Problem with sidebox image

[Ivanna]

I am lost.

I need to add an image into the sidebox with a header over it and some text under it. The image is a book (like eBooks)

For this I used Banner Box 2
I defined the header for it in English.php - That is ok.
Now I cannot find where to change the image source, change title or change the alt. Right now it references a redirect to zen cart


<a target="_blank" href="http://mysite/catalog/index.php?main_page=redirect&action=banner&goto=2">
<img width="125" height="38" title=" Zen Cart the art of e-commerce " alt="Zen Cart the art of e-commerce" src="images/banners/125zen_logo.gif">

Searches only recover to possible places, banner_box2.php and tpl_banner_box2.php. I tried both of those and I think I have looked in every other folder but php is all gobbledygook for me.

Can someone please help me.

thank you
Ivanna

[Ivanna]

I looked at tpl_banner_box2.php again and I think I must change a "$content" line

$content = '';
// if no active banner in the specified banner group then the box will not show
if ($banner = zen_banner_exists('dynamic', $banner_box_group)) {
$content .= '<div id="' . str_replace('_', '-', $box_id . 'Content') . '" class="sideBoxContent centeredContent">';
$content .= zen_display_banner('static', $banner);
$content .= '</div>';

But I am not sure which line or what I must change it to.

thank you
Ivanna

[stevesh]

I may not understand, but in Admin - Tools - Banner Manager, there is a box in each banner setup page where you can enter your HTML for that banner.

I would use the Blank Sidebox mod for what you're describing, though.

[Ivanna]

Hi Steve,
I was not sure if I am doing it correct, so I look everywhere before asking for help.
I looked at the Banner manager but was not sure if this was correct. I thought this is only for zen cart banners.
Also, I looked in Tools/layout box controller but I do not see Blank Sidebox. I am using Barebones template.

thank you
Ivanna

[gjh42]

Blank Sidebox is a mod you can download from Free Addons at the top of this page. It is ideal for new content like you want.

Install it and modify / add content as you like.

[Ivanna]

Everything on my site disappeared

I have a problem with Blank Sidebox Mod even so I follow all the instructions.

I think the problem is because when I make changes in Crimson Editor, I did not save with an extension name
I did not know this until after I upload everything to the server.

Even so I remove the bad files and replace with proper files with extension .php, the Admin still says "Missing" and in two instant show Box File Name of files without the extension.

I delete these files with Filezilla and also go into cPanel to search and delete them.
A file search in cPanel now only shows correct files in correct places but Admin does not update.

One box file name shows Red. The file name is sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php - sideboxes/barebones/ is Red. When I turn this file on, I lose everything. When I turn it off, everything comes back.

There are two sideboxes/ebook_sidebox that have red highlight and the words MISSING - these files should be gone.

I have also loaded from last nights backup and re-added the sidebox files, but it is still the same.

(I only do this today so the backup is clean)

I think Admin should update when I have deleted the files. It still shows the old files.

The correct files should be:
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

How can I update Admin to show me the correct files?

thank you
Ivanna

[Ivanna]

I have found how to delete the MISSING files but I still have the sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php as RED
When I turn this file on everything disappears.

I think it must be something in the path that is wrong (because it is red)

The instruction say use this path
includes/modules/sideboxes/YOUR_TEMPLATE_NAME/blank_sidebox.php

I use
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php

thank you
Ivanna

[gjh42]

The sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php is meant to be red, because it is a custom template file and not a default file. That is not related to the problem.

[Ivanna]

Thank you gjh42,

the red words make sense, I understand that now. what I do not understand is what I do wrong!

In all three files, I change each instant of blank_sidebox to ebook_sidebox and BLANK_SIDEBOX to EBOOK_SIDEBOX

I have put original code beside my changes and check it word for word and do not see a difference (only ebook for blank and EBOOK for BLANK)

I have checked the path for each file with the instruction they are:

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

When I turn it ON in Admin, I lose everything except the page header.
I see I have not set a sort order, so I give it sort order of 2. Now I see the sidebox that is set to sort 1, but I do not see my new sidebox or any other side boxes or the main page area or footer.

Now I make sort to 10.
Now I see all sideboxes except mine and I still do not see the main page area or footer.

From my troubleshooting, I see one of the files is stopping everything else on the page from working but I do not understand PHP very well. I have looked at all the code and what I make out of the code is this:

ebook_sidebox_defines.php, I can define any words within ' ' this is title and text
tpl_ebook_sidebox.php, I can make changes within <p> tags line 19 & 20
ebook_sidebox.php calls /tpl_blank_sidebox.php and pulls $title from ebook_sidebox_defines.php

So if I understand this correctly, then I do not know what is wrong. The only thing I think of is the path but I have checked it 1000 times already. (well, not 1000 but many times )

Your help is very appreciated.

thank you
Ivanna

[Ivanna]

I downloaded this blank_sidebox and configured it as (I think) the instructions but I do not see it in the sidebar. I changed the name from "blank" to "ebook" and changed all instants of those words.

Problems encountered are loss of all website that comes after this file.

For instance, when I go into Admin/Tools/Layout Boxes Controller I make these settings:
Left/Right column Status = On
Left or Right Column = Left
Left/Right column Sort Order = 15
Single Column Sort Order = 0
Single Column Status = Off

This is the same configuration for all my side boxes, the only difference is Sort Order.

When the sort order for ebook_sidebox is 0, I can only see the header section of the webpage, no more.
When I change the sort order, the boxes with a lower sort number will show but not the boxes with a higher number or the content page or the footer. It seems that no more php files are including. (is that right?)
When I set to the highest sort number (15) everything on the sidebar shows but no more.

When I turn the Left/Right column Status = Off, I can see all the webpage.

I changed the file names and put them in the correct paths as instructed. I do not know if I have read this right and perhaps the path is not the correct one. The paths are:

includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/barebones/ebook_sidebox_defines.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/barebones/ebook_sidebox.php
includes/templates/barebones/sideboxes/tpl_ebook_sidebox.php

Can somebody please tell me if these are correct paths?

I can show the edits to these pages also if it will be helpful.

thank you
Ivanna