Things every New Zenner needs to know

[clydejones]

I've got to admit that I can't find what I was looking at last time, and I'm the first to moan about the search functionality on this forum - I've still not been able to figure out how to successfully search for a phrase - but to be quite frank, this part of Zen Cart is not rocket-science...if someone has the ability to actually login to admin, then it shouldn't be that difficult to work out (even from those few lines) how to add a product.

Can I just emphasise that the F in FAQ stands for frequently, so I could easily argue that when there is no information on a topic it's because it is not a frequently asked question, and it's not asked because it's so intuitive that hardly anyone else has needed to ask it over the past few years!

However, there is now a step-by-step at How do I add a category, subcategory or product? which, looking at the date on that, may well have been added as a result of this thread.

Ryk,

I'd have to agree with you on this point. It is fairly easy to figure out.

You're right, I haven't seen that particular question being asked.

I added the the step by step in the tutorial/FAQ section.

[rstevenson]

Hi Ed,

Avlis said...

The answer acknowledged that it would be difficult to understand this for somebody who is not into it.

Duh! Forgive me, but if I understood this, I wouldn't need the forum in the first place....

That's not quite right. Let me use myself as an example. I started using computers in 1985 and have been a geek ever since. I've done database design, user interface design, some programming, etc., etc. I long ago climbed the learning curve of HTML (I was on the internet before there was a world wide web). I also started up the CSS learning curve years ago, and was even present (very marginally, as an observer) during the birth throws of XML.

With all of that you'd think something like Zen Cart would be like breathing to me. Alas no, and for a very simple reason. It's someone else's code (lots of someones, which makes it even harder to get into). It's also someone else's way of using CSS, and their way of laying out pages, and file structures, and their way of designing the interface we users have to grasp in order to use the product.

In other words, despite my experience, I still faced a fairly long learning curve when I started with Zen Cart, and this forum has been a very important source of information for me throughout the process. I first started to set up a store, working a couple of hours a day most days back in late October last year. That first store wasn't ready for prime time until about 2 months ago. By contrast, my second store has taken only about 4 weeks to do. So it does get easier.

By the sounds of it, your learning curve will be steeper, in part because you've leaned on tools which have hidden the hard parts from you. (I was always the sort who lifted the hood and got my hands dirty, so I got a lot of the gory details figured out long ago.)

But whatever length your learning curve turns out to be, I can attest that you can count on an awful lot of support right here in the forum. And I can also attest that the effort is worth it. Zen Cart is an amazing product, and it's just getting better.

Hang in there. Express your frustrations from time to time -- we've all felt them. Ask specific questions in appropriate parts of the forum. And, oh yes, have as much fun as you can -- in between bouts of throwing things at the wall, that is.

Rob

P.S. Do you have THE BOOK?

[Avlis]

I went there and actually looked around the glossary/index/ask a q sections for the first time, and didn't see a place where unanswered questions are displayed. Maybe you need to ask a question to see that?

If questions there really do tend to languish, maybe the "ask" function should be removed...

Oops, now I am doing what I have been complaining about.

After I asked a couple of questions and didn't get any response, I used the Comment option. I think it was on one of the tutorials about the override system, trying to understand how the folder is supposed to be named.

I clicked on the Comment button, and somebody had already asked the same question. It wasn't answered. So I asked it again.

I can't find that post now, so maybe I am still confused. I usually am. But I did find a post with 2 "comments" in the form of questions, unanswered:

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...=36&op=comment

Yes, I would say remove the option to ask a question and refer people to this forum. I still have a hard time tracking down a link to the forum. It is not on the home page, or at least I can't find it. Why not have it on every page?

Also, someone suggested the new book. I'd love that... if I could read it. Unfortunately, after more than 6 days of overusing my eyes, they don't work right anymore. For some reason that my optomotirst and I don't understand, I do much better reading from a computer screen than from a printed page. I cannot even read a whole printed page anymore without my eyes hurting a great deal.

In fact, that was one of the questions I submitted: Is there a version of the book available that I can read on the computer screen? If so, I'd be interested.

However, I read somewhere - in this forum I think - that the book is a collection of all the things that have been posted here on the forum. If that's the case, I am not sure it would help all that much more than the forum.

What I need - remember, Web Pages for Dummies was way too advanced for me - are very simple, very specific step-by-step instructions. With consistent terminology. I was lookin at posts again last night about the override system and one post used at least 3 different names for the "custom" or "your-template-name" or "your-custom-folder" folder.

And please explain what initials and abbreviations mean when you use them.

If you are not a photogrpaher and you ask me a question and I tell you to open up a couple of stops, you won't know what I mean. If I say to process the film (does anybody use film anymore?) so you increase the gamma curve, you won't know what I mean. Compensate for reciprosity failure, etc.

If I were healthier, I'd love to work with somebody to produce a book for the ZenCart that gives that step-by-step proceedure for all of the wonderful features. It really is a fabulous program, and there are a lot of very nice and helpful people on the forum. So thanks for that, and if I have offended anybody, I wasn't trying to... just seems to come naturally to me. :-( I really want to help, so thanks.

Better and better

ed

[gjh42]

Actually, the new book is exactly that step-by-step instruction set for everything you need to do to set up your store, with all the stock functional permutations. Definitely much more than a compilation of FAQs. It doesn't get into the customizing areas - that would have doubled the size of the book at least, and still left gaping holes. It's really too bad your eyes won't let you use it effectively.

[Ryk]

Why not have it on every page?

As has been explained before , to try to get people to read the Tutorial/FAQs before coming to the forum and asking for the umpteenth time "How do I remove the Sales Message Text goes here!" - and it worked!

Is there a version of the book available that I can read on the computer screen?

No, and again, this is fully explained elsewhere.

However, I read somewhere - in this forum I think - that the book is a collection of all the things that have been posted here on the forum. If that's the case, I am not sure it would help all that much more than the forum.

Yes - you did read that...but it was a question itself by someone who hadn't read it. Reviews are available on the publisher's site (and you can see my own here). One thing to consider, bearing in mind your difficulties, is that this book is a manual, and as such, you would most often just be needing to read a small amount at once to achieve your objectives.

one post used at least 3 different names for the "custom" or "your-template-name" or "your-custom-folder" folder.

This will always be a problem in a forum environment, but I can assure you that the book is consistent!

[WHAnderson]

Thank you for the information. That makes it a little hard to find answers about the 2 CheckOut payment module. One of the acronyms most people use when asking about it is 2CO.

With this 4 letter rule I will never be able to actually search for, or find, the discussions/solutions for installing the 2CO Module.

The person who wrote the 2CO module has not updated the README.txt for installing the new version, which I have been unsuccessful at doing.

[Ajeh]

2CO*

That also works on a search for those little stubby guys ...

[WHAnderson]

Thanks. I don't always think to try the wildcards because a lot of search engines will not allow special characters. I'll give it a shot.

2CO*

That also works on a search for those little stubby guys ...

[ctpro]

Great Idea!!! I am a newbie and have only read the first two lines of your post and want one!!!!

Thanks

[DrByte]

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?category=16