Really really hard to customize - any easy hints?

[zas]

I found this helpful
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/faq.ph...late_customize

once you get the hang of customisation, it is quite easy
I have made my own notes so I can build a site in virtually no time at all

I am also still confused with the define pages editor in admin for main page, shipping info etc

[DrByte]

While swguy and zas are pointing to some good FAQ information, those particular FAQ documents are superceded by the knowledgebase, found at: https://tutorials.zen-cart.com
There, you'll find numerous articles on templating, overrides, etc ... which are more up to date than the older FAQ system (all the FAQs were copied over to the KB and updated).

[DrByte]

Also, the Overrides Chart is a helpful reference:
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=298

[douglerner]

While swguy and zas are pointing to some good FAQ information, those particular FAQ documents are superceded by the knowledgebase, found at: https://tutorials.zen-cart.com
There, you'll find numerous articles on templating, overrides, etc ... which are more up to date than the older FAQ system (all the FAQs were copied over to the KB and updated).

That's where I was getting my info from, like on how to edit header.php, etc.

But the big problem with those tutorial pages is that the exact folder hierarchies don't literally match up with what is in those documents. Following the instructions literally led me to create a file and place it in the hierarchy and have it have no effect.

Then I noticed if I sort of looked at the hierarchy and moved the custom header.php file elsewhere the customizations took effect.

But I can't do that for each and every file because it was just happenstance that I stumbled across the right location.

I know I'm not explaining myself clearly, but the hierarchies described in the tutorials/FAQs are definitely different than the actual ones.

doug

[DrByte]

I know I'm not explaining myself clearly, but the hierarchies described in the tutorials/FAQs are definitely different than the actual ones.

If you don't mind pointing out which ones are wrong, we'll take a review of them to get them fixed.

[douglerner]

If you don't mind pointing out which ones are wrong, we'll take a review of them to get them fixed.

I think the root of the problem I am having is that I started with an article there that recommended creating a certain hierarchy. I'm sorry if I sound confused, but I was just looking around the tutorial/FAQ section trying to stumble across the same article again and now I can't find it.

Maybe if you can point me to one solid verifiable starting point I can go from there.

A related question is this though - even though I changed my "template" in tools to point to my custom folder the files being edited in the "page definitions" editor tool don't seem to be those in the custom folder.

doug

[afo]

Everyone starts out and . Once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you thought it was so difficult and you'll feel and .

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:
includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css

Any where you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder or the /template_default/ folder.

I recommend unzipping a copy of the latest ZC on your hard drive for two reasons.

1) You can see the folder/file structure which will make things clearer
2) You can edit files locally and FTP them to your site making an instant "backup"of your online store

ALWAYS use a good text editor like Notepad or Crimson Editor when working with ZC.

[TShooters]

Have you created a custom folder in includes/languages/english/html_includes/your_template_name,
and copied the define_***.php pages from html_includes to it that you intend to
customize/modify?

If so, when you open them in admin/tools/define pages editor, it should
say at the top above the edit box:
Editing file: ..../includes/languages/english/html_includes/your_custom_template/define_***.php

[douglerner]

Everyone starts out and . Once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you thought it was so difficult and you'll feel and .

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:
includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php

First, again, thanks everybody for your supportive notes. I greatly appreciate it.

Stopping here at instruction one...

I downloaded zen-cart to my computer and unzipped it so I can work there and upload, as suggested. Good idea.

My first question is about this very first item. I named YOUR_TEMPLATE just "custom", so the first item you wrote says that I need

includes/languages/custom/english.php

In includes/languages/classic there is one file called "empty.txt". Do I need to copy that into my new "custom" folder?

There is no english.php inside "classic". Should I copy english.pho from includes/languages.english.php to includes/languages/custom/english.php?

These are the little "hanging threads" that I am getting confused about. I don't want to make any wrong assumptions here since I don't exactly know what I am doing. :)

Thanks,

doug

[douglerner]

Everyone starts out and . Once you get the hang of it you'll wonder why you thought it was so difficult and you'll feel and .

To create a very basic custom template (you can build from there), you need:
includes/languages/YOUR_TEMPLATE/english.php
includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/index.php
includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/header.php (to change the logo)
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_footer.php
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/images/logo.gif
includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/css/stylesheet.css

Any where you see a /classic/ folder, you can create a folder for your custom template. You can copy the necessary files from either the /classic/ folder or the /template_default/ folder.

I recommend unzipping a copy of the latest ZC on your hard drive for two reasons.

1) You can see the folder/file structure which will make things clearer
2) You can edit files locally and FTP them to your site making an instant "backup"of your online store

ALWAYS use a good text editor like Notepad or Crimson Editor when working with ZC.

Arg...

I added those files and then made just one change to index.php to change logo.gif to logo.jpg (because that is what I uploaded to ... wherever... I can't keep track anymore.

Anyway, now if I go to my site it says:


Fatal error: Cannot redeclare class base in /home/doug/public_html/taonoyume/includes/classes/class.base.php on line 17

doug