Adding About Page and other content, without plugins?

[plc613]

In the link provided, there's a reference to an about us file. In this reference, there's no file path or file extension. Am I suppose to paste that in the tpl_information.php as is?

$content .= '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_ABOUT_US) . '">' . BOX_INFORMATION_ABOUT_US . '</a>';

[swguy]

That link is appropriate if you have used one of the plugins I linked. Have you?

[swguy]

For the record, I was look at response /10 in this thread which implies it pretty easy:
https://www.zen-cart.com/showthread....ne-page-status

What she said - thirteen years ago, in 2007 - is true - you can create a define page with no extra coding. But to put that content on a page that will show up in your store requires extra work.

There are three ways to create a new page, which are documented here:

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/custo...ate-a-new-page

You can't just create a file in html_includes and assume that will work.

[plc613]

That link is appropriate if you have used one of the plugins I linked. Have you?

I did not install any plugin. I'm always reluctant to do so because I want my store in as stock state as possible. I was burnt by customization before and it wasn't pretty so I avoid it at all cost now. So to add a link to a page you're saying I cannot edit the tpl_information file and add the define_page.php in my template directory then?

[swguy]

If you want an About Us page, and you don't want to install a plugin, do this:

a) Create an EZ Page. In 1.5.7 you can set the Page is Visible radio button to Yes. In prior versions, set the Header, Sidebox or Footer display flag to Yes and sort order to > 0.

b) Add a link in the Important Links sidebox using

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/sideb...ation_sidebox/

search down for "If the link is to an internal EZ-Page, use"

OR use the EZ-Pages sidebox (no coding needed).

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/sideb...pages_sidebox/

[mc12345678]

I did not install any plugin. I'm always reluctant to do so because I want my store in as stock state as possible. I was burnt by customization before and it wasn't pretty so I avoid it at all cost now. So to add a link to a page you're saying I cannot edit the tpl_information file and add the define_page.php in my template directory then?

(tongue-in-cheek) so which do you think is better, a modification that you make based on what may or may not seem right, or one that is packaged with instructions, guidance, people that are familiar with it and can offer specific direction/guidance when determining whether something works or not... both are modifications and both are intended to provide a final product/look... just asking, since such things are avoided at all cost...

Neither one of them said that you couldn't do it on your own, the basic claim was creating a define page is just one thing that needs to be done. Adding content as you have suggested to other pages would align with their statements. How you do that? Well, if you do it on your own and without using a published and excepted practice then troubleshooting may become interesting (could be uneventful also). It's a lot about how you want to do things now and in the future... use of a pre-built solution means that when something "central" changes, it will be known and understood. Using something unique, well requires a little more homework/legwork to remain up-to-date in some cases. Sure, in other cases there haven't been changes in some things for a very long time... nothing wrong with that either...

Whatever the case, be sure to backup the file(s) being modified (before modifying them) and would recommend a database backup as well just in case...

[plc613]

If you want an About Us page, and you don't want to install a plugin, do this:

a) Create an EZ Page. In 1.5.7 you can set the Page is Visible radio button to Yes. In prior versions, set the Header, Sidebox or Footer display flag to Yes and sort order to > 0.

b) Add a link in the Important Links sidebox using

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/sideb...ation_sidebox/

search down for "If the link is to an internal EZ-Page, use"

OR use the EZ-Pages sidebox (no coding needed).

https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/sideb...pages_sidebox/

Okay so that worked except Im̀ not getting the formatting. do I have to add a class to it?
$content .= '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_EZPAGES,'id=2') . '">' . "About Us" . '</a>';

[plc613]

I got it. So in https://docs.zen-cart.com/user/sideb...ation_sidebox/

The code shows:

$content .= '<a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_EZPAGES,'id=9') . '">' . "My new page" . '</a>';

For EZ pages but if you look carefully you can see that that above (in the URL) the code is wrapped with list tags ie <li> So the correct code is actually:

$content .= '<li><a href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_EZPAGES,'id=2') . '">' . "About Us" . '</a></li>' . "\n";

Otherwise the EZ page will be listed but will not be part of the enumerated list.

[dbltoe]

You got there in a roundabout way. The link I gave you earlier in post#7 was the correct process to use and avoid the confusion of is it for the information box or for the EZPages. It points out the need for the <li> tags.

[swguy]

@plc613 said
> For EZ pages .. the code is wrapped with list tags
Yep, you're right - this will be fixed in the next update to that page.

@dbltoe said
> The link I gave you earlier in post#7 was the correct process to use ...
You're both right - I was updating the page in real time as I was answering the question, and the later examples (after your post #7) were abbreviated, which meant they couldn't be used with copy and paste.