Things every New Zenner needs to know

[fabienne]

You can likely make edits to the index.php if you get it from the
server. From the browser it's written in a bunch of html - that's
what the php does, it generates it. But if you put the html in the
index.php file it confuses the heck out of it.

That was what the problem was. I had not gotten it from the server but I did get it from the browser. That is why the php was getting all bungled up. Hope that helps someone else. It was a hard lesson for me to learn.

[WHAnderson]

Originally Posted by Ryk What a load of crap! The truth is that as long as you understand the basics of uploading and downloading files from the 'net, either via FTP or your host's control panel, and can read and follow instructions, anyone can set up and make minor changes to a Zen cart store.

And there's the problem - "read and follow instructions". How long to learn php, and about not putting spaces after a closing tag, and about matching quotes and about uploading in binary (even though it says ascii for text files) and about permissions??!

To even change the default text on the front page requires at least all of the above.

Thank You kelvyn.

I had given up on trying to set-up Zen Cart after four months of trying to get answers, following the, normally outdated - written for older versions, cryptic instructions and trying to read through the thousands of responses which matched every word used in a search term. And, after getting derogatory responses such as Ryk gives. The last straw was when I kept getting told to buy the book for my answers because it contained all of the FAQ's and answers I would need. Not true.

I have been working with websites for about 12 years now, yes that was before CSS and PHP, and continue to be amazed at how blind and egotistical some of the open source programmers and people with an understanding of how a software package works are. They continue to assume that everyone knows what they are thinking and should, therefore, know how to use their software and add-ons/plug-ins.

They feel as if they shouldn't have to write instructions or explain anything to anyone because "they" know "everyone" will know what they know and meant. I give Ryk's words back to Ryk; "What a load of crap!" The instructions, if they wrote any, for version 1 are still good for version 99. That is just not true. The programmers seem to think it doesn't matter if they changed filenames or coding, because "everyone" should know how to use and apply it anyway. An example of that are the instructions for installing the 2 Checkout.Com plug-in. The plug-in was updated, but the instructions still talk about the original filenames and directories, which no longer exist.

[fabienne]

I added a new category, Collections (they are collections of different scents about one theme). The Collections page is Path=14 but each of the collections has a different prod_id number. Each separate collection is a product. Can I change the backgrounds of each of the product pages? I was thinking I could do the same thing as I did with the EZ Pages background changes, and I know there is a chapter feature (i.e. name the stylesheet for product_id=55 something like chapter_55) but I don't know exactly what to use for a stylesheet name, is this a feature I can use? Thanks.

[kuroi]

I added a new category, Collections (they are collections of different scents about one theme). The Collections page is Path=14 but each of the collections has a different prod_id number. Each separate collection is a product. Can I change the backgrounds of each of the product pages? I was thinking I could do the same thing as I did with the EZ Pages background changes, and I know there is a chapter feature (i.e. name the stylesheet for product_id=55 something like chapter_55) but I don't know exactly what to use for a stylesheet name, is this a feature I can use? Thanks.

You can create stylesheets called p_??.css where ?? is the id number of the product.

[clydejones]

I added a new category, Collections (they are collections of different scents about one theme). The Collections page is Path=14 but each of the collections has a different prod_id number. Each separate collection is a product. Can I change the backgrounds of each of the product pages? I was thinking I could do the same thing as I did with the EZ Pages background changes, and I know there is a chapter feature (i.e. name the stylesheet for product_id=55 something like chapter_55) but I don't know exactly what to use for a stylesheet name, is this a feature I can use? Thanks.

You can create stylesheets called p_??.css where ?? is the id number of the product.

Here are some additional examples

(category) c_??.css ??=category id
(product) p_??.css ??=product id
(manufacturer) m_??.css ??=manafacturer id
(chapter) chapter_??.css ??=chapter id
(expage) ezpage_??.css ??=ezpage id
(individual pages) ??.css ??=page name (i.e. contact_us.css)

[fabienne]

I want to change my e-mail welcome. I have to do that in an override. Fine. But the e-mail welcome file is in an area where there are no files named either "classic" or "template_default". It is here: zen-cart/admin/includes/languages/english/email_welcome.php

[FONT=Arial]No where along the way do I see any folders or files called "classic" or "template_default". Where should I put my override email_welcome.php? I don't think I should put it in the same place I overrode all the other things, should I? zen-cart/includes/templates/magic/..

Great confusion. Thanks for any help.
[/FONT]

[Ryk]

There is presently no override system for admin, so you would need to replace the core file with your own - but when doing that, always rename the original first and leave it on the server rather than just overwriting it.

Also, the email welcome content can be found in includes/languages/english/create_account.php which can be overridden

The one you are looking at in admin is the preview

[fabienne]

Thanks, now I see that it is possible because there is a "classic" folder in the English level. Many thanks.

[freshstart]

Hello all

As a 'new Zenner' I considered it appropriate to reply to your current discussion. I am not a coder.

In recent weeks I attended a web page design course with a local college here in England, which gave me a good introduction to HTML and working with Dreamweaver. Since then I have been playing around with designing my own website (s) as a type of further education / hobby.

Then came my experimentation with OS Commerce, which I spent around 45 hours trying to understand and install correctly. That experiment ended yesterday morning By the afternoon I had accessed this forum and set up Zen Cart on my server. I also added the UK contribution and later experimented with templates (both of which I could not do with OSC) I have yet to customise the software to what I require.

I am at a very early stage in my Zen career and have only touched upon CSS in Dreamweaver. So I would urge all of those Zenners out there who are involved in development of Zencart tutorials to keep it simple

Thanx for listening (reading)

[mdoja]

How do i remove the the message "This is the main define statement for the page for english when no template defined file exists. It is located in: /includes/languages/english/index.php" from my main page. I have located how to remove sales message goes here and you have successfully intsalled zen cart. My shop's url is http://www.onlineduka.com/shop