Categories Dressing

[CoolCarPartsOnline]

I have read online about optimizing Website, and everyone agrees that getting the customer to what they want on your site with the lowest amount of clicks is VERY important in conversion rates. I had this mod installed for a while, Used some of the features and ignored some. Today I decided I will Use this mod to the fullest.
Iam trying to make my main Categories to look like they are different sidebox so customers can browse the sub-categories directly, Now I know yellow had a mod called simple categorie tree on his site but his site seems to be down for the past 2 days.
know the questions I have:
1. Can I display the main categories without a link so they look that they are Sidebox header???
2. Is there a way around displaying the Sub-categorie on the main page rather than Yellows mod?
3. I would also like to add a side box that will only be displayed in the product info page that will display the content of the categorie the product is, For example if a customer is looking at a Turbo Kit located under the Performance categorie the sidebox will diplay the Performance categorie as a right side Sidebox.

[some name not taken]

Thank-you, Kuroi. - The debugger is very useful, but I still have no footer and no images in place of the category names either.

I am going to see if I can solve this problem the long way, ie: the PHP equivalent of HTTP use this specific hyperlinked image for this specific object, seeing as it looks like the only possible way to make images in place of titles work for product displayed on the main page without resorting to making all my products featured, special, or new.

Glamorousshoe, have you looked at Better Categories? - I have not used it myself, but it is almost a template modification and looks to have some of what you are looking for.

[some name not taken]

Forget the absolute PHP coding I mentionned above - it won't work.

So there is absolutely no way PHP modifications will work at all for anyone wanting categories displayed as images on the main page with columnar layout and without resorting to using a featured, new, or specials box on their front page.

No wonder people use commercial carts!

[jvanree]

regarding post http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...&postcount=412

Hi Glenn,

I thought I understood your solution, but I can't seem to get it to work in the tpl categories php. Could you please have one more look at the file and tell me what I need to replace with what? If I do it myself I get an unexpected else if and if I remove the else if thing I get an unexpected {

I think I'm missing something to do with a file flow or something but php is still very difficult for me

<?php
/**
 * Side Box Template
 *
 * @package templateSystem
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2006 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: tpl_categories.php 4162 2006-08-17 03:55:02Z ajeh $
 * Modified for Categories Dressing v2.2  by Glenn Herbert (gjh42)  2008-02-25
 */
  $disp_block = '';
  //$disp_block = '<br />'; //if not using display: block; in stylesheet, uncomment  this line
  $disp_block_head = '';
  //$disp_block_head = '<br />';  // for headings not block uncomment this line
  $content = "";
  
  $content .= '<div id="' . str_replace('_', '-', $box_id . 'Content') . '" class="sideBoxContent">' . "\n";
  for ($i=0;$i<sizeof($box_categories_array);$i++) {
    switch(true) {
// to make a specific category stand out define a new class in the stylesheet example: A.category-holiday
// uncomment the select below and set the cPath=3 to the cPath= your_categories_id
// many variations of this can be done
//      case ($box_categories_array[$i]['path'] == 'cPath=3'):
//        $new_style = 'category-holiday';
//        break;
      case ($box_categories_array[$i]['top'] == 'true'):
        $new_style = 'category-top';
        break;
      case ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']):
        $new_style = 'category-subs';
        break;
      default:
        $new_style = 'category-products';
    }
    $current_path = str_replace("cPath=","",$box_categories_array[$i]['path']);
    if (zen_get_product_types_to_category($box_categories_array[$i]['path']) == 3 or ($box_categories_array[$i]['top'] != 'true' and SHOW_CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_ALWAYS != 1)) {
      // skip if this is for the document box (==3) 
    } else {
      // categories dressing - add divider above specified cats
      if(in_array($current_path, explode(",",'3,22,21_56'))) { //replace numbers with your cat ids separated by commas
        $content .= '<hr class="catBoxDivider" />' . "\n";
      }
      // categories dressing - add (divider and) heading above a cat
      switch ($current_path) {
      case '23': //replace number with your desired cPath
        //$content .= '<hr class="catBoxDivider" />' . "\n";  // to add divider uncomment this line
        $content .= '<span class="catBoxHeading1">' . (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead' . $current_path . '.gif') ? zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead' . $current_path . '.gif') . '</span>':'Heading 1</span>' . $disp_block_head) . "\n"; 
      break;
      }  
      // categories dressing - category name mods
      $cat_name_display = $box_categories_array[$i]['name'];
//      $subcat_level = (substr_count($current_path, '_'); //strip out subcat indent 
//      $cat_name_display = substr_replace($cat_name_display,'',0,($subcat_level*strlen(CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_INDENT)));
      $cat_img_bg = '';
       // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name in current language - with title tag
      if ((int)$_GET[cPath] == 105) { // in Skull Shop - use different buttons
        if (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
          $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"'); 
        }
      } else {
        if (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
          $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
        }
      } // cPath 105  
      // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name in current language - with title tag
      if (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');  
      // categories dressing - display background image if exists for category name - with title tag
      } elseif (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catbg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'pixel_trans.gif', '', '100%', '100%', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
        $cat_img_bg = ' catBg' . $current_path;
      } else {
        $cat_img_bg = '-text';//append to main classname
      }
      $content .= '<a class="' . $new_style . $cat_img_bg . '" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $box_categories_array[$i]['path']) . '">';
      if ($box_categories_array[$i]['current']) {
        if ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']) {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-parent">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
        } else {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-selected">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
        }
      } else {
        $content .= '<span class="category-not-selected">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
      } // category name mods

      if ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']) {
        $content .= CATEGORIES_SEPARATOR;
      }
      $content .= ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</a>':''); // categories dressing - adjust link end 

      if (SHOW_COUNTS == 'true') {
        if ((CATEGORIES_COUNT_ZERO == '1' and $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] == 0) or $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] >= 1) {
          $content .= CATEGORIES_COUNT_PREFIX . $box_categories_array[$i]['count'] . CATEGORIES_COUNT_SUFFIX;
        }
      }

      $content .= ($disp_block == ''?'</span></a>':'') . $disp_block . "\n"; // categories dressing - adjust link end 

      // categories dressing - add subtext below a cat
      switch ($current_path) {
      case '23': //replace number with your desired cPath
        $content .= '<span class="catBoxSubtext">Subtext for cat 23 escape apostrophe\'s</span>' . $disp_block . "\n"; 
      break;
      } // subtext
    }
  }

  if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_SPECIALS == 'true' or SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_PRODUCTS_NEW == 'true' or SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_FEATURED_PRODUCTS == 'true' or SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_PRODUCTS_ALL == 'true') {
// display a separator between categories and links
    if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_SEPARATOR_LINK == '1') {
      $content .= '<hr id="catBoxDivider" />' . "\n";
    }
    if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_SPECIALS == 'true') {
      //$content .= '<span class="catBoxHeading1">' . (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-specials.gif') ? zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-specials.gif') . '</span>':'Link Heading</span>' . $disp_block_head) . "\n";// categories dressing - uncomment this line for heading above link 
      $show_this = $db->Execute("select s.products_id from " . TABLE_SPECIALS . " s where s.status= 1 limit 1");
      if ($show_this->RecordCount() > 0) {
        $content .= '<a class="category-links" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_SPECIALS) . '">' . CATEGORIES_BOX_HEADING_SPECIALS . '</a>' . $disp_block . "\n";
      }
    }
    if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_PRODUCTS_NEW == 'true') {
      // display limits
//      $display_limit = zen_get_products_new_timelimit();
      $display_limit = zen_get_new_date_range();

      $show_this = $db->Execute("select p.products_id
                                 from " . TABLE_PRODUCTS . " p
                                 where p.products_status = 1 " . $display_limit . " limit 1");
      if ($show_this->RecordCount() > 0) {
        //$content .= '<span class="catBoxHeading1">' . (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-new.gif') ? zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-new.gif') . '</span>':'Link Heading</span>' . $disp_block_head) . "\n";// categories dressing - uncomment this line for heading above link 
        $content .= '<a class="category-links" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCTS_NEW) . '">' . CATEGORIES_BOX_HEADING_WHATS_NEW . '</a>' . $disp_block . "\n";
      }
    }
    if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_FEATURED_PRODUCTS == 'true') {
      $show_this = $db->Execute("select products_id from " . TABLE_FEATURED . " where status= 1 limit 1");
      if ($show_this->RecordCount() > 0) {
        //$content .= '<span class="catBoxHeading1">' . (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-featured.gif') ? zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-featured.gif') . '</span>':'Link Heading</span>' . $disp_block_head) . "\n";// categories dressing - uncomment this line for heading above link 
        $content .= '<a class="category-links" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_FEATURED_PRODUCTS) . '">' . CATEGORIES_BOX_HEADING_FEATURED_PRODUCTS . '</a>' . $disp_block . "\n";
      }
    }
    if (SHOW_CATEGORIES_BOX_PRODUCTS_ALL == 'true') {
      //$content .= '<span class="catBoxHeading1">' . (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-all.gif') ? zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'cathead-all.gif') . '</span>':'Link Heading</span>' . $disp_block_head) . "\n";// categories dressing - uncomment this line for heading above link 
      $content .= '<a class="category-links" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_PRODUCTS_ALL) . '">' . CATEGORIES_BOX_HEADING_PRODUCTS_ALL . '</a>' . "\n";
    }
  }
  $content .= '</div>';

Thanks a ton in advance!!!

Juliet

[gjh42]

I don't remember where I got the

You have:

      // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name in current language - with title tag
      if (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
      } 

but the code should not look quite like that - the basic Cat Dressing tpl_categories.php has

      // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name - with title tag
      if (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"'); 
      // categories dressing - display background image if exists for category name - with title tag
      } elseif (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catbg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'pixel_trans.gif', '', '100%', '100%', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
        $cat_img_bg = ' catBg' . $current_path;
      } else {
        $cat_img_bg = '-text';//append to main classname
      } 

not just a single if() {} but already with } elseif {}, so the code as I gave it in post 412 would cause problems if inserted in that basic location.

This should correctly account for buttons in the Skull Shop and outside it:

      // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name - with title tag
        if ((int)$_GET[cPath] == 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // in Skull Shop - use different buttons
          $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"'); 
        } elseif ((int)$_GET[cPath] != 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // not in Skull Shop - use standard buttons
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');  
      // categories dressing - display background image if exists for category name - with title tag
      } elseif (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catbg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'pixel_trans.gif', '', '100%', '100%', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
        $cat_img_bg = ' catBg' . $current_path;
      } else {
        $cat_img_bg = '-text';//append to main classname
      } 

[jvanree]

Thank you very much once again!! I'm going to try to implement this tomorrow. I'll let you know when I got it in!

[jvanree]

Hi Glenn,

I'm sorry I tried. I can see categories dressing is on because lines appear around it when I hover on the skull shop menu but now I can't see the buttons.

Also what is different is that only the first two buttons should be skull shop specific the other ones should be called normally. (because they only appear in skull shop)

Here's the code as I pasted it

      break;
      }  
      // categories dressing - category name mods
      $cat_name_display = $box_categories_array[$i]['name'];
//      $subcat_level = (substr_count($current_path, '_'); //strip out subcat indent 
//      $cat_name_display = substr_replace($cat_name_display,'',0,($subcat_level*strlen(CATEGORIES_SUBCATEGORIES_INDENT)));
      $cat_img_bg = '';
      // categories dressing - display image if exists for category name - with title tag
        if ((int)$_GET[cPath] == 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // in Skull Shop - use different buttons
          $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"'); 
        } elseif ((int)$_GET[cPath] != 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // not in Skull Shop - use standard buttons
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif', '', '', '', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');  
      // categories dressing - display background image if exists for category name - with title tag
      } elseif (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'catbg' . $current_path . '.gif')) {
        $cat_name_display = zen_image(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE_IMAGES . 'pixel_trans.gif', '', '100%', '100%', 'title="' . $box_categories_array[$i]['name'] . '"');
        $cat_img_bg = ' catBg' . $current_path;
      } else {
        $cat_img_bg = '-text';//append to main classname
      }  
      $content .= '<a class="' . $new_style . $cat_img_bg . '" href="' . zen_href_link(FILENAME_DEFAULT, $box_categories_array[$i]['path']) . '">';
      if ($box_categories_array[$i]['current']) {
        if ($box_categories_array[$i]['has_sub_cat']) {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-parent">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
        } else {
          $content .= '<span class="category-subs-selected">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
        }
      } else {
        $content .= '<span class="category-not-selected">' . $cat_name_display . ($disp_block == '<br />'?'</span>':'');
      } // category name mods 

It also first gave an error ($end) on line 192 or in that region, the only thing I found in that region was some commented lines so I uncommented them.

I'm also sending you a private message with more data than I want to drop on the board.

With kind regards,
Juliet

[gjh42]

Got your message! I can't take more time to look at it right now, but I will check on it late tonight.

[jvanree]

Thank you so much you are an angel!!!!

[gjh42]

Note: the

        if ((int)$_GET[cPath] == 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimgsk' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // in Skull Shop - use different buttons 

only uses the special buttons if in Skull Shop and the special buttons exist.
The

        } elseif ((int)$_GET[cPath] != 105 and file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // not in Skull Shop - use standard buttons 

should really be changed to

        } elseif (file_exists(DIR_WS_TEMPLATE . 'buttons/' . $_SESSION['language'] . '/catimg' . $current_path . '.gif')) { // not in Skull Shop or special button does not exist - use standard buttons 

because we don't want to limit those to outside the Skull Shop.