Looking for very simple basic template

[zglider]

I've just set up Zen Cart after spending a couple days trying to set up/customize OScommerce, and finally giving up.

What I would really like is a very basic shopping cart -- I'm not as concerned with graphic appearance, since I am able to modify that.

What I am concerned about is getting rid of unneeded features. If there is a simple template available which allows me to add a few things, rather than subtract a great number of them, I'd be grateful!

What I need for now is just the basic ability to allow the purchase and automatic download of self-produced digital print media. And the only payment method needed is Paypal standard.

What I don't need is:

Manufacturers
Reviews
Search
Shipping
Newsletters
Sponsors
Have You Seen
Music Genres
Record Companies
Important Links
Invoicing
Shipping Addresses

Are there any digital download templates that are very basic and simple?

Thanks very much!

[gjh42]

The template will have nothing to do with which sideboxes or other features are turned on or off.

Just go through admin > Tools > Layout Boxes Controller and set the ones you don't want to "off". Granted, it would be nice to select a bunch of items and click one button to turn them all off at once, but it won't take you more than a few minutes to get the sideboxes down to what you want.

[zglider]

Thank you, Glen.

The problem I had in OSCommerce was that simply removing boxes from the index changed the front page appearance without actually changing many functional elements throughout the user experience.

For instance, removing the review box didn't change the fact that a review button appeared in a product description, and pressing it carried you through the review process. It's not just the front space appearance that I'd like minimized, but the overall number of unecessary preset feature options.

I'm hoping that someone has developed some kind of contribution - template, or not, which allows a new store owner to add functionality, as a set of (default off) options, rather than try to wade through hundreds of preset variables and many hours of testing and research to try to find out how to get rid of something.

Here's my scenario:

I have one product. I hope to have developed maybe a dozen in a year. I am the manufacturer. The products all fit one category, and one manufacturer. They are delivered by download. I don't need a shipping address. There is one payment method, Paypal. There are no specials.

If I set up a complex front page and complex user experience, it looks foolish for a single product.

I feel like I'm trying to start up a lemonade stand in an empty supermarket. I think the supermarket looks fabulous. But I need something simple. Do I have to take the building apart, or has someone else, in a similar situation, got a lemonade stand already built?

I don't mean that I'm unwilling to work hard to get this up -- but I would be interested if someone has whittled down some of it already.

[gjh42]

It's not something that a template would be concerned with. What you are describing would be like a giant SQL patch that preset a whole lot of fields in the database. Somebody familiar with the ZC database and MySQL could do it, but I rather doubt anyone has bothered. It's a case of "which functions are the minimum that everybody has to have", and the answer will be different for most every store.
You will find most of the settings you need in Configuration (and some in Tools); going through each of the tabs in Configuration and turning off things that look unnecessary should get you a long way toward the look you want.

[zglider]

Thanks Glenn for taking the time to reply. Since it isn't a template issue, then, I don't want to take up any more space here.

While it doesn't solve some of the functional issues I had, I did put the Cold Steel template in place, which simplifies at least the appearance for a limited product offering like mine.

I've looked up some of my other needed "de-construction" specifics on the forum and I've found that paring things down is well documented here, so it's a matter of just following instructions found in different places. The quality of the advice seems high.

The Zen Admin interface has a lot more available choices than OSC which I struggled with for a couple days, modifying code by hand. I've only had to do that once here so far.

So, I think it's going to be a go, for me.