Things every New Zenner needs to know

[Rob905]

Um ... *what* error ? Details might point out what exactly is wrong.



It's very hard to give you specific help when you don't answer the questions asked so that there's something to go on.

It sounds like your host's easy-install isn't doing you any favors -- esp if it's leaving you with SQL errors after installation.
There's no point throwing in the towel and saying the thing doesn't work when you haven't figured out what's wrong. If everyone who ever used the software had the very same problem, then throwing hands up would make logical sense. But, asking how to get into the admin, being given an answer, and then saying it brings up an error but not sharing the error message ... is ... well ... futile.

If you've already given up, then I wish you the best of success in whatever other route you take. Just remember to try to help the folks trying to help you as you go along.

I have even tried to install the program from file I downloaded after removing the "Easy Install" verson from the server. I tried to follow the instructions that came with the program and found that files that should be renamed apparently had already been done. I looked at the screen that is made by the install program for quite a while last nite trying to figure out what I needed to do before I could finally click on that install button, but I just could not get rid of that big stop sign at the top that indicated there was a file missing although it was definattley there.
Since I don't have enough PHP programming knowledge I rely on the instructions that come with the program and the installer that is provided. In this particular case I'm just getting lost in all the places to go get the info I need and I don't have that kind of patience. Sorry.

[2neat]

I am still struggling with the banners on the site.

It does not seem very obvious to me how to turn these off and on, or how to swap out the demo banners for ones I might like.

2neat

[DrByte]

I am still struggling with the banners on the site.

It does not seem very obvious to me how to turn these off and on, or how to swap out the demo banners for ones I might like.

2neat

Banners are controlled in the admin: Admin->Tools->Banner Manager
You can alter settings, add/remove banners, select images, etc.

If you're having specific problems beyond "where do I do this", I would suggest posting a new discussion on it over in the Banners area: http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=30

[Rob905]

I get an SQL error.

Um ... *what* error ? Details might point out what exactly is wrong.

Please provide site URL.

It's very hard to give you specific help when you don't answer the questions asked so that there's something to go on.

It sounds like your host's easy-install isn't doing you any favors -- esp if it's leaving you with SQL errors after installation.
There's no point throwing in the towel and saying the thing doesn't work when you haven't figured out what's wrong. If everyone who ever used the software had the very same problem, then throwing hands up would make logical sense. But, asking how to get into the admin, being given an answer, and then saying it brings up an error but not sharing the error message ... is ... well ... futile.

If you've already given up, then I wish you the best of success in whatever other route you take. Just remember to try to help the folks trying to help you as you go along.

Well I'm back.
After a frusterating day at work listing to people complain about the price drop of the iPhone I decided to take frusteration out on this project. :-)
Low and behold I now have a working cart, was able to get into the admin and no more SQL errors.

My next question is now, how do I stop the cart from showing OUT OF STOCK all the time. I don't carry many products in stock due to the size of the catalog so I just want people to be able to see the product, description and price and decide if they want to order it or not. I tried to turn of the option to show the quantity box but then got an error that I had done when I saved the item.

Thanks for the encouragement.

[DrByte]

My next question is now, how do I stop the cart from showing OUT OF STOCK all the time. I don't carry many products in stock due to the size of the catalog so I just want people to be able to see the product, description and price and decide if they want to order it or not. I tried to turn of the option to show the quantity box but then got an error that I had done when I saved the item.

Thanks for the encouragement.

There are settings to control out-of-stock behaviour in Admin->Configuration->Stock. You can choose to show an out-of-stock image instead of add-to-cart. You can choose to allow checkout even when out of stock. You can have products disabled automatically if they go out of stock. And so on.

[Rob905]

There are settings to control out-of-stock behaviour in Admin->Configuration->Stock. You can choose to show an out-of-stock image instead of add-to-cart. You can choose to allow checkout even when out of stock. You can have products disabled automatically if they go out of stock. And so on.

I thought I had them all set correctly yet when I look at the items I've added, it still has the words "out of stock" under each small image.
Can you possibly look at www.robertensing.com/zencart and look at the "New Products".

Thanks

[peggy]

I didn't view all the 39 pages so I hope it is still ok to add my post as the OP invited us to do?

I see a lot of people answer questions with "you can find the file you need to edit in the developers toolkit in your admin"
What I don't understand about this answer is if you don't know what file you are looking for in the first place how can you search for it?

So it would be nice if there was an alphabetical list of all the files needed for editing and where they are located.

[clydejones]

I didn't view all the 39 pages so I hope it is still ok to add my post as the OP invited us to do?

I see a lot of people answer questions with "you can find the file you need to edit in the developers toolkit in your admin"
What I don't understand about this answer is if you don't know what file you are looking for in the first place how can you search for it?

So it would be nice if there was an alphabetical list of all the files needed for editing and where they are located.

This might get you started

Note: *.php means any of the files in the listed directory

[DrByte]

I thought I had them all set correctly yet when I look at the items I've added, it still has the words "out of stock" under each small image.
Can you possibly look at www.robertensing.com/zencart and look at the "New Products".

Thanks

To manage the display of items on the New Products listing, go to Admin->Configuration->New Listing.
If you change Display Product Quantity to 0, then the quantity-indicator will no longer show.

[peggy]

This might get you started

Note: *.php means any of the files in the listed directory

Thanks for that but I have played with all those files already.
I am talking about any other file and every other file that is not in that list.

How can you search for a file in the developers toolkit when you don't know what the name of that file is in the first place?

Maybe I am not explaining myself very well