Complicated... maybe?

[g0d4lm1ty]

Ok let me start by saying i am new to zen cart but loving already...
there are a few things i would like to do. I am skilled enough to edit php, but not necissarily good enough to start from scratch.
with my skills out of the way there are a few major things i would like to do.

1) Change the layout of zencart to match that of the main page. I understand a template could fix this however, my site is run on a php script already. I can create to boxes on my site with no problem so i would like to just take the "guts" of zencart and create a page for it to goto. the links can be added through the original website.
www.idiame.com for reference. The other alternative is just to use the same template for my site as the template for zencart if possible.. If it is..... Uh.. I don't know how to do that.

2) I would like to create different pricing levels with access based on user name and passcode. How easy is this , if possible, and can i use the same catalog with different pricing based on level access. To Note.. I can create different accessibility on the main site, however that would imply a different cart/catalog for each level. It also implies different installs etc etc. It would cause a delay in access for the customers as well since i would have to code them in instead of instant approval after payment.. I am creating a wholesale membership online and with no membership or paid membership levels to recieve different access and pricing.

3) Finally, and maybe this one is a noob ? for not reading everything. is there a way to grant partial admin priviledges with specific access to add items to catalog while not being able to remove or alter existing items. I want my sales reps to be able to add new items i pick up from distributors so that i dont have to spend my entire day in front of the computer.

while they seem like complicated issues, the also seem to have a possible easy fix. If my coding experience in php was greater, I am sure I could have resolved these issues. I have solved many issues with the script I am using for the site. Altering its original intent use and making it my own (with permission from the original author of course. All authors are deserved their due). I hope there is someone who can guide me in the right direction.

Thanx in advance

[Kim]

#1- Easy smeazy- interate the look you are already using into the Zen Cart template override system.

#2 - Not part of the Zen Cart core. I am not aware of a good price levels mod.

#3 - Downloads section, look for Admin Profiles

[g0d4lm1ty]

#1 ok here is a stupid question.. HOW?

#2 that sux.. that would mean i have to do seperate installs for each level and create different user levels.. i guess i could copy the original database to the new ones and change the prices... *sigh*
i wonder if i could incorporate the login/pass from zencart and have it write to user file for instant access.. guess i will have to do some reading/decoding........

#3 I already checked there... maybe i am just blind.. these glasses are a few years old already.. I will check again...

Thanx

anyone that has ideas .. please let me know.. thanks again for your help.

[Kim]

#1- Start in the FAQs - http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/faq.ph...late_customize

[DrByte]

#3 ... Downloads ... Admin Tools ... Admin Profiles

[g0d4lm1ty]

ok... with all the experience i have i am feeling like a noob... ok i read your link.... what it seems to imply is to copy all existing files to a new directory and edit them in that directory... thus overriding current selection when that folder (template) is selected.. ok... i get it i think.. i just want the lay out to be the same as the main page with the 'boxes' i incorporate into the main site. again.. all i want are the guts (catalog, shopping cart, cc, payment etc etc...) i can eliminate the boxes, header, footer and create links... and have the main page pull it up as additional pages within it self... again the site is www.idiame.com .. feel free to check it out to come up with ideas.. i am trying to work on everything (the main site and zencart) at once. If there is an easier way.. let me know ... thanx again for the help. reading other threads has also helped out alot too. this is a great resource and community... :)

[DrByte]

ok... with all the experience i have i am feeling like a noob... ok i read your link.... what it seems to imply is to copy all existing files to a new directory and edit them in that directory... thus overriding current selection when that folder (template) is selected.. ok... i get it i think..

Almost.

If you follow the instructions as written, (and there are a few more with greater clarity here: http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.p...on_-_Templates
http://www.zen-cart.com/wiki/index.p...lates_-_Create ) ... you'll eventually see that (apart from a couple files that must always be present), you ONLY need to copy the files that you are CHANGING.

Your custom template could be as few as 4 files.

Don't duplicate the whole thing or you'll have more work than you need.

Rule of thumb ... if you need to edit a file, copy the master into your personal template folder, make the changes there, and upload.

[g0d4lm1ty]

gotcha ... gonna try that... and bring the structure files over from the mother directory and see what gives... i am getting closer.. the new links help too....


new question... since there seems to be no user level mod... is there a way to have a user level "coupon" be auto generated and specific to ip address? thus once purchasing the membership they would be emailed a coupon code specific for their membership and only valid with their ip (of course dial up customers might have a problem with this but A} are there really any dialup customers left and B} i could always omit the last 3 digits of the ip). The draw back is limiting the customers to purchase online from one location but i could always give them the option to add 1 additional location. The problem being i don't want everyone and their brother being able to use the coupon code since they didn't pay for it. Also, i could generate 1 coupon code per level and simply have it write the ip into a database that it must match upon aproval of coupon...
i think i will post this as a new question... I apologize for the redundancy....

thanx again

[Kim]

Is the discount a percent off of the retail price? If so you can use the Customer Discount groups and have the gross discount applied at checkout.

[kobra]

i incorporate into the main site. again.. all i want are the guts (catalog, shopping cart, cc, payment etc etc...

and from your first post:

1) Change the layout of zencart to match that of the main page.

Looking at what you refer to as your main page...It will be much simpler to port this style to Zen Cart than attempt to plugin all the functionality of Zen Cart into your current table based layout.

You began with the correct idea of changing Zen Cart to match, but then restated that you only wnat to try to pull the functions back to your current page. If you persist in this you will find that there are layers and layers of things that you will have to pluck. i.e. just to buy one item you need the product, the add to cart, the shipping, the payment, the SSL layers, the success, and so forth...

Zen Cart offers much in the way of management of your products, clients, tracking and the like and your current page is styled in the 3 column layout that will port to Zen Cart quite easily. Or to quote Kim " Easy smeazy".

This is the recommended path forward, but you can choose as you like.