General HELP!!!!!

[gimmeface]

I have a new installation of Zen Cart. I am starting from scratch and I am NOT FEELING THE ZEN. I need help with the basics. I have UltraEdit installed on my computer and I am trying to make simple modifications to the front page of my website. I have attempted to connect with my web-server and I cannot seem to find my admin files to edit. It is my understanding that I have to make edits through UltraEdit and then upload those edits into the server which will in turn reflect those edits on my website. (just typing that sentence sounds confusing). I think the bottom line to this is I DONT KNOW WHERE TO START. I have a website and hosting company. I have UltraEdit. I have ZenCart installed on the server and it is actively working as my website. I just want to make changes and I cant seem to get to the location of where to make those changes. I could really use someone with alot of patience to just give it to me by the numbers. I also just purchased the e book about Zen Cart. I will take notes, listen patiently, and do whatever it takes to get this ball rolling. It's been days since I have seen any progress here and needless to say this is frustrating. Can someone help me out. PLEASE...........

[gjh42]

The first basic for Zen Cart (or any dynamic website) is that you don't edit pages, you edit files.
There are many PHP files that work together to create the specific HTML output for any given page at runtime. If your desired changes require functional modification, you may need to edit one or more PHP files (unless there is an admin setting for that change); but many design changes will be a matter of adding or changing rules in your stylesheet (/includes/templates/your_template/css/stylesheet.css).

Have you read the tutorials on custom template creation yet?
There is a "program flow" diagram available in Free Addons which may be helpful to you as well.

A description of the kinds of changes you want to make will let us offer more specific advice on where to start.

[gimmeface]

I think I understand the concept here relating to the changing of files. I am practically blind without sleep here so I will make this short and to the point. I have a website which is actually a Zen Cart. I want to make simple (or so I thought) changes. Such as Changing the text on the home page. Right now is says :Sales Message goes here" and it also has the Zen Cart logo and things like that. I understand that files and stylesheets have to be changed. My problem is I dont know where they are and how to I get to them to change them. I am assuming that the website information is on the server. Also, I have to access it to make the changes. My problem is that I connect to the server through UltraEdit, and a list comes up. I dont know where to go from there. I thought I would be looking for something that said "admin". But there is nothing like that appearing on the list. Hope you can walk me through this.....By the way, I am sure you are right about all the tutorials, I have read them and attempted to absorb the material. But, it does not seem to do me any good if I cant access the place where they are located. Please bear with me, I may set a record here. But I honestly will keep trying until I get this right. Thanks for your response.

[gjh42]

All output text is defined in language files. If you want to change some text, log into your Zen Cart admin, paste a distinctive snippet in Tools > Developers Toolkit, lower left box, select all files and search; among the results will be the file and line number where the text is defined.
Download, edit and reupload the file, putting it in a folder for your custom template.

Read the tutorial on custom templates before trying to make any changes to your site; it will save you time and energy.

[schoolboy]

How did you install zencart on your website/server ?

Do you have all the necessary tools (programs) to help you manage the installation?

Do you know what FTP means?

Do you know how to access your PHP files via FTP?

Do you know how to open these files up for editing - and what PROGRAMS to use when editing them?

Do you know the relationship between the PHP code and the mySQL database?

If you answer these questions, then we can see your level of knowledge and provide a good starting point to help you.

[gimmeface]

I received this reply to my inquiry and I thought it best to answer the questions which were asked in the following manner.


How did you install zencart on your website/server ? ZEN CART WAS INSTALLED BY MY HOSTING COMPANY AT MY REQUEST. THEY INSTALLED IT DIRECTLY TO THE SERVER TO HELP ME OUT DURING ONE OF MY CALLS TO THEM.

Do you have all the necessary tools (programs) to help you manage the installation? I DO HAVE SOME TOOLS BUT I AM NOT SURE HOW TO USE THEM.

Do you know what FTP means? FILE TRANSFER PROTOCOL

Do you know how to access your PHP files via FTP? NO I DO NOT. THIS IS THE BIG QUESTION.....WHERE ARE THESE FILES LOCATED??????? THAT IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR ME.....WHERE ARE THE FILES AND HOW DO I ACCESS THEM!!!!

Do you know how to open these files up for editing - and what PROGRAMS to use when editing them? NO I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO OPEN THEM

Do you know the relationship between the PHP code and the mySQL database? NO I DO NOT KNOW

If you answer these questions, then we can see your level of knowledge and provide a good starting point to help you.
schoolboy is online now Report Post Reply With Quote


I am trying to answer these posts quickly and get the answerrs I need. I am also reading the tutorials to gain knowledge here. Just for a bit of additional information. This is NOT a part time deal. I am working on this FULL TIME to get a better understanding of ZEN and further my interests regarding setting up my website. I do appreciate ANY person who can help. This has been a disaster and I am sure that everyone knows how frustrating this can be when you start out. I will accept any and all help here. THanks for everyones help so far........

[Kim]

Start with downloading and installing a good FTP tool on your PC. You will need it for accessing the files on your webhost.

Once that is done, you will see things like: /includes/templates/classic/ in the instructions to modify a file ... that is the path to the file. I.e. - open your FTP, login to your hosting account find the www or public_html or whatever directory you have the Zen Cart program in. Then open the includes folder, find the templates folder, etc.

[gimmeface]

I have ULTRAEDIT as a FTP TOOL. Is that ok or a good choice? I have found Public HTML and www. How do I know where the Zen Cart is located. What should it look like? Basically, what type of files or file-names should I see in there? LOL. I know I am getting close because I have yet to get this far. Am I on the path to success here. Thanks for your help......

[kobra]

I have found Public HTML and www. How do I know where the Zen Cart is located.

What url address do you use to ac cess your ZenCart?

If http ://your_domain/ - - then the files/folders are directly at public_html

If http ://your_domain/shop/ or any other folder name then they are at - - public_html/shop/

[gimmeface]

To gain access to my ZEN CART I type in www.mywebsitename.com/admin. From there i sign in.