Common "new install" answers

[RGME]

I've had a very hard time learning to customize Zen-Cart (I have 1.3.8a), and I suspect I'm in good company. I've spent literally days searching through the FAQ's here. The answers ARE here, but what is missing is one spot where common questions are addressed for new installations. On my 2nd store design now, I thought I'd share some info that might speed store setup process. None of these are my own, the below info is in the FAQs or the forums here (somewhere!)

Moving Home/Login/Search div UNDER the Header
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=75676

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changing text of Featured Products
{StoreRoot}/includes/languages/{MyFolder}/english.php
~ Line #497 : define('TABLE_HEADING_FEATURED_PRODUCTS','Featured Products');

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To turn off "Home" in the top center column where category pathing shows elsewhere, edit file tpl_main_page.php
located at {StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/common
find the block <!-- bof breadcrumb --> <!-- eof breadcrumb -->
and replace with this text ...
<!-- bof breadcrumb -->
<?php if (DEFINE_BREADCRUMB_STATUS == '1' && !$this_is_home_page) { ?>
<div id="navBreadCrumb"><?php echo $breadcrumb->trail(BREAD_CRUMBS_SEPARATOR); ?></div>
<?php } ?>
<!-- eof breadcrumb -->

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To eliminate spacings between boxes, edit
{StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/css/stylesheet.css

find line text:
.leftBoxContainer {
and make the block of text read:

.leftBoxContainer {
border: 1px solid #ffffff;
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 0px;
}

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To change the "Welcome Guest!" text, edit the file
/{StoreRoot}/includes/languages/english/{MyFolder}/index.php

find the line
// Showcase vs Store

and make your edits just below that line.

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To change the "Welcome Guest" (actually, the greeting) text format, edit the file:
{StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/templates/tpl_index_default.php

Find line containing: zen_customer_greeting()
and edit that line (can remove <h2 class="greeting"> and </h2>, for example.

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To center the "Welcome Guest!" line, edit file:
{StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/templates/tpl_index_default.php

Find line, near the top, starting with:
<div class="centerColumn" id="indexDefault"

Under that line is this code:
<?php if (SHOW_CUSTOMER_GREETING == 1) { ?>
<?php echo zen_customer_greeting(); ?>
<?php } ?>

make it read:

<center><?php if (SHOW_CUSTOMER_GREETING == 1) { ?>
<?php echo zen_customer_greeting(); ?>
<?php } ?></center>

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To move the entire center column "Welcome" box up or down edit the file:
{StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/templates/tpl_index_default.php

Find line, near the top:
<div class="centerColumn" id="indexDefault">

make it read:

<div class="centerColumn" id="indexDefault" style="position:relative;top:-6px;">

You can adjust the value for that top variable as desired.

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To get rid of the text "Tag Line Here"
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131647

Note that in that same area you can define how big the logo picture should be.

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I hope those are useful to others. Would be nice if other "tips" were also posted in this thread. No questions (unless something is not working as supposed to!), just tips.

[dbltoe]

---------------------------------------------
To turn off "Home" in the top center column where category pathing shows elsewhere, edit file tpl_main_page.php
located at {StoreRoot}/includes/templates/{MyFolder}/common
find the block <!-- bof breadcrumb --> <!-- eof breadcrumb -->
and replace with this text ...
<!-- bof breadcrumb -->
<?php if (DEFINE_BREADCRUMB_STATUS == '1' && !$this_is_home_page) { ?>
<div id="navBreadCrumb"><?php echo $breadcrumb->trail(BREAD_CRUMBS_SEPARATOR); ?></div>
<?php } ?>
<!-- eof breadcrumb -->

This is one that I grabbed. There are others.
It's not a good idea to always look to a php file without exhausting all other ways of fixing a "problem." In this case, simply going to the Admin >> Configuration >> Layout Settings and changing the Define Breadcrumb Status setting from 1 to either 0 or 2 would have accomplished the same thing.
Often it's a problem with how the question is asked or the lack of information given (see sig). "How can I get rid of the home link" is not going to work unless we know which home link.
Pictures aren't helpful in most cases while a URL is always helpful.
Hard coding styles into php is hardly ever a good idea as well.
I applaud your desire to help others, but be sure that you are giving the best answer possible when you do.
A copy of firefox with the firebug add-on will assist you in finding that the "top center column" is known by centerColumn and will be an invaluable tool in working your site. I see that you have created a custom template which is better than most.
Sometimes you may not see the forest for the trees, but it's been my experience that a well phrased, info-supported question will get an answer every time. Also, if you have a different question that is not on the topic of that thread, you should open a new thread. Your question might otherwise be missed entirely.
HTH with the "new installs"

[RGME]

I sure agree with ya, dbltoe. The moderator can remove my post if it is found against posting rules. The info is not my own, it all came from here (well, one exception, and that was how to move the Welcome/Greeting center top column box up and down and it differs from the way it was addressed elsewhere). I just put it in 1 spot, as I suspect many new to Zen Cart, like me, would appreciate the time saved in endless Googling of these forums. I think all the info is good, though, as I've used each and every 1 of the above tips and documented them after I found them to work.

[dbltoe]

That's somewhat akin to going to work with the car in reverse. You might get there, but no telling what you mess up on the way.

If you feel there's some incorrect or missing information in the Tutorials/FAQ or the information found in the docs folder of a fresh install, they should be addressed in the forum rather than providing work arounds that could result in a broken cart. Especially, espousing a php fix when the cart may or may not be the same. Without knowing what mods or previous changes have been made, I would hesitate before ever offering any code changes.