->__('Date');
        }
        return $options;
    }
}

TIP: Go for a clean way, it will pay of in a long run.

Answer 2

Place this code into your local.xml no need to override any Magento core files.

If you override any Magento core files in future upgrade problem will occur

<layout>
<catalog_category_default>
    <reference name="product_list">
        <action method="setAvailableOrders" json="value">
            <value><![CDATA[
                           {"created_at" : "Latest","price":"Price"}
                   ]]>
            </value>
        </action>
    </reference>
    <reference name="product_list_toolbar">
        <action method="setDefaultDirection">
            <dir>desc</dir>
        </action>
    </reference>
</catalog_category_default>
</layout>

Answer 3

I solved this by copying app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Block/Product/List.php into app/code/local and adding some sorting code at the end of its _getProductCollection() method:

// sort by created_at date or entity_id
if(!isset($_GET['order'])) {
    $this->_productCollection->getSelect()->reset( Zend_Db_Select::ORDER );
    $this->_productCollection->getSelect()->order('e.entity_id desc');
}
return $this->_productCollection;

You can use either 'e.entity_id desc' or 'e.created_at desc' to sort.