Sideboxes

From Zen Cart(tm) Wiki

This is an overview for all pages in Zen Cart™ version 1.2.5 (I did not yet examine version 1.3.0 but I do not think that is very different).

After an initial Zen Cart™ install you will see a webpage with a left and a right column consisting of several sideboxes. Most sideboxes are visible (Left/Right Status is ON) some are hidden (Left/Right Status is OFF).

Contents 1 Customizing Boxes 1.1 Select another template 1.2 Customizing Sidebox Columns 1.3 Customizing Sideboxes 1.4 Customizing language files 1.5 Creating Your Own Sidebox 2 Overview of Sideboxes 2.1 Frequently Used Sideboxes 2.2 Product Related Sideboxes 2.3 Select Boxes 2.4 Banner Boxes 2.5 Other Sideboxes

Customizing Boxes

The best way to customize Zen Cart is to select the right template first and then change the columns and the sideboxes. Next you can change the text in the language file.

Select another template

By changing the template you can change the look of the shop including the sideboxes. To change the tempate go to:

• Tools --> Template Selection

Customizing Sidebox Columns

You can change some properties of these columns:

• Configuration --> Layout Settings
• Click on a setting and then on the edit button. There are the following settings:

Setting for hiding columns:

• Column Left Status - Global
• Column Right Status - Global

Settings for Changing the width of the column:

• Column Width - Left
• Column Width - Right

Settings for Changing the width of the sideboxes in these columns:

• Column Width - Left Boxes
• Column Width - Right Boxes

Customizing Sideboxes

Next you can decide what to do with each sidebox. Go to:

• Tools --> Layout Boxes Controller
• Select a sidebox by clicking on the name and then on the edit button.

When you use both left and right columns you can change the following properties:

• Left/Right Column Status: ON=visible, OFF=hidden
• Location: LEFT or RIGHT position of the sidebox
• Left/Right Column Sort Order: low number sideboxes comes on the top of the column

When you use a single column you can change the following properties:

• Single Column Status: ON=visible, OFF=hidden
• Single Column Sort Order: low number sideboxes comes on the top of the column

Customizing language files

More advanced you can also customize the text in the language files. Most of the text is configured in the file: myshop/includes/languages/english.php. See also table below

Creating Your Own Sidebox

Tutorial

Overview of Sideboxes

Frequently Used Sideboxes

Name	Description	Remarks
categories	Sidebox for navigating through product catagories	Language file: english.php
search	Search Sidebox	Language file: english.php
search_header	The same Search Box in the header part	Language file: english.php
reviews	Box with reviews of products	Language file: english.php
information	Box with links to information pages like shippinginfo, conditions, …	Language file: english.php
more_information	Box with links to page_2, page_3 and page_4	Language file: english.php
shopping_cart	Small view on the Shopping Cart	Language file: english.php

Product Related Sideboxes

Name	Description	Remarks
best_sellers	Bestsellers	Language file: english.php
featured	Featured	Language file: english.php
order_history	Recent Purchases	Language file: english.php
whats_new	New Products	Language file: english.php
specials	Specials Produts	Language file: english.php
manufacturers	Links to Products for a Manufacturer	Language file: english.php
manufacturer_info	?	Language file: english.php

Select Boxes

Name	Description	Remarks
currencies	Box for selecting the preferred Currency	Language file: english.php
languages	Box for selecting the preferred Language	Language file: english.php

Banner Boxes

Name	Description	Remarks
banner_box	Sponsors Box	Language file: english.php
banner_box2	Have you seen Box	Language file: english.php
banner_box_all	?	Language file: english.php

Other Sideboxes

Name	Description	Remarks
whos_online	Who's Online Box	Language file: english/whos_online.php
product_notifications	?	Language file: english.php
tell_a_friend	Tell A Friend Box	Language file: english.php
document_categories	?	Language file: english/extra_definitions/document_general.php
music_genres	Music Genres	Language file: english/extra_definitions/product_music.php
record_companies	Record Companies	Language file: english/extra_definitions/product_music.php