Categories in boxes

[stood]

Hi
I would like to have "categories" displayed on the main page (the center column) as well as a short description of each on of them. I already have categories on the main page in two nice columns, but I have no idea how to add this descriptions and make them look like they were in separate boxes. Is it possible using some Zen Cart's options I don't know, or I should install a separate module? I will be very greatful for indicating the right solution :)

[gjh42]

Do you want to use the regular category description that you can enter in admin, or a different version of description? It shouldn't be too hard to add to the SQL query to get the regular descriptions of all of the subcategories in the current list, and then output them along with the name and image.

The separate boxes is just a matter of styling in the stylesheet.

[stood]

Thank you for a fast reply.
It sounds interesting :) I added the description when I was creating a new category, so that should be ok as a starting point ;)
Can I get some hints how to add the SQL query you mentioned?

[gjh42]

Note that I am not a SQL expert, but I think it would work like this.

In /includes/modules/pages/index/main_template_vars.php, find this

if ($category_depth == 'nested')
{
  $sql = "SELECT cd.categories_name, c.categories_image
          FROM   " . TABLE_CATEGORIES . " c, " . TABLE_CATEGORIES_DESCRIPTION . " cd
          WHERE      c.categories_id = :categoriesID
          AND        cd.categories_id = :categoriesID
          AND        cd.language_id = :languagesID
          AND        c.categories_status= '1'";

  $sql = $db->bindVars($sql, ':categoriesID', $current_category_id, 'integer');
  $sql = $db->bindVars($sql, ':languagesID', $_SESSION['languages_id'], 'integer');
  $category = $db->Execute($sql); 

and add something like
"SELECT cd.categories_name, c.categories_image, cd.categories_description
to get

if ($category_depth == 'nested')
{
  $sql = "SELECT cd.categories_name, c.categories_image, cd.categories_description
          FROM   " . TABLE_CATEGORIES . " c, " . TABLE_CATEGORIES_DESCRIPTION . " cd
          WHERE      c.categories_id = :categoriesID
          AND        cd.categories_id = :categoriesID
          AND        cd.language_id = :languagesID
          AND        c.categories_status= '1'";

  $sql = $db->bindVars($sql, ':categoriesID', $current_category_id, 'integer');
  $sql = $db->bindVars($sql, ':languagesID', $_SESSION['languages_id'], 'integer');
  $category = $db->Execute($sql); 

Then in /includes/modules/your_template/category_row.php, find

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="categoryListBoxContents"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
                                           'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $cPath_new) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $categories->fields['categories_image'], $categories->fields['categories_name'], SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_WIDTH, SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '</a>'); 

and add
. '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_description']
to get

    $list_box_contents[$row][$col] = array('params' => 'class="categoryListBoxContents"' . ' ' . 'style="width:' . $col_width . '%;"',
                                           'text' => '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $cPath_new) . '">' . zen_image(DIR_WS_IMAGES . $categories->fields['categories_image'], $categories->fields['categories_name'], SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_WIDTH, SUBCATEGORY_IMAGE_HEIGHT) . '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_name'] . '<br />' . $categories->fields['categories_description'] . '</a>'); 

[stood]

Thank you very much :)
I did everything as you written, but it doesn't seem to be working.
I'll try ine more time to make sure though.
Do you thik that adding a table to the main page using html would be a good alternative for that?

P.S.
One more thing, because I don't know if I got it right. If there is no category_row.php file in the directory you indicated, should I copy it from the "modules" folder?
Sorry for asking this kind of questions, but it is the first time I'm using Zen Cart :)

[stood]

I used a table, so don't worry about me any more :)
I nested tables inside one big table, so that I could position images and links as I want. It's pretty time consuming and probably rather primitive, but it works for me
Thank you for your time once again :)
Cheers

[gjh42]

Yes, nested tables are antiquated and clumsy technology, and do not comform to current Web standards. But if they did the job, that's good enough for now.

Copying category_row.php from /modules/ into /modules/your_template/ to customize it is the correct method.

When you said "it doesn't appear to be working", exactly what was happening? Was there an error message or blank screen, or did it just not show up? I was just guessing that the categories_description table has a field named categories_description; that would probably be the first thing to verify.

[stood]

Nothing showed up :)
Do you think that it would be better to use divs instead of tables? I tryed, but then nothing appeared on the main page. But it is possible, that it was my mistake

[gjh42]

Divs with class or id tags would give you a simple, clean structure, which you could then style in your stylesheet.

I checked in the wiki, and the database table field is correct. It seems that the right information in the right language should be fetched, but apparently somewhere along the line it is being lost.

[stood]

Ok, so I will do it using divs but this time will be more careful :)
Thank you once again :)