Template Modification Troubles

[Jayd]

In my previous posts the conclusion was reached that Dreamweaver 8 is not (as it claims) php compatible in WYSIWYG mode and that knowledge of CSS and PHP would be absolutely necessary to continue on this project. I sat down with Firebug and read tutorials for several days, felt quite proud of myself and ready to take it on.

I got about as far as step one.

I’m trying to modify my purchased template on a fresh install of v1.3.9h to move the elements below to my heading bar:

- the search bar on the top of the left-hand sidebar but not the shaded box behind it

- specific elements from the shopping cart on the top right-hand sidebar such as number of items and cart total amount.

Every time I try to move these elements they end up layering on top of the left-hand sidebar position where the search bar is currently.

I can see where there is an indication that these go in the sidebar but not how to get it off without causing the page to give up and show blank.

Is this obvious to anyone or is this out of the scope of this forum?

Many thanks for any thoughts!

Jayd

www.i t y u d a .com/totalzen

[stevesh]

If you had started with something like the stock Zencart template, we'd probably have you fixed up and on your way by now.

Template Monster does such wacky things with its Zencart templates, that it's difficult to advise without having access to all the core files they've modified. That search sidebox, for example, is inside no less than eight nested <div>s.

First thing I would check is if you can go to Admin - Tools - Layout Boxes Controller and turn off search.php and turn on search_header.php. That might at least give us an idea as to how badly TM has messed things up.

[Jayd]

If you had started with something like the stock Zencart template, we'd probably have you fixed up and on your way by now.

I was afraid of as much... couldn't believe it when I took a look at those tpl files!

I tried turning the search.php box on and off in the Layout Box Controller with no effect. I tried copying code from the original Zen Cart Search bar too in an attempt to get around whatever has been done there to no avail either.

What's the prognosis Dr?

[torvista]

If your purchased template looks that good, I would just create a new one and modify that to look like it.

Along the way you will learn how zc template overrides work, and how templates should be done, and will end up confident and competent in looking after your shop.

Trying to fix what is broken in the TM template will probably just cause you endless frustration and disillusionment with the whole open source solution.

[afo]

See if one of the free templates for Zen Cart can help you get started. You can see them in action at http://(sorry, site offline)/

[schoolboy]

To manage zencart within dreamweaver, you need to know BOTH systems inside-out.

So don't even try to use DW to manage your templates (until you're an expert as mentioned above).

There are two issues here:

1. You want to get a webshop up and running to earn an income (either for yourself or someone else).

2. You want a nice-looking webshop that shows you to be professional and competent.

I always tell my clients to focus on 1. above... Get the thing going, start making money. Sure... it needs to look right, but you can get a pretty competent look - even by cloning the "classic" template.

While the active webshop is earning you a living, do a second install (you could even do this in a sub-folder on your existing installation. Use directory passwords to stop general access to it). On this second install you do all your learning and testing. If you mess up it doesn't matter... you can dump the entire install and start again.

In the coming weeks and months you will learn all the tricks, and will be in a position to ratchet up your site's cosmetics with more confidence and understanding. And your live site will have been making money in the meantime without you putting it at risk through novice tinkering