How do I change my store front

[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.

[Roadrunner]

I read another tutorial. It says to change the index.php to a custom folder. Haven't found that yet. I changed my text and uploaded. It doesn't change the site.

[DrByte]

If you haven't yet created your own complete custom template, then if you're putting files into some custom folder, then they'll have no effect on your live site.

Until you create your own custom template and activate that template from your admin side, I suggest you simply make your alterations to the 'classic' folder, instead of some "custom" folder.

[schoolboy]

I read another tutorial. It says to change the index.php to a custom folder. Haven't found that yet. I changed my text and uploaded. It doesn't change the site.

I would guess that you have some experience in working with HTML sites - where you call up a page (xxxxxxx.html) in your WYSIWYG html editor, make alterations, and then send xxxxxxx.html back to the server...

HTML pages are known as STATIC pages. They inherently contain all they need to display in a browser.

Zencart (like all "CMS" platforms) does not work on the basis of STATIC HTML.

In fact, there are NO STATIC HTML PAGES IN ZENCART - so in one sense, there is no "html" for you to edit.

Zencart is therefore not STATIC, but DYNAMIC.... The code CREATES PAGES according to what the visitor needs to see. It does this through the PHP code.

PHP "assembles" pages on-the-fly - gathering up all the components and piecing them together, and then structuring a html framework in which to "render" the requested information - which is then sent down the internet to the visitor's screen.

That "page" is compiled in milli-seconds - and is compiled ONLY FOR THE USER REQUESTING IT.

When that user clicks another link, or an "action button" (such as Add-To-Cart), the "page" they are on EVAPORATES FOREVER. POOF... !!! it VANISHES into the ether.

Then, the PHP starts to build up ANOTHER unique "page" for that visitor - gathering up all the necessary "bits" and again putting it into a html framework, which it then sends back to the visitor's screen.

SO... if you can't "edit html" then WHAT can you edit?

You can edit CONTENT (which includes DATA, DEFINE CONSTANTS, CSS, JCRIPT and IMAGES).

DATA lives in the DATABASE - and in 99% of cases where you need to edit DATA, you will do this via your zencart admin console.

DEFINE CONSTANTS (with their associated VARIABLES) are MOSTLY contained in LANGUAGE PHP FILES. (you will have seen a folder called "languages" in the main "includes" folder. In there are a large number of PHP files that contain DEFINE CONSTANTS and their VARIABLES. The bit you edit is the VARIABLE.

For example, a DEFINE STATEMENT looks like this:

  define('TEXT_NO_FEATURED_PRODUCTS', 'More featured products will be added soon. Please check back later.'); 

The UPPER_CASE_CONSTANT is never edited...
define('TEXT_NO_FEATURED_PRODUCTS',

The VARIABLE can be edited - and that's the second bit of that line of code:
'More featured products will be added soon. Please check back later.');

But you DO NOT remove or change the bits in RED (above) Just the "variable text":
'We occasionally have featured products. Right now, there are no featured products.');


STYLE is largely controlled by the CSS - and there are good tutorials at w3schools.com

IMAGES can live in various places.
PRODUCT images live in the MAIN IMAGES FOLDER.
DESIGN IMAGES relate to the template being used, and are inside an images folder located in the template's folder.

[Roadrunner]

THAT explained more than I have read in the last month. Thank you!!!