Is this design possible?

[gjh42]

OK, my two cents... Yes, float the header, and...

#headerWrapper {width: 580px; float: right;}

#navColumnOne {float: left; margin-top: 130px;}

#navBreadCrumb {margin-top: 240px;}

#navColumnTwo {display: none;} (actually just turn off in admin)

Apply these to a fresh install and see how you get the basic layout already, just a bit more tweaking and box styling required.

[banswidthjunkie]

I guess I have to disagree with banswidthjunkie, in that this does not require programming and can be created with mostly default functions and a couple of modules. A programmer not familiar with Zencart will only wrestle with the cart code un-necessairly.
Nice to see a cleanly laid out design

You could do it badly without the help of a programmer, or well with one. A decent programmer will make zencart do what you want it to do. A zencart programmer will make you do what zencart wants to do.

Anyway that's just my opinion.

[afo]

You could do it badly without the help of a programmer, or well with one. A decent programmer will make zencart do what you want it to do. A zencart programmer will make you do what zencart wants to do.

Anyway that's just my opinion.

99% of the time, recoding something is unnecessary. As Kobra pointed out, there's a lot that can be done with the stylesheet, admin settings and mods.

If you work withing Zen Cart's existing framework, it'll be much easier to upgrade/update later. If you insist on reinventing the wheel, you'll have to reinvent it every time.

[rainthebat]

If you insist on reinventing the wheel, you'll have to reinvent it every time.

True, I think as well that an inventor enjoys the process of inventing and to become better at it, would not mind doing it over until it is a subconscious trait. And who knows, maybe after a million billion tries someone will come up with some sort of four-dimensional wheel that can roll both ways or expand and contract and invert or something.

[afo]

That's very true... especially of programmers... I know because I am one.

[gjh42]

"A decent programmer will make zencart do what you want it to do. A zencart programmer will make you do what zencart wants to do."

In some cases, this is true. Of course, a decent Zen Cart programmer will make ZC do what you want it to do *and* be easy to upgrade.

In trhis case, it's a moot point because the design is so easy to achieve with barely any coding at all. (And, it's a beautiful design... best of both worlds!)

[afo]

True, I think as well that an inventor enjoys the process of inventing and to become better at it, would not mind doing it over until it is a subconscious trait. And who knows, maybe after a million billion tries someone will come up with some sort of four-dimensional wheel that can roll both ways or expand and contract and invert or something.

After thinking about your comment, I realized you completely missed the point of what I was saying. If you insist on tinkering with the code in ways it wasn't intended to be tinkered with, you will have to repeat that tinkering with every single upgrade/update (which is what I meant by reinventing the wheel) or you'll have to remain frozen in the version you tinkered with, losing out on any enhancements in future versions of Zen.

When you reinvent the wheel, you DON'T invent a new wheel. You simply reinvent the same wheel over and over.

[kobra]

If you insist on tinkering with the code in ways it wasn't intended to be tinkered with, you will have to repeat that tinkering with every single upgrade/update

Major point here is that if you as the store owner are having this done for you at a fee - then anything outside of the structure will require another fee for an upgrade.

An item that a Zenner will attempt to avoid - but if the customer insists....

[afo]

Major point here is that if you as the store owner are having this done for you at a fee - then anything outside of the structure will require another fee for an upgrade.

An item that a Zenner will attempt to avoid - but if the customer insists....

I agree, Kobra.

I've seen Zenners on this forum who insist they absolutely must do something a certain way when it's really just a matter of perception, not an actual requirement. If they'd step back and work within the framework of Zen Cart, they'd have a functioning cart that would be easy to maintain.

If you make changes outside of the structure, you're restricting your options. If the person who did the work for you is suddenly unavailable, your hands are tied until you find someone else who can continue the work (or do the upgrade).

If you can achieve the look you want without bashing around in places you don't belong, you're much better off.