Adding a new sidebox

[jenesaisquoi]

I'm trying to add a new sidebox to my page on the left side, in between categories and information.

http://kamskungfucinema.com/zencart/

I added this file to /includes/templates/my template/sideboxes/

<?php
/**
* Side Box Template
*
*/
$content = 'Check It Out!';
?>


Then, I added this to /includes/modules/sideboxes

<?php
/**
* check it out sidebox - used to display news to customers in a sidebox
*
*/// test if box should display
$show_welcome = true;if ($show_welcome == true) {require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_welcome.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_welcome.php');$title = BOX_HEADING_WELCOME;
$title_link = false;
require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default, DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') . '/' . $column_box_default);
}
?>

But whenever I got to my admin to turn it on it just screws up my page, and no sidebox

Did I do something wrong?

[gjh42]

How exactly is it screwing up? Can you select the sidebox to display? Does it give a white screen, or cut off output at that sidebox, or...?

The filenames of the files you describe are tpl_welcome.php and welcome.php? And you have a file like /includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/your_template/welcome_defines.php where BOX_HEADING_WELCOME is defined?

[jenesaisquoi]

I can turn the sidebox on--it's on now so you can see what it did to my site.


...as far as tpl_welcome.php and welcome.php I'm not sure that I have these files at all, I just copied the code from a tutorial I was reading to learn how to add an extra box

[gjh42]

You have to have /includes/modules/welcome.php for the new sidebox to be selectable in admin, and you have to have /includes/templates/your_template(or template_default)/sideboxes/tpl_welcome.php for it to display.

When you turn the sidebox on, what is the name you are selecting?

[jenesaisquoi]

the sidebox is called checkitout.php

[jenesaisquoi]

ohh...I just looked and don't seem to have tpl_welcome.php under my custom template sideboxes.

So I guess that's the problem?

I don't seem to have any files in that folder actually besides the one I created a little while ago.

[jenesaisquoi]

do I create this file or copy it from somewhere else?

[gjh42]

The code you posted is looking for a particular filename:

require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_welcome.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_welcome.php');

If your module file is named checkitout.php, the sidebox tpl file should logically be named tpl_checkitout.php, and you can change the require accordingly.

require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_checkitout.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_checkitout.php');

[jenesaisquoi]

Okay, I got it to appear, now how can I add other categories under it, and change the box color white like the others?

[gjh42]

You are missing most of the structural code that creates the sidebox content. Look at another sidebox tpl_ file like information and see what it has that yours doesn't, then adjust your tpl_ file accordingly. You may not need everything - compare several files to find the common elements.

The easiest way to make a new sidebox is to download the Blank Sidebox mod from Free Addons - it has all the proper parts ready for you to customize.