Re: custom templates - HOW?
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Thanks, but as the number of questions brought to this forum should indicate, the FAQs and Wiki entries are incomplete and often inaccurate. I've spent hours combing through them and have given up because of conflicting descriptions. I'm well aware these are maintained by volunteer efforts, having worked on projects like this myself, but no information would be better than incorrect and unmaintained information.
Something as simple as cloning a template should be nearly trivial to do, but there exists no simple and accurate list of steps to do so that I can find, leaving me with wading through the code in order to join the Zen-Cart user's club -- or simply dropping it and using another solution. I'm actually mystified that a project of this magnitude and life span hasn't generated more contributed documentation, as has been the case in other open source projects. Makes me a bit apprehensive of it's continued future...
Re: custom templates - HOW?
It sounds like you're making it more complicated than necessary (a common mistake).
To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:
- includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
- includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
- includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/meta_tags.php
- includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
- includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
- includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
- includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php
- includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
- includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css
Anywhere you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder, the /template_default/ folder or the parent folder.
Edit includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php to give your template identifying information so you'll recognize it in the admin under tools->template selection.
There are also a number of FREE templates available. You can see them in action at http://(sorry, site offline)/. They can be used as a guideline on creating your own.
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Also, here: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=143
Are you developing locally on your computer? Or, uploading the files
to your host/server? Settings on your FTP program may be a big part of
the problem.
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Hope this is the right place to post an extension to custom stylesheet issues within a template package...
I created a custom stylesheet, named it c_68_231.css and put it in my template's CSS folder. It did everything it was supposed to for that product's page, but it also changed the All Listing page, EZ-Pages, Shopping Cart, and Advanced Search page. It did NOT modify any other products' pages.
The noticeable component is the background image...it's showing up on all those other pages for some reason.
I'm using ZC 1.3.8, and the issue is the same in Safari, Firefox, and IE 6/7. I would put a link up to the site, but I've taken that CSS file out to avoid a jumbled looking live site.
Any ideas? Can I provide any further information?
Re: custom templates - HOW?
How do you create a folder and override a file? I am trying to change the heading of my storefront from zencart to my store name, i understand that i have to create a file or folder or something but i can not find the place where i need to do that, is it in the admin page or where do i go on my computer to do this?
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Download and unzip a copy of Zen Cart on your local computer. You don't have to be able to run Zen Cart locally, but you'll be able to see the folder/file structure that way.
The list I posted earlier in this thread gives an idea of where to create the folders and what files should be copied into those folders for editing.
I do all my editing on my local computer (thereby creating an instant backup) and upload the changes using an FTP client. Crimson Editor and Notepad+ are good editors to use. SmartFTP and Filezilla are good FTP clients. All are free downloads on the net.
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Hi afo,
sorry for the silly question, but how do you download it locally to your pc and work on the files.
also can you preview your work before you upload it via ftp
I am new here, but other websites (not shop carts) I have built are always done locally, previewed and the uploaded, but with website builder software.
please help.
thanks
Graham
Re: custom templates - HOW?
Your server control panel should have a "backup" function that can save your folders and files to your pc, and a database backup function as well. You can also download all of your Zen Cart files using Filezilla or other FTP client, though that may take a very long time.
Create a folder on your pc to save the ZC fileset to (avoid putting it under C:\Program\ because it may make it hard to save changes to files).
When I am debugging, I keep Filezilla open to the file in local and remote views and the site storefront open in a window, so I can change a line, hit Upload, ok the overwrite, refresh the storefront and see the result. Obviously you don't want to do this with a live production site on anything that will matter to viewers; this is why a test site is so useful, either on the server or on your pc.
A local installation using XAMPP or the like has the advantage that you don't even need to upload to see the effects of edits, just refresh.