Is it bad: not using the override system

[Hyena]

Hello everyone.

I am a new zenner, and I really like Zencart so fart. Problem is I didn't use the override system and went ahead and changed everything around in the code...I know a bit of php already and html quite well.

So now, is it totally wrong what I did? Will I have technical or legal problems of some sort?

Thank you for reading me and answering me!

[ThePatch]

The only problem that I can forsee would be if you had to update, such as 1.3.7 to 2.x.x or something.

Don't sweat it though, I did the same thing when I first started. Then I saw the benefits of using the override system and I haven't looked back since.

Do you remember what all you changed?

Can you give us a link?

[Hyena]

thank you for the answer!!
I am a little shy about showing in progress work! Yes, I remember all I changed and back up everything several times. Plus I keep printed copies of the stylesheet so I think I am fine...

Anyhow I am glad to hear I am not the only one who did that! I don't know why, but I cannot wrap my head around the override system...I see the advantage of it but it seems like a mess to me...I like very clean architecture and in a way it messes it...Maybe it is just silly me...

I will post a link to my site in several days...

[Kim]

When you do not use the override system you risk losing your customizations during an upgrade.

While it may seem a bit complicated at first, there is a method to the madness. The keys to remember is anywhere you see a /classic/ directory you can use overrides. Those custom directories are at the same level as the file you are overriding. Example: You want to change the wording of a phrase in the header.php. That file is located in /includes/languages/english/ to protect your changes you would put your customized header.php in /includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE_NAME/

Once you understand and use the system you will never want to touch a core file again.

[Hyena]

Thank you Kim!

So to be safe, should I start copying all the files I edited in my custom template? (I created one, but had a problem with the buttons and gave up!)

Is this needed a lot to upgrade the zencart version?

I must be a little nut because I like the core files!

[ThePatch]

Once you understand and use the system you will never want to touch a core file again.

Never a truer word spoken!