how to add an additional sidebox in v1.x.x

[bizshop1]

Why is this so hard?
I've been struggling for days trying to get this right.
Why can't the admin section just have an option to "Create New Sidebox"?

[kuroi]

Why can't the admin section just have an option to "Create New Sidebox"?

Because the Admin has no way of knowing what to put in the sidebox.

Most additional sideboxes are used to add functionality that is new to Zen Cart, so for which there is no programming available.

That's not always the case, extra category and banner boxes (for example) could re-use code already written. However this would need to be built into the structure of Zen Cart ... and has been for the forthcoming 2.0 release.

[joe3b]

This could be added to the configuration table like the other Banner Group definitions, or it could be added to a define statement ...

Extra define statements are best added to the directory in a file that has meaning to you such as:
/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/my_banners_box3.php

<?php
define('SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10', 'BANNER GROUP NAMES GO HERE');
?>

This would load at the same time as the english.php file ...

Or, you could add it to the configuration table in the same way all the other settings are added:

INSERT INTO configuration (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, use_function, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Banner Display Groups - Side Box banner_box3', 'SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10', 'SideBox-Banners', 'The Banner Display Groups can be from 1 Banner Group or Multiple Banner Groups<br /><br />For Multiple Banner Groups enter the Banner Group Name separated by a colon <strong>:</strong><br /><br />Example: Wide-Banners:SideBox-Banners<br />Default Group is SideBox-Banners<br /><br />What Banner Group(s) do you want to use in the Side Box - banner_box3?<br />Leave blank for none', '19', '73', '', '', now()); 

Then, you customize the new files for banners_box3 to use the changes described above ...

Example:

SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET8

would become:

SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10

TEXT_BANNER_BOX2

would become:
TEXT_BANNER_BOX3

    require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_banner_box2.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_banner_box2.php'); 

would become:

    require($template->get_template_dir('tpl_banner_box3.php',DIR_WS_TEMPLATE, $current_page_base,'sideboxes'). '/tpl_banner_box3.php'); 

etc. etc. etc.
...

So If I understand correctly I create a php file (called my_banner_box3) containing:

<?php
define('SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10', 'MY BANNER NAME');
?>

OR I can change the codei n "tpl_banner_box3.php"

and enter the code into the "Configuration table"?

INSERT INTO configuration (configuration_title, configuration_key, configuration_value, configuration_description, configuration_group_id, sort_order, use_function, set_function, date_added) VALUES ('Banner Display Groups - Side Box banner_box3', 'SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10', 'SideBox-Banners', 'The Banner Display Groups can be from 1 Banner Group or Multiple Banner Groups<br /><br />For Multiple Banner Groups enter the Banner Group Name separated by a colon <strong>:</strong><br /><br />Example: Wide-Banners:SideBox-Banners<br />Default Group is SideBox-Banners<br /><br />What Banner Group(s) do you want to use in the Side Box - banner_box3?<br />Leave blank for none', '19', '73', '', '', now()); 

Where can I find the Configuration table?

[Ajeh]

The INSERT statement can be run in either Tools ... Install SQL Patches ... or you can run it in your phpMyAdmin for your database ...

[joe3b]

The INSERT statement can be run in either Tools ... Install SQL Patches ... or you can run it in your phpMyAdmin for your database ...

Thanks I show save this thread and try it out soon.

Since posting the previous message I've come across a number of sidebox add ons. Could I use any one of those and customise it how I like?

[Ajeh]

You can use an add on or make your own based on an existing sidebox as a model to make your new one ...

[NicNic]

O.k I'm struggling to understand this. I'm completely new to php, zen cart and coding in general.

All I want to do is add an additional 2 sideboxes to my main page below the existing two. I've followed the guide up untill;

<?php
define('SHOW_BANNERS_GROUP_SET10', 'BANNER GROUP NAMES GO HERE');
?>

This would load at the same time as the english.php file ...

...

And now I'm lost. I don't know where that code should go or what my banner group name is. Could someone break it down a bit more for us beginners please?

I'm using Zen Cart 1.3.8a and my site is http://www.nmfurniture.com/

[Ajeh]

I am confused ...

You say you want to add new "sideboxes" ...

You show code for "banners" ...

What is it that you "really" want to do here ...

[alepia]

I'm curious. What would you put in an additional categories box? Wouldn't it just repeat what was already in your categories box??

[Ajeh]

You can do anything you like ...

Some want multiple categories sidebox with different conditions on them for when the show or don't show or what categories they include or don't include ...

They would not be "idenitcal" to one another ... they would have differences to them that make them unique in some manner ...