Easier Tutorials

[Mike123acc]

When I figure out the basics of Zen Cart I would like to have a bash at writing a few tutorials for beginners. I think the ones that exist are, on the whole, incredibly complex and unclear. I think this software needs 10 or so straight forward tutorials that actually guide people through steps (not needing to go and buy a book.....).

Can anyone post such a thing in the Zen Cart tutorial section?

Is there someone a new tutorial could be submitted to for checking / putting on the site?

I really believe Zen Cart would be far better if the basics were covered in a clearer, more beginner focused way. I think it is clear from the huge amount of similar posts that many people have similar issues and find the tutorials don't help.

Obvioulsy I will shut up if in the end I can't write better ones..... :)

[clydejones]

When I figure out the basics of Zen Cart I would like to have a bash at writing a few tutorials for beginners. I think the ones that exist are, on the whole, incredibly complex and unclear. I think this software needs 10 or so straight forward tutorials that actually guide people through steps (not needing to go and buy a book.....).

Can anyone post such a thing in the Zen Cart tutorial section?

Is there someone a new tutorial could be submitted to for checking / putting on the site?

I really believe Zen Cart would be far better if the basics were covered in a clearer, more beginner focused way. I think it is clear from the huge amount of similar posts that many people have similar issues and find the tutorials don't help.

Obvioulsy I will shut up if in the end I can't write better ones..... :)

have you looked at What Every New Zen Cart User Needs to Know in the tutorial section?

[yellow1912]

Mike123acc: if you have time and can do so, please go ahead. Your work will help others a lot.

[Jbraz]

Easier tutorials would be a good idea. I write tutorials for PSP and have found that sometimes tutorial writers skip over explaining the very basics because they assume the student knows those things automatically.

The problems I have seen here, and this includes me too, is that many people don't know PHP or CSS and have a hard time just trying to figure out what each component or section of the page is called. For example, it took me awhile to figure out what the Breadcrumb was. Simple things like that make it hard to do a search to find what your looking for because you have no idea how to word what it is your looking for. Many things I have learned have just been from turning things on and off in a test site to see what it does. But having a visual picture with every section labeled would be a big help. That would make it much easier to know what I am looking for in my CSS.

I have gone through my CSS stylesheet and made comments on everything I have found and what it controls on the page. That has been a big help to me , at least until I can learn it all and remember it right off hand without having to look it up.

So some simple tutorials like that would be great I think. :)

[clydejones]

Easier tutorials would be a good idea. I write tutorials for PSP and have found that sometimes tutorial writers skip over explaining the very basics because they assume the student knows those things automatically.

The problems I have seen here, and this includes me too, is that many people don't know PHP or CSS and have a hard time just trying to figure out what each component or section of the page is called. For example, it took me awhile to figure out what the Breadcrumb was. Simple things like that make it hard to do a search to find what your looking for because you have no idea how to word what it is your looking for. Many things I have learned have just been from turning things on and off in a test site to see what it does. But having a visual picture with every section labeled would be a big help. That would make it much easier to know what I am looking for in my CSS.

I have gone through my CSS stylesheet and made comments on everything I have found and what it controls on the page. That has been a big help to me , at least until I can learn it all and remember it right off hand without having to look it up.

So some simple tutorials like that would be great I think. :)

That's why one of the tutorials is titled:
How do I remove the Home in the middle column next to the Categories box?

[daneh]

As a newer Zenner, I figured I would add my 2 cents. The tutorials are great, but with so much to learn, and it being in many different places, I got a little confused and frustrated myself. How about a dowload or maybe a screenshot that shows where and what each element is. I have so many drawing and notes on my desk, I forget what color it is.

For instance. I am currently trying to change my sideboxes background color. Not knowing exactly what they are called in the CSS, I find a reference to a background color, write it down as well as the line #, look online for the color to try to verify that is what I am looking for,make the change, save and then view my page. VERY time consuming, especially when it is not the correct element I needed. If there was a picture or something that showed approximately where in the CSS you need to make changes, it would save alot of time for newbies. I have downloaded the developer addin for firefox, but that in itself is a little confusing too when you don't know exactly how to use it...LOL

I know it is not Zens fault that I don't know CSS or PHP, but being pointed in the right directions visually would be a great help to newer Zenners.

You guys are awesome!!!Keep up the great work.

[daver1510]

Jbraz are your PSP tutorals online? I could use some basics.

[TShooters]

Daneh,

If you're using FF Web Developer, you can find the colors on the page you're working on pretty fast by being on your page-in-progress, and clicking Information/View Color Information in your
FF Web Developer toolbar.