How To Create Your Own sidebox in v1.3.x

[MadPricerSales]

A sidebox consists of three files, which are located in the includes directory:

1. modules/sideboxes/custom/name_of_sidebox.php
2. languages/english/extra_definitions/custom/
   name_of_sidebox_defines.php
3. templates/custom/sideboxes/tpl_name_of_sidebox.php

You need to replace custom and name_of_sidebox with your template name and the sidebox name respectively.
For example, let us build a sidebox named my_sidebox. Then, my_sidebox.php file will read like this:
####################################################################################################____
<?php
$show_my_sidebox = true;
if ($show_my_sidebox == true){
require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_my_sidebox.php',
DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes').
'/tpl_my_sidebox.php');
$title = BOX_HEADING_MY_SIDEBOX;
$left_corner = false;
$right_corner = false;
$right_arrow = false;
require($template->get_template_dir($column_box_default,
DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'common') .
'/' . $column_box_default);
}
?>
####################################################################################################____
This page actually defines what is to be shown in that sidebox. Note that this page also includes the corresponding template file. Here, we have used a constant BOX_HEADING_MY_SIDEBOX.

You need to define this in the includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/custom/my_sidebox_defines.php file. This file will look like this:
####################################################################################################____
<?php
define('BOX_HEADING_MY_SIDEBOX', 'My Sidebox');
?>
####################################################################################################____
Now, you have to build its template file includes/templates/custom/sideboxes/tpl_my_sidebox.php
which will read as:
####################################################################################################____
<?php
$content = "This is my first Sidebox. I have created it in 5 minutes. Although it is not of practical use yet, I hope I can eventually build a good sidebox.";
?>
####################################################################################################____

NOTE: Remember to replace custom with your over rides template name. And Remember to place them in the right folder paths. PLease comment if this helped you. I will post more on other features later.

[schoolboy]

... or you could just go HERE

[MadPricerSales]

... or you could just go HERE

Yes you could, but doing it yourself will help you to see how the php code works. Learning by doing. Plus will allow you to see how the overrides work.

[schoolboy]

I'm not an airline pilot, so if I want to go to New York from London, I buy an air ticket... I don't train to be a pilot.

There may be some merit in the "tutorial" aspect of what you are suggesting, but why re-invent the wheel?

[gjh42]

If you do want to build the files yourself, you should leave out the

$left_corner = false;
$right_corner = false;
$right_arrow = false;

as these are from a very old version of the sidebox and not actually used for anything in the current version of Zen Cart.

[monkeytown]

Actually, I find this board to be helpful, just what I was looking for. Thanks.

[pdiamond]

Yes good info. This also gives me the info to modify existing sideboxes in a way as now I know how they actually work.. Thanks for the thread..

[iluvedancin]

Hi there

I so far have been able to follow your thorough and clear instructions and the sidebox is now in my admin panel. I am stuck however on what to do next because I have created a menu using coffecup, which is in text/javascript form and I am not quite sure where I should put this code instead of having the normal catagories sidebox, are you able to advise at all?

Many thanks in advance.

Claire :)

[gjh42]

You might try searching the forum for info on using javascript in sideboxes.
What are you trying to achieve with your custom categories-type menu? Unless you have integrated the PHP logic that builds it from the database, your hard-coded menu will be static and need to be edited manually every time a category changes.
There are existing mods in Free Addons for a number of common category menu arrangements.

[hitcher]

Hi, is there a way to build multiple sideboxes that will display different EZ page links in each box? Or is there another way of achieving it? My intentions are to have different groups of static page links in different boxes if it is possible at all. I also would be setting different heading names for each box.

Thanks.