I need help in templating pls help!

Hello,
Im new to zendcart likely with ecommerce and I need help from you guys who are good and much experienced.

Ok!, heres the point.
I have a original template i made for my store and it was good and I have converted it already to php template of my own as I am aware of basic php include template how to. But the problem is big I want to use my very own template using the zendcart as my core and my main is my design template as I wish should be appearing to the way I want. Is it posible? How?

I want to know where to find the pages for the header, footer rightmenus, leftboxes etc...and especially the new added category for Example when I do at the admin page I want to add a new category for my products called "laptops" how would I be able to changed the link page of the laptop category? how would I change it to the template I have design. Is there anyone here knows where to edit each of it?

Thats my problem pls help and it would be greatly appreciated.

Lastly, Is zendcart is better than oscommerce? which is more better? and reliable which of them? thanks..pls support.

-IAN

Well, I'd say it's obvious which cart we think is better, here on the Zen Cart support forum... ;)

For your template, it will not "plug in" to Zen Cart as is; there are multitudes of PHP constants and variables that have to be used by template files, as well as classes and ids styled in the stylesheet. What you can do is recreate the look and feel of your template with ZC files. Post a screenshot, or a link that shows the template working, and we can advise you on the best way to proceed.

As Glenn said, we'll need a bit more information in order to help you. Most designs can be recreated in Zen Cart.

To see some templates "in action" (which may give you an idea on how to proceed), visit http://(sorry, site offline)/.

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

Anywhere 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, the /template_default/ folder or the parent folder.

Edit includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/template_info.php to give your template identifying information so you'll recognize it in the admin under tools->template selection.

Thanks guys for the reply it helps, although its quite hard for me coz i am new to php templating. Anyways, the basic major things should I do now is this.

1. Ill be creating a layout even a JPEG file made from photoshop just a screen shots of it in order me to have the basis atleast the look should be followed.

2. Then, ill follow the steps as what you have guys told me.....and pls if you can guide me pls guide. TY :)

3. Well, i think zendcart is the best and no doubt about it.

4. The design of my template would be all original and I want to learn that in templating in php and learn how to customize it.

5. Add me to your Yahoo Messenger at [email protected] ill be online always. Pls help.

It would be a big thing for me and its a big pleasure if you will help me more.
Thanks...God bless.

- Ian

Hi Ian,

You'll find that Zen Cart is easy to use because the designers didn't assume that the end user would have any knowledge of php, html or css. Much of what you will want to do will probably be controlled by the stylesheet (css), settings in the admin or minor tweaks to various files (many of which are in the list I posted).

Before you get too far into your own design, I'd suggest you use the list I provided to create a test template and tinker with that to your heart's content. If you make a major mistake, simply copy the original file into your test template and start again. That will give you a sense of how the templating works and you can then set about designing a template with a clear idea of how the system works.

Good Luck and Happy Zenning! :smile: