Page 1 of 25 12311 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 734

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    New Mexico
    Posts
    393
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Things every New Zenner needs to know

    PRE-EMPTIVE EDIT:

    A lot of documentation has been added to the NEW Knowledgebase:
    https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/



    ----------------------------------------------
    Original discussion:
    New Zen Cart users get easily frustrated. They often do not know how to find answers to their questions and if they stumble onto the right answer they don't realize it's the right answer. The recent 'reboot' for the forum so closely on the heels of the upgrade to 1.3 seems to have made things worse.

    I am considering writing a "Getting Started" style document that focuses on templates, overrides, colors, text, images and the like. Perhaps a reasonable title will be "Top 10 Questions asked by New Zenners" or "10 things every New Zenner should know but doesn't know where to find."

    I would like to hear from New Zenners about this project. What did you have the most trouble with? What documents did you feel were lacking? What were the top problems and questions you had? -- Things like that.

    Part of the rationale for this project is that as users can perform more tasks without having to post a thread like "I am such a newb and have no idea what I am doing" it will free the Devs for more time in core upgrades. Hopefully, users that are more successful at the beginning will press on and have a viable online business and donate back to Zen Cart.

    I will be away from the forum for a few days (niece's wedding) this weekend. Further, I don't plan to reply to every post. This is a place to collect feedback from new users.

    If more experienced users post, perhaps you could list the mistakes you most often see.

    The final location for the project is uncertain. In many ways, it will be a duplicate of material in the FAQ and Wiki. However, much of that material needs to be updated and New Zenners seem to not read it or not understand it. I will continue to try to coordinate this with the Devs so that it benefits the most in the community.

    Please presume a successful install of ZenCart 1.3+. I would like to focus on customizations issues that every new users is likely to experience.

    Feel free to PM with info you would rather not be in the forum.
    Last edited by swguy; 31 Mar 2020 at 12:15 PM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO USA
    Posts
    7,033
    Plugin Contributions
    31

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    Bruce,

    To get you started, here are two of of the most common questions I've seen.

    How do I change the "sales message goes here" text.

    How do I change/turn off "Welcome Guest" message.

    I also see lots of questions on modifing the tpl_product_info_display.php

    Let me know if you would like some help with the project.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Colorado Springs, CO USA
    Posts
    7,033
    Plugin Contributions
    31

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    PS.

    Ryk had a really good primer on preparing images for Zen Cart

    Here's a link for his tutorial

    There are several other "sticky" HOW TOs in the archived forum that might be useful to pull together.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    16,042
    Plugin Contributions
    5

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    If you need help with the paypal let me know,
    I need to update the current paypal tutorial anyway might as well put it all in one place

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    57
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    1) How to add a logo and remove "sales message goes here"
    2) How to centre a logo
    3) How do attributes work - in plain english
    4) How to understand what a CSS file is telling you, so you can edit it yourself!
    5) What are the main PHP files that zenners tend to edit for layout, and what does each one do? For example, to work on my sideboxes...which php?

    6) Why is it a bad idea to modify the custom template and install a blank one in a "custom" folder. I have this, and still don't understand why.


    Nat

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Posts
    38
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    my template is based off the custom template, in a different folder with a different name of course. If there is a problem with that, it needs to be stated clearly and it also needs to be mentioned in the install. So I agree about that.

    Also I second the explination on attributes, I know zen cart is very powerful and can do a lot of things, but some of the options I just don't understand. Also, how come you make an option name like "color" and give it a whole bunch of options, but then when you go to add an option to a product, you have to select each option name and each option individually, so you can put an option like "extra large" in an option name of "color" or what not... I got it to work and everything, but it's either designed poorly or I don't understand it.

    Also an explination of what's modified in the overrides and what's modified in the admin, because sometimes I looked for stuff in overrides and it was in the admin, and the developers tool kit doesn't search the admin (database) as far as I can tell, so it can be very frustrating. (I had this problem when trying to figure out how to remove the prefix of "|_" for sub directories.

    In fact, there should be a write up on every single option available in the admin and what it can do. The structure of the write up should be the same as the admin, that is, on the admin home you have a list of options, and all options have sub options. In the write up the categories should breakdown exactly the same way so if I see an option somewhere and I'm like "what does that do?" I can quickly and easily find it. And it should be searchable, and every little option should have a description with common search string meta tag type things so that if I search for "subcategory prefix" the thing will pop up that controls that.

    Yes, that would be awesome.

    An explination on the following options while adding a product for sale:
    Product Qty Units:
    Product Qty Units Mix on/off:

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    2
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    Can you help me how to change "Sales message goes here"
    I have searched all header.php files

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Posts
    21
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    Quote Originally Posted by NattyCat View Post
    1) How to add a logo and remove "sales message goes here"
    2) How to centre a logo
    3) How do attributes work - in plain english
    4) How to understand what a CSS file is telling you, so you can edit it yourself!
    5) What are the main PHP files that zenners tend to edit for layout, and what does each one do? For example, to work on my sideboxes...which php?

    6) Why is it a bad idea to modify the custom template and install a blank one in a "custom" folder. I have this, and still don't understand why.


    Nat
    I am not computer illiterate,but I am dumping this system and going to another. I am unable to modify the "header sales" option. define..I think I am going to dump this and go to oz

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    nsw
    Posts
    2
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    css problem Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    Quote Originally Posted by NattyCat View Post
    1) How to add a logo and remove "sales message goes here"
    2) How to centre a logo
    3) How do attributes work - in plain english
    4) How to understand what a CSS file is telling you, so you can edit it yourself!
    5) What are the main PHP files that zenners tend to edit for layout, and what does each one do? For example, to work on my sideboxes...which php?

    6) Why is it a bad idea to modify the custom template and install a blank one in a "custom" folder. I have this, and still don't understand why.


    Nat

    Hi Nat,

    I hear you, I gather you are having/had the same problem I am, I
    centered my logo and now there is a gray bar underneath and as i dontno what it is i cant get rid of it. Dont suppose you have have solved some isssues you could help me with.
    I would really appreciate any help

    www.bcallpack.com.au

    Karen

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Posts
    656
    Plugin Contributions
    0

    Default Re: Things every New Zenner needs to know

    I would like to see a solid and thorough explanation on ZenCart's CSS. What to change for a specific effect, etc. Especially since 1.3x is more CSS based, and that seems to be the direction for future releases as well.

    A well thought out, well commented tutorial with a fully commented (NO abbreviations) CSS file example would help newbies and struggling intermediates tremendously.

    I Think, Therefore I Zen. I Zen, Therefore, I AM!
    Personalized Flowers!
    Flowertown Speaking Roses
    using version 1.5.7-06232020

 

 
Page 1 of 25 12311 ... LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Newbie Zenner needs help with sideboxes
    By Bgray in forum Setting Up Categories, Products, Attributes
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 14 Jun 2011, 01:29 AM
  2. New Zenner - Needs help Center Heading Text Color
    By atl2rva in forum Templates, Stylesheets, Page Layout
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 24 Feb 2010, 09:51 PM
  3. Need to know how to do a few things......
    By davida50000 in forum General Questions
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 16 Jun 2009, 08:37 PM
  4. Things every new zenner shouldn't have to know
    By TechOnADesk in forum Templates, Stylesheets, Page Layout
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 4 Jan 2008, 05:49 PM
  5. Confused new zenner needs help upgrading from 1.3.5 to 1.3.6
    By MicrophonePro in forum Upgrading from 1.3.x to 1.3.9
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 3 Nov 2006, 06:41 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
disjunctive-egg
Zen-Cart, Internet Selling Services, Klamath Falls, OR