custom sidebox, i.e. perhaps for SSL or trust seal

[rowanwa]

I recently had a client who wanted various items placed within the side columns of her site, but not within actual sideboxes. After initially playing around with tpl_main_page.php in the templates/MYTEMPLATE/common/ folder, I found a better way to do this.

You can actually create side panel features that can be controlled just like any other sidebox (Tools --> Layout Boxes Controller), but aren't actually displayed within a sidebox template.

This is particularly useful if you wish to display a SSL security seal or trust seal within a column on your website.

To create a custom side panel feature, create a new PHP file with the code below. Be sure to change CUSTOM_NAME with your own chosen name.

<?php
// -----------------------------------
// MY CUSTOM SIDE PANEL ITEM
// -----------------------------------

  // test if box should be displayed
  $show_CUSTOM_NAME = true;

  if ($show_CUSTOM_NAME  == true) {
      ?>
            
      <div align="center" style="padding:5px;">
         PLACE YOUR BOX CONTENTS HERE
      </div>
            
      <?php }
?>

Save the file as CUSTOM_NAME.php (replacing CUSTOM_NAME with your own name, providing it is consistent with the one used in the page code). Upload the file into the includes/modules/sideboxes/ folder. Then log into admin, and select Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller to manage your new feature. You can select which column to display it within, along with its sort order, just like any other module.

---------------------------------------

P.S. My apologies if this has been discussed a thousand times before.

[Moebiusenterprises]

That obviously works... but I know what I did was create my own sideboxes to do that by using the 'blank sidebox' mod.

Cheers!

[rowanwa]

The main difference between this code and the blank sidebox mod is that this code does not use the sidebox template.

This can be useful if you don't want your side column content to be displayed within a box.

It is also useful if you want to create a sidebox that uses a different template than the rest of your sideboxes.

[phil99]

Just wanted to add, thanks your a star. I have been looking for this mod for ages. Its good for me because if you want to display the google checkout acceptance logo you have to enter their code. With the normal blank sideboxes addon you got the style around it too. Where as this you just get the logo!.

Thankyou very much!

[DrByte]

Just wanted to add, thanks your a star. I have been looking for this mod for ages. Its good for me because if you want to display the google checkout acceptance logo you have to enter their code. With the normal blank sideboxes addon you got the style around it too. Where as this you just get the logo!.

You could also use a regular sidebox and just use CSS to turn off the styling for just that sidebox.
Nevertheless, use whatever works for you.

[RtX]

Hi,
I am trying to use rowanwa's code to put a PayPal logo in one of my side panels. Here is the code:

<?php
// -----------------------------------
// PAYPAL ACCEPTED SIDE PANEL ITEM
// -----------------------------------

// test if box should be displayed
$show_MYK_PAYPAL = true;

if ($show_MYK_PAYPAL == true) {
?>

<div align="center" style="padding:5px;">
<!-- PayPal Logo --><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" align="center"><tr><td align="center"></td></tr>
<tr><td align="center"><a href="#" onclick="javascript:window.open('https://www.paypal.com/uk/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/cps/popup/OLCWhatIsPayPal-outside','olcwhatispaypal','toolbar=no, location=no, directories=no, status=no, menubar=no, scrollbars=yes, resizable=yes, width=400, height=350');"><img src="https://www.paypal.com/en_GB/i/bnr/vertical_solution_PP.gif" border="0" alt="Solution Graphics"></a></td></tr></table><!-- PayPal Logo -->
</div>

<?php }
?>

The bit I have highlighted red is straight from the PayPal web site. I am getting the following error message when I turn the sidebox on:
Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING in /pathtomystore/store/includes/modules/sideboxes/MYK_PAYPAL.php on line 7
Line 7 is the one that says: $show_MYK_PAYPAL = true;

I am no expert in PHP, in fact I have never programmed in PHP... if anyone can say what the problem might be I would be very grateful.

Thanks,
RtX

[rowanwa]

Hi RtX,

I tested your code and it worked for me on Zen Cart 1.3.6. Have you tried re-uploading the file and testing it again? From what I can see, there's no syntax error in the code you have provided.

I will be updating my module contributions for version 1.3.8 over the next week or so. At the same time, I will check to make sure the custom sidebox code still works for 1.3.8.

[RtX]

Hi, rowanwa,
I have uploaded various versions of the same text and get the same or similar error messages regardless. Someone has advised me that:

if ($show_MYK_PAYPAL == true) { 

should be

if ($show_MYK_PAYPAL == "true") { 

Frankly, I do not know if this is right, but I may give it a try.

Maybe I'll also try re-typing the whole file rather than copying and pasting and editing. If I have any luck, I'll post again.

Thanks,
RtX

[RtX]

I completely re-entered (by re-typing) the code and it worked. It looks the same but clearly is not. I think there must be a funny character or one that looks ok but is not what php expects somewhere in there. Thanks for responding.
RtX

[lkzone]

I recently had a client who wanted various items placed within the side columns of her site, but not within actual sideboxes. After initially playing around with tpl_main_page.php in the templates/MYTEMPLATE/common/ folder, I found a better way to do this.

You can actually create side panel features that can be controlled just like any other sidebox (Tools --> Layout Boxes Controller), but aren't actually displayed within a sidebox template.

This is particularly useful if you wish to display a SSL security seal or trust seal within a column on your website.

To create a custom side panel feature, create a new PHP file with the code below. Be sure to change CUSTOM_NAME with your own chosen name.

<?php
// -----------------------------------
// MY CUSTOM SIDE PANEL ITEM
// -----------------------------------

  // test if box should be displayed
  $show_CUSTOM_NAME = true;

  if ($show_CUSTOM_NAME  == true) {
      ?>
            
      <div align="center" style="padding:5px;">
         PLACE YOUR BOX CONTENTS HERE
      </div>
            
      <?php }
?>

Save the file as CUSTOM_NAME.php (replacing CUSTOM_NAME with your own name, providing it is consistent with the one used in the page code). Upload the file into the includes/modules/sideboxes/ folder. Then log into admin, and select Tools -> Layout Boxes Controller to manage your new feature. You can select which column to display it within, along with its sort order, just like any other module.

---------------------------------------

P.S. My apologies if this has been discussed a thousand times before.

I found your post in searching the forum. You indicate to save the file "providing it is consistent with the one used in the page code." Can you please tell me where (and on what page - index.php?) this new php page would be referenced?

Thx,
Lynne