Purposes, tpl_reviews_default.php and tpl_product_reviews_default.php (query)

[KenBaker]

During customization,

I customized the listing template for product reviews (tpl_product_reviews_default.php), and matters seemed well in hand. Of course I stored the customized template in my templates override directory. The reviews listing displayed exactly as I had expected. Then, though, I noticed that *occasionally* the default listing template reappeared. After some head-scratching, I noticed that the default listing template displayed only when I clicked the "Read Reviews" button on the template page for writing a review (tpl_product_reviews_write_default.php). I discovered that the "Read Reviews" link on this latter template pointed to a different listing template (tpl_reviews_default.php).

So to my query: What are the differences in purpose between the tpl_reviews_default.php and tpl_product_reviews_default.php files? On my ZC installation at least, both default templates render exactly the same. I did study the differences in the file codings (best I could, given my limping ability with php), and I see the *coding* differences, but my ZC installation doesn't show any *rendered* differences. The two templates look just the same when rendered.

My query isn't just academic. As I mentioned, the two separate files caused my customized reviews listing not to show from the Write Reviews page. Rather than customize the second reviews listing template (tpl_reviews_default.php) to match the first one that I customized (tpl_product_reviews_default.php), I just changed the link on the Write Reviews template to go to the tpl_product_reviews_default.php. After making this change, though, I realized that I might be doing something stupid by making this change without fully understanding the file relations. Hence my query.

Thanks in advance for any direction sent my way,

Ken Baker

[Ajeh]

Take two Products and make 2 reviews each and approve them in your admin ...

Start on the link for Reviews at:
/index.php?main_page=reviews

Now open, in a separate tab the button for:
Read Review

Next, open in a separate tab the button for:
More Reviews

This should help give you a better idea what the different layouts are for and their associated templates ...

[KenBaker]

Ajeh,

Thanks for the reply. I had already created two test reviews to check my customized template (tpl_product_reviews_default.php). I made both test reviews, though, for the same product, so it *appeared* that both reviews listing pages were identical. I assume from your direction that the tpl_reviews_default.php template will list reviews for all products; I didn't test this assumption, as I've pretty well come to trust your directions in these matters.

I certainly see the value in a comprehensive reviews listing, though at present I have the Reviews sidebox disabled. I think, though, that I'll leave the Read Reviews link on the Write Reviews page pointed to the specific product reviews listing. To my (at times misguided) way of thinking, if someone sets out to write a review of a specific product, then decides to read the existing reviews first, then that someone would expect to get a listing of the reviews for the specific product. Still, I can now make that choice in light of an understanding of the purposes of both reviews listing templates. That's reassuring.

Cheers,

Ken Baker