Main page does not need sidebox... help!

[marshall]

Hi guys,

The main page of my website does not need any sidebox, just a few buttons like About us, News, Contact us, Products. Click any button of them will jump to the subpage which has side box and layout simliar to zen-cart default. So my question is how and where I could configure or change code to make the main page as mentioned above ?

Thanks for the help! :)

[lib99]

Take a look at tpl_main_page.php (template file). You'll see in the beginning of the file comments on how to do this.

[marshall]

Thank you for your help, lib99!

Well, I forgot to mention that the first page of my website is like image webpage, its layout is completely different with all the other pages. So I got confused how I could make this page to be index.php which is already provided by zen-cart. If it were not the first page (index.php), I could use ez-page to add this page. I also tried changing tpl_main_page.php, like deleting the header (index.php will not have header image), but I found all the other pages are shown without header too.

Well, I am quite new to php and zen-cart, could anyone give me more instructions? I am in a rush to finish this website. I just bought zen-cart book a couple days ago, does it contain such kind of information?

Thanks,

[red8ii8]

If I'm understanding you, you need the first page the customer sees to NOT have a sidebox, and the rest of the pages to HAVE a sidebox. If that is the case then you need to look at this page which explains how to use tpl_main_page to control that. For example, I use a left column only but not on any of the checkout or informational links. Only in the catalog.

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=233

I hope that helps, and please redirect if I'm not understanding you correctly.

You can see what I mean on my site at www.thepearltrader.com which is under construction as well.

-J

[marshall]

Thank you red8ii8. Well, I might not explain clearly. My first page (index.php) will be completely different compared with other pages ( the header image is different with other pages too). It only have some images and links, two paragraph on About us and News. The problem is that I can use ez-pages to add a page easily if this were not the first page (index.php). Unfortunately, this is the first page that will be shown when someone open the website. So I do not know how to do this. If I edit this page through tpl_main_page , then all the other pages (they have the same layout like default zen cart layout) will change.

Currently, I have a temporary solution, I wrote a main.php without using zen-cart provided files. When someone open the website it will display this main.php first, this file contains links to zen-cart template that will show the zen-cart layout. The problem using this method is that I can not use admin to edit this file since it is outside zen-cart system. Also, I have to write code in this file to connect database to get news. Well, I am new to php and zen-cart, I think there must have other better solution to handle this. Can anyone help on it? I bought the book, but did not find the solution for this particular problem.
Thank you for the help.

[gjh42]

Use define_main_page.php for your home page (admin > Tools > Define Pages Editor).

With tpl_main_page.php set to disable header and sideboxes on the home page (using $this_is_home_page), you can add all the HTML and PHP you want.

Look at my site for an example - everything on the home page except for the left column is from define_main_page.php, absolutely positioned using CSS.

[marshall]

Thank you for the patience and help, Glenn, , this is the third help I got from you within a day. I really appreciate it.

Now I know it can be done, but still I do not now how to do it ( I just began to learn PHP in this month):
1. I went to define_main_page.php (admin > Tools > Define Pages Editor) but do not know what to do with this page.
2. I do not know how to modify tpl_main_page.php to disable them (I did not use override system, just modify this file in template_default dir).

Without bothering giving more detail guide, I am wondering if you could kindly sent me these two files of your website, then I could compare it with mine while looking at your website, I think I can figure it out in this way.

Thanks,

Regards,

[gjh42]

First and very important, you need to set up your own template directory, and put copies of all files you have modified into it in their proper order (matching /template_default). The only other file you absolutely need for your own template is /includes/templates/your_template/template_info.php (which you can copy from /template_default and change the info). See FAQ/Tutorials for full directions.

There is nothing that would help you in my copy of tpl_main_page.php.
All you need to do is add this snippet near the top of your copy (in your template folder! :)

if ($this_is_home_page) {
   $flag_disable_header = true;
   $flag_disable_left = true;
   $flag_disable_right = true;
} 

just below

 * @version $Id: tpl_main_page.php 4886 2006-11-05 09:01:18Z drbyte $
 */ 

I don't have time at the moment to zip define_main_page.php for uploading, but here is a representative sample at the beginning of the file:

<?php $fr_root = HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG; 
$fr_cpath = $fr_root . 'index.php?main_page=index&cPath='; ?>
<!--bof-home page header logo & links display-->
<div id="homeShopView"><?php echo '<a href="' . $fr_root . 'index.php?main_page=page&id=2"><img src="' . $fr_root . DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'images/frshopview.gif" alt="Our Shop"></a>';?></div>
<div id="homeLogo"><?php echo '<img src="' . $fr_root . 'images/frlogohomepg.gif" alt="Future Relics - Timeless Creations in Precious Metals"></a>';?><br />
We invite you ... etc...</div>

(The PHP at the top was just for my convenience - you can use straight HTML, or PHP echo as shown:)

<?php echo '<a href="' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'index.php?main_page=page&id=2"><img src="' . HTTP_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'images/frshopview.gif" alt="Our Shop"></a>';?>

This points to my ezpage #2, and gets an image from the /my_template/images/ folder.

[marshall]

Thank you for your kindly help! I will work on it.

Best Regards,

[gjh42]

Here is a sample of the CSS I used to position the elements defined above:

 * @version $Id: index_home.css  2007-05-18  gjh42 $

                   - this file contains CSS for the home page only
                   - it must be named index_home.css and live in /includes/templates/your_template/css/
 */


#mainWrapper {
	position:relative;
	}
#contentMainWrapper {
	height: 1020px;
	padding-top: 180px;
	}

#logoWrapper {display: none;} /*turns off sidebar logo on home page*/

#homeLogo {
	position:absolute;
	top: 0px;
	margin: auto;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	z-index: 100;
	}
#homeLogo img {margin: 5px;}
h1 { margin-left: -21px; margin-bottom: -18px;}
#homeShopView {
	position: absolute;
	top: 10px;
	left: 3.5%;
	margin-left: -20px;
	}
#homeBoothView {
	position: absolute;
	top: 10px;
	right: 3.5%;
	margin-right: -20px;
	}
#headWed {
	position: absolute;
	top: 170px;
	left: 31%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headCel {
	position: absolute;
	top: 240px;
	left: 42%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headHis {
	position: absolute;
	top: 325px;
	left: 48%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headSpi {
	position: absolute;
	top: 420px;
	left: 50%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headEcl {
	position: absolute;
	top: 760px;
	left: 50%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headArt {
	position: absolute;
	top: 840px;
	left: 46%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}
	
#headCoi {
	position: absolute;
	top: 920px;
	left: 38%;
	padding-left: 21px;
	font-size: 1.3em;
	}

#homeImgRingP {
	position: absolute;
	top: 250px;
	left: 27%;
	}
#homeImgGM {
	position: absolute;
	top: 310px;
	left: 27.5%;
	}