using two template folders??

[Kim]

Have you set up your custom template override using the recommendations from the FAQs? https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?category=4

[ginginca]

Thanks Kim, I'll check that out and see if I did it right.

[ginginca]

I made my own folder following the instructions but once everything turned into those lovely soft colours it was quite far from the design direction I was headed.

So I switched back to the green stuff and made all my changes to it.

So What I have at this time is that all my own edited files are in default_template (or whatever it's called) but it looks to classic for the css files.

Once the design is set and finished, I have no plans to change it. So it didn't seem necessary to have another template.

Am I confused? Or does that make sense? I thought I read that the template system is this way so you can easily swap templates.

Gin

[DrByte]

I thought I read that the template system is this way so you can easily swap templates.

Yes, it is.
We just recommend that you don't call "your" template as "classic" or "template_default". Almost any other name will suffice.

One of the main reasons for this is so that if we make an update to the supplied "classic" template files in the next version, and you mistakenly assume that you can just upload all the new files in order to upgrade, then you'll wipe out your customizations and won't be very happy.

Upgrades will still require merging changes into your customized files, but if your customized template goes by a different name, it's faster to isolate potential issues.

A second big reason for keeping it separate is so that you can easily switch "back to classic" in order to peek at the way your site looks if it was based on defaults. That way if a customization change you made caused something to be busted, you could quickly switch back and see if it was also busted in Classic. Then you'd know whether a change you made was related to a templating issue or some other part of the code.

So ... at present, you could rename your "classic" folder to "justmine" or something, and edit the template_info.php file inside the folder to reflect the name. Then if you've used any other "classic" folders on your site, you could rename those as well. After doing so, I suggest you re-upload the original "classic" folders so you have something available to "switch to" if you need to test against the default layout.


As for the "soft colors" that you didn't like so much ... those were just from the template_default stylesheet. They're set that way so that you "do" change them and so that they're easier to locate specific parts to change to your liking. Some people can't see past the colors and think they're in a paint factory that just had an accident. It's not really that bad :) ... just identify the color and change it to what you desire.

[ginginca]

Thank you for your informative reply. You have explained it well.

I'll play with that template info file and see if it points correctly.

Gin

[kuroi]

Thank you for your informative reply. You have explained it well.

I'll play with that template info file and see if it points correctly.

Gin

Also, for clarity, move any files that you have edited in template_default or its sub folders into your own template directory taking care to preserve the folder structure. But overall it sounds like you're on the right track.