Main Page Message... *Poof*

[Leovenous]

I think I see where you're going with this.

I imagine one category, 5-20 products max. They're each unique so there will hopefully be pretty good turnover. Point being each rug is its own product.

Eventually there will be other products (needing other categories), but we're probably 6 months to a year out on that.

To be honest, I struggle with how to apply the category system to how I want the site to work (in my head) but I think you're figuring that out.

In my mind, a visitor comes to the index, and sees a short introductory message and maybe up to 6 products. If there are more it would be nice to have them on another page. I'm going for a pretty clean simplistic look in terms of the actual zen stuff.

[Ajeh]

Try this ...

Turn off the Always show ...

Mark 1 of the Products as Featured in the Catalog ... Featured Products ...

See what that looks like ...

Also, install a test directory with a test database with the demo products ...

You need:

1 untouched Zen Cart to see and play with

2 a gang of Categories and Category depths

3 a gang of Products in the gang of Categories at different depths to see how this all works ...

You design concept looks really good ...

But you need to really understand the underlying coding features etc. that are built in and then manipulate them to make a dynamic store ...

Also peek in the Review forum to see numerous sites being shown off ... it is amazing what can be done with Zen Cart and a little thought and understanding ... good news ... you already know how to design ...

[Leovenous]

Try this ...

Turn off the Always show ...

Mark 1 of the Products as Featured in the Catalog ... Featured Products ...

See what that looks like ...

Okay, did that... but then it changes how the items are displayed. I liked the alternating rows and all that. I think I'll just drop an include in the body code somewhere to make my message happen.

Also, install a test directory with a test database with the demo products ...

So basically make a sandbox and play a while? Thats certianly a possibility. If all goes well with this I want to start pitching zen cart to clients, but I will want to be more familiar with it.

You design concept looks really good ...

Thankyou. I got the idea from a couch pillow! Sort of a rich look with maybe a hint of East India Trade Company thrown in.

But you need to really understand the underlying coding features etc. that are built in and then manipulate them to make a dynamic store ...

I agree. I've been all over the wiki (though it tends to leave me wanting) and the forum... trying to put all the pieces together. When will Zen Cart get big enough to merit an O'Reilly book?

Yeah but I'm more of a code wringer than a programmer, so its a struggle. But a worthwhile one, I think.

Anyway... off to dig around for whatever page does the index calls. Arg, and kill the category name and title, and the page title. Such is tweaking.

[Ajeh]

Nice thing about centerboxes ... and customizing them to look the way you want them too ...

Just a few tweaks here and there ... how hard can it be?

[Leovenous]

Riiiiiiiight.

Thats why your the sword toting elf and I'm the lemur.

[Ajeh]

It is safer to walk softly and have that sword rather than a silly ol' stick ...

[Leovenous]

Ahem, for one thing, I am carried. And I have a crown, a very nice crown (is it up there?).

Okay, how'd I reduce to this? Oh thats right, I'm bored fighting with language and template files. But I must press on.

It didn't like me dropping an include in tpl_main_page.php. I mean it includes, but it seems to be on the wrong side of a div. Could it be that its already defined in an array, or could be? I suppose I could run the array printing code the phpfreaks gave me.