Changes to sidebars... very frustrated...

[aaronjmorgan]

https://www.toyzeum.com/store/

[gjh42]

Restore tpl_box_default_right.php to its original content. Not only should you not edit it for individual sidebox content, you should never save an edited file in the /template_default/ folder, but in your custom template folder.

The tpl_blank_sidebox.php is okay, as is the module file blank_sidebox.php.

[gjh42]

The actual id of your sidebox is #blanksidebox, so that is the id you need to use in style rules.

[aaronjmorgan]

The actual id of your sidebox is #blanksidebox, so that is the id you need to use in style rules.

That is the one that I did use but it is not working... how do i get rid of the box and border... so confused... (see below)


/*sideboxes*/
.columnLeft {}

h3.leftBoxHeading, h3.leftBoxHeading a {
font-size: 1em;
color: #ffffff;
}

.leftBoxHeading, .centerBoxHeading {
margin: 0em;
background-color: #FF6699;
padding: 0.5em 0.2em;
}

.leftBoxContainer {
border: 1px solid #ffffff;
margin-top: 1.5em;
}

.sideBoxContent {
background-color: #ffffff;
padding: 0.4em;
}

h3.rightBoxHeading, h3.rightBoxHeading a {
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #FFFF00;
}

.rightBoxHeading {
margin: 0em;
background-color: #663366;
padding: 0.2em 0em;
}

h3.leftBoxHeading a:hover {
color: #FFFF33;
text-decoration: none;
}

h3.rightBoxHeading a:hover {
color: #FF0000;
text-decoration: none;
}

.rightBoxContent {
background-color: #ffffff;
margin-bottom: 1em;
}

.centeredContent, TH, #cartEmptyText, #cartBoxGVButton, #cartBoxEmpty, #cartBoxVoucherBalance, #navCatTabsWrapper, #navEZPageNextPrev, #bannerOne, #bannerTwo, #bannerThree, #bannerFour, #bannerFive, #bannerSix, #siteinfoLegal, #siteinfoCredits, #siteinfoStatus, #siteinfoIP, .center, .cartRemoveItemDisplay, .cartQuantityUpdate, .cartQuantity, .cartTotalsDisplay, #cartBoxGVBalance, .leftBoxHeading, .centerBoxHeading,.rightBoxHeading, .productListing-data, .accountQuantityDisplay, .ratingRow, LABEL#textAreaReviews, #productMainImage, #reviewsInfoDefaultProductImage, #productReviewsDefaultProductImage, #reviewWriteMainImage, .centerBoxContents, .specialsListBoxContents, .categoryListBoxContents, .additionalImages, .centerBoxContentsSpecials, .centerBoxContentsAlsoPurch, .centerBoxContentsFeatured, .centerBoxContentsNew, .gvBal, .attribImg {
text-align: center;
}

#bestsellers .wrapper {
margin: 0em 0em 0em 1.5em;
}


#blanksidebox {border: none;}

#blanksideboxHeading {display: none;}


#bestsellers ol {
padding: 0;
margin-left: 1.1em;
}

#bestsellers li {
padding: 0;

[gjh42]

When I inspected your active stylesheet, I saw the exact (incorrect - with _) style code I posted originally. It appears you have now updated the correct file.

[schoolboy]

Been following this discussion, and feel I need to chip in.

1. Take the advice of helpers and DO NOT take a chainsaw to core code. RESTORE all core behaviour for sidebox template and module files. There is absolutely NO NEED to hack away at core code to get the results you are after.

2. The appearance, content AND behaviour of sideboxes AND THE SIDE COLUMNS can all be easily controlled using STANDARD tools, switches and protocols. You just need to learn these, and then apply them.

3. We cannot assist you if you are determined to re-construct core functions by adding your own code. IF you want to go to the extent of customising core code to the extent you are going, then be prepared to pay for assistance. We cannot guess what you are doing, nor will any of us write / examine/ evaluate / test reams of fresh php for nothing.

SO... the way forward.

The BLANK SIDEBOX module can be CLONED (copies made of it for different uses) so if you want unique functions inside the COLUMN area, you can CLONE the blank sidebox as many times as you need to - ten thousand copies if you have to... there's no limit

This is THE BEST WAY to get "html" into a box (which then displays in a column of your choice).

As you may (or may not) know, boxes are arranged and switched on or off under your TOOLS >>> LAYOUT BOXES CONTROLLER feature.

Additionally, you can completely HIDE either or both side columns globally. (ADMIN >>> CONFIGURATION >>> LAYOUT SETTINGS)

You can also DISABLE columns on a PAGE_SPECIFIC basis... SEE the tpl_main_page.php file in your template's COMMON folder. If that file is not there, then COPY the core file to that location so you have the necessary OVERRIDE file.

ALSO, CSS can be used to HIDE / SHOW any element - and all sideboxes have unique classes/id's - as do the side columns.

[gjh42]

There is actually an error in the randomizing code you posted. You use a short opening tag (deprecated, and fails under certain circumstances), and you are already in PHP processing so you shouldn't open PHP again anyway. Also, you can't do a series of statements inside another statement; the random generation and assignment needs to happen before it is included in the link code.
This

$content .= '<IMG SRC="https://www.toyzeum.com/store/images/main/rightsidebar_incoming<?
//Chooses a random number
$num = Rand (1,6);
//Based on the random number, gives a quote
switch ($num)
{
case 1:
echo "1";
break;
//...
case 6:
echo "1";
}?>.jpg">
';

should be like this

//Chooses a random number
$num = Rand (1,6);
//Based on the random number, gives a quote
switch ($num)
{
case 1:
$filenum = "1";
break;
//...
case 6:
$filenum = "1";
}
$content .= '<IMG SRC="https://www.toyzeum.com/store/images/main/rightsidebar_incoming' . $filenum . '.jpg">
'; 

[DivaVocals]

Been following this discussion, and feel I need to chip in.

1. Take the advice of helpers and DO NOT take a chainsaw to core code. RESTORE all core behaviour for sidebox template and module files. There is absolutely NO NEED to hack away at core code to get the results you are after.

2. The appearance, content AND behaviour of sideboxes AND THE SIDE COLUMNS can all be easily controlled using STANDARD tools, switches and protocols. You just need to learn these, and then apply them.

3. We cannot assist you if you are determined to re-construct core functions by adding your own code. IF you want to go to the extent of customising core code to the extent you are going, then be prepared to pay for assistance. We cannot guess what you are doing, nor will any of us write / examine/ evaluate / test reams of fresh php for nothing.

SO... the way forward.

The BLANK SIDEBOX module can be CLONED (copies made of it for different uses) so if you want unique functions inside the COLUMN area, you can CLONE the blank sidebox as many times as you need to - ten thousand copies if you have to... there's no limit

This is THE BEST WAY to get "html" into a box (which then displays in a column of your choice).

As you may (or may not) know, boxes are arranged and switched on or off under your TOOLS >>> LAYOUT BOXES CONTROLLER feature.

Additionally, you can completely HIDE either or both side columns globally. (ADMIN >>> CONFIGURATION >>> LAYOUT SETTINGS)

You can also DISABLE columns on a PAGE_SPECIFIC basis... SEE the tpl_main_page.php file in your template's COMMON folder. If that file is not there, then COPY the core file to that location so you have the necessary OVERRIDE file.

ALSO, CSS can be used to HIDE / SHOW any element - and all sideboxes have unique classes/id's - as do the side columns.

I agree.. The FIRST step the OP needs to take is to put EVERYTHING back to it's original state.. (stop with all the unecessary PHP code changes)

The OP slashing and hacking away at the CORE CODE in order to make what are SIMPLE appearance changes will only lead to other problems down the road.. ALL of the OPs APPEARANCE changes can be achived using the balnk sidebox module (or even the defined pages sidebox module), the built-in admin functions (which you pointed out) and some relatively simple CSS (which Glenn - AKA gjh42 has pointed out)

My suggestion to the OP is to take a step back and follow your advice here and to follow Glenn's lead on the CSS changes needed and to STOP hacking at the core code to achive this..

[aaronjmorgan]

gih- i tried your PHP coding but it still didnt work... my PHP code for random image was working fine when i had it in my tpl_box_default_right.php file, but doesnt work within the blank sidebox for some reason... Thanks for trying to help me... very much appreciated.. -Aaron

[DivaVocals]

gih- i tried your PHP coding but it still didnt work... my PHP code for random image was working fine when i had it in my tpl_box_default_right.php file, but doesnt work within the blank sidebox for some reason... Thanks for trying to help me... very much appreciated.. -Aaron

Seriously if what you want is random images to show in the sidebox locations, the built in Zen Cart banner manager does that.. (pretty darn easily too) There are two banner sideboxes that come with Zen Cart to support this out the box.. If you need more, you can just clone one of these two default banner sideboxes.. Zen Cart's built in banner manager feature is COOL/flexible and totally overlooked and under used.. I think people see the word "banner" and get flashbacks to those silly banner swap programs of the 90s (ahhh in the good old animated GIF days.. who doesn't miss animated flames!!)..

but this is SO not that.. it WILL do what you are trying to accomplish with PHP code inside the blank sidebox module.. (did I mention NO CODING REQUIRED..)