Query: remove side box not using web based "Admin" tools ???

[alfab3]

Hi all,

Am working my way through the zen cart maze quite happily at the moment.

Was wondering if there is a way to remove the side boxes etc by using code, instead of relying on the "Admin" system.

Just to remove a sidebox using the admin system, there are around four page views required.

If I could modify the php or css to remove the boxes, then upload the modified file, that would be much faster.

Any help appreciated,

Regards
Alf...

[DrByte]

You can do it strictly in CSS.

Look at browser source. Find the element. Set it to display:none.

ie:

<!--// bof: moreinformation //-->
<div class="leftBoxContainer" id="moreinformation" style="width: 150px">

in stylesheet, do this:

#moreinformation {display: none; }

However, if you do it via the admin controls, you'll speed up site processing by causing the server to not have to prepare the contents of those sideboxes.

[Kim]

Gee - if you'd rather modify code than use the built in functionality - perhaps Zen Cart isn't the right program for you ...

[alfab3]

Hi,

The CSS is a good tip.

But if it is more efficient to not load the sideboxes at all.

Is there a way to do this with PHP code as well...

Regards
Alf...

[alfab3]

Hi,

What are the other "Store" options available. My coding experience is intermediate, so, zen cart is a happy medium of coding and content management. Maybe later I could have a look at the other "Store" options available.

The CSS: "none" is a good tip, but if it is more efficient to not load the sideboxes at all, can I switch them of in the PHP code... I assume this is what the admin modifies.

I think that learning this would help understand the structure of Zen Cart more and in the long term is more benificial.

Regards
Alf...

[Ajeh]

You set the sideboxes about once a lifetime ...

Turn the sidebox off in the Layout Boxes Controller and forget it ...

Why would you touch code when there is a simple setting to manage this?

[swguy]

I think that learning this would help understand the structure of Zen Cart more and in the long term is more benificial.

Remember that every file you modify will need to be merged every time you upgrade ... you're getting into a lot of grief here.

Besides, the real hackerly way to save time changing your sideboxes is to update the layout_boxes table in phpMyAdmin.

[alfab3]

aha, now we are getting somewhere!!!

"Besides, the real hackerly way to save time changing your sideboxes is to update the layout_boxes table in phpMyAdmin."

Does this still require modified files to be merged when you upgrade?

I don't mind making a few mistakes on my site...or getting into trouble, it is how I learn...

I wouldn't have learned .css if i left things as they were!

I have a SAMS "Teach yourself PHP in 24 hours" book.

Any way, swguy, could you elaborate on the phpMyAdmin advice?

Cheers
Alf

[DrByte]

A new interface for managing sideboxes in the admin is in development for v1.4.

In the meantime, you *should* use the admin interface for making your edits. If you are database-savvy, and have studied the database structure and are sure you know what you're doing and understand what changes affect what results and are dependent on what other settings, you can edit your sidebox details by directly editing the raw database settings in the "layout_boxes" table in the database.