How do I change my store front

[Roadrunner]

I bought the book, have spent HOURS with it, is NOT NOT NOT helping!!!! I can't get ANYTHING done!!! How do I get anything changed?

[DrByte]

I bought the book, have spent HOURS with it, is NOT NOT NOT helping!!!! I can't get ANYTHING done!!! How do I get anything changed?

While I confess I've not studied your post for hours, I am confident that I could study it for many hours and still have no idea whatsoever about what you mean by "how do I get anything changed".

Perhaps you could start over by posting questions about what specifically you want to change?

[Roadrunner]

I'm sorry. I am SO frustrated. For starters, I'm not able to change the store front.

I've tried downloading the index.php file and changing wording. When I find the words I want to change, I do the switch, upload the file, and everything is still the same.

So I guess specifically my first question is how do I change the wording, i.e., where do I go to start, then how can I change the background color and add images?

And THANK YOU! Having a person on the other end is a HUGE boost.

[DrByte]

I understand. Sometimes the learning curve about how some things are done in .php files and uploaded by FTP, instead of just changing via your browser ... and other things, can be daunting.

I'm gonna move this discussion to its own thread for simplicity of keeping your thoughts and questions together.

[DrByte]

I've tried downloading the index.php file and changing wording. When I find the words I want to change, I do the switch, upload the file, and everything is still the same.

Which file did you download (from which directory)? And which directory did you upload it to?

then how can I change the background color and add images?

It's a similar process, once you determine which template you're using and therefore which file to download and alter and re-upload.
The stylesheet controls colors. So, if you're using the built-in "classic" template, then your site is using the /includes/templates/classic/css/stylesheet.css file for that.

[Roadrunner]

I followed the directory tree pretty closely (I've run into that problem with other sites). Now that I have some help (thank you so very much), I'll try that again.

[Roadrunner]

Okay, which file do I want to change the main page. I'm shooting in the dark again.