How-To: zc Modification / Programming Basics

[crazy_chris]

hey all,

maybe offtopic, but i wanted to sum this infos up, just to have a quick overview of the basic techniques for modifying and re-writing parts of zencart.

1. useful
   
   
   1. zencart forum
   2. tutorials
   3. wiki
   4. developer toolkit (get used to it!)
      it's located in the admin area -> tools -> developer toolkit
      since there are plenty of files, it's used to quickly find the ones you want to modify
      _
      
2. beginner reads (zencart wiki)
   _
   1. top 10 questions asked by new zencart users
   2. customisation
   3. administration howto
   4. visual overview of zencart
      
      _
      
3. templates
   they reside in /includes/templates/.
   inside your_template_dir/ (/includes/templates/your_template_dir/) you can safely experiment and change or delete everything you like
   
   
   1. setting up a new template
      
      
   2. stylesheets
      any file with .css extension inside your_template_dir/css will be loaded in zencart. i'd suggest creating some more like stylesheet_newelements.css and stylesheet_sideboxes.css to quickly find your own changes.
      
      
   3. most common template files
      are inside your_template_dir/common.
      copy all the files from template_default/common there and start playing around
      
      
   4. all other template files
      are found inside your_template_dir/templates.
      copy the ones you need to change from template_default/templates/ there.
      
      _
      
4. rewriting parts of the code
   
   
   1. it's most important to get an idea of where to find the files. use the developer-toolkit!
      a good way to find the right files is to search for the id's of the elements, you want to change the content of.
      
      
   2. most of the time you find the files for the background-code of a page inside /includes/modules/
      __
      _
5. database infos
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   1. use phpMyAdmin, a web-interface for database-administration
      _
   2. make frequent backups, either with phpMyAdmin or by hand:
      mysqldump db_name > ~/zencart_backup.sql
      _
   3. restore a database again:
      mysql db_name < ~/zencart_backup.sql
      __
      _
6. programming tools
   _
   1. use svn/subversion to keep control of your changes
      (also import the database-dumps). once tried out, you'll like it
      _
      here are some howtos: Version Control for Non-Programmers, Subversion e-book
      
      i can also recommend SmartSVN, as a good interface (TortoiseSVN might be another choice)
      _
   2. of course a good text-editor with syntax-highlighting is a must.
      i currently use bluefish (linux) and notepad++ (win)
      _
   3. more useful tools (@ zencart wiki)

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i know, this just scratched the surface, so please add your infos too!

[birdoasis]

Very nice guide!

Except that you forgot the manual...( ARE YOU CRAZY?... oh yea, I uh guess you are. )

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STICKY PLEASE!!!