How to make admin plugin contribution show headers and footers.

[mikeel100]

I am working on a plugin contribution for handling data feeds from admin.

Using: Zencart 1.5.4 loaded via FTP 6 months ago, GoDaddy with the highest available version of PHP/MYSQL, and easypopulate and UPS are the only plugins I have installed. All sideboxes are disabled for my online catalog.

Sorry, can't post the URL to my admin area for you to look at...

How do I make the plugin wrap into the admin area with admin headers and footers showing? Are there any files I need to include or require to make sure security is maintained and error reporting works like it is supposed to?

My plugin is PHP/PDO/MYSQL based...if that matters. Could the PDO db connection from my program be causing the headers and footers to disappear? The PDO connection is using the db connection info from Zencart admin/includes/configure.php I.E. -

$XXXhostXXX = DB_SERVER;
$XXXuserXXX = DB_SERVER_USERNAME;
$XXXdbXXX = DB_DATABASE;
$XXXpassXXX = DB_SERVER_PASSWORD; 

I have successfully created a link in the admin/tools, the link opens my plugin, and my plugin is working through admin; however, it does not show up with the admin headers and footers.

I have "required" application_top.php, application_bottom.php, application_footer, and copied the html document type through the end of the header tag from another plugin into my main plugin page. I know application_top.php is working because my db connection is coming through that one.

I also completed many searches in the forums to try and find an answer but I can't find anything matching this issue. I have read the help file for creating and making a plugin contribution.

Thanks.

Mike Little
Jest Country Stuff
http://jestcountrystuff.com