Easy embed template

[jrheeder]

Hey all,

I recently started to bring my business online. I have been looking for a simple shopping cart to add to my website I am designing (I have some designing/php/xhtml programming skills/knowledge). I currently have it on my test server located on my PC. I am using Xampp v1.7.1. So I have been trying to figure out how zen cart and this template works.

It would probably be better is I start off by explaining what I would like from the system. I have basic html files with my own jscripts and css files. I have already created the whole website(including sub directories roughly 50 pages all together). I would like to implement the shopping cart feature but not change my current layout design or ruin the look and feel. Is this possible with the template/zen-cart

Ok now where I stand. I installed the zen-cart system as per the instructions .

The zen-cart is now located in: c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\.
I have installed and activated the template as per instructions
The template is located at: c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\includes\templates\sang_embed\.

My website currently lies in: c:\xampp\htdocs\online_store\.

Now how do I get zen cart "integrated"/embedded into my layout as the instructions confused me a bit. (Yes I have NO experience in zen cart ). I kinda need the "zen-cart for dummies" kinda explanation if possible

Regards,
Johan
a.k.a - Noob in Need!

[DivaVocals]

Hey all,

I recently started to bring my business online. I have been looking for a simple shopping cart to add to my website I am designing (I have some designing/php/xhtml programming skills/knowledge). I currently have it on my test server located on my PC. I am using Xampp v1.7.1. So I have been trying to figure out how zen cart and this template works.

It would probably be better is I start off by explaining what I would like from the system. I have basic html files with my own jscripts and css files. I have already created the whole website(including sub directories roughly 50 pages all together). I would like to implement the shopping cart feature but not change my current layout design or ruin the look and feel. Is this possible with the template/zen-cart

Ok now where I stand. I installed the zen-cart system as per the instructions .

The zen-cart is now located in: c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\.
I have installed and activated the template as per instructions
The template is located at: c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\includes\templates\sang_embed\.

My website currently lies in: c:\xampp\htdocs\online_store\.

Now how do I get zen cart "integrated"/embedded into my layout as the instructions confused me a bit. (Yes I have NO experience in zen cart ). I kinda need the "zen-cart for dummies" kinda explanation if possible

Regards,
Johan
a.k.a - Noob in Need!

In short with this contrib you are creating a blank page with Zen cart in the middle. To "embed" it you simply create a "default" page with your site's layout elements (header, footer, side nav -- if present) and on this page you add a snippet of code that places your store where you would like it to appear on the page. You will need to update some configurations files to point to the location of the store, and you will need to modify the stores CSS file to match the rest of your site.. but that's pretty much it.. In the end, this is what you get

<<Your site header>>

INSERT ZEN CART HERE

<<Your site footer>>

My honest suggestion for you is that you read through this entire thread.. (YIKES!!!!) this template is easy peezy to use, but the only way IMO to truly understand it and how it benefits/works for you is to read this support thread.. (oh yeah.. please gnore all the posts by chas1 he was sort of a ride fella -- sorry -- had to say it..) There is some good information in this thread, and IMO it is worth the time to take to go through the thread to get a complete understanding how this contrib works..

[sanguisdesign]

(oh yeah.. please gnore all the posts by chas1 he was sort of a ride fella -- sorry -- had to say it..)

chas1 was 2 people a husband and a wife team. the bloke was not that bad. but the wife, iovey.
<rant>But I have to agree with her a lot of the open source is not for the lazy harted. you may have to RTFM. After all I wrote the program. I know how to use it. any documentation I provide is out of the goodness of my heart and in all reality the time it takes me to write it is food off my plate.
</rant>
(I almost abandoned giving any support after I had to deal with them)

JOsh

[sanguisdesign]

it should be point out that the newest stable version is finally in the down laods section
http://www.zen-cart.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=990.
enjoy the html readme file

[jrheeder]

JOsh,

from what I have read so far (and there is A LOT of posts ) your work is really really good. But I just need to stress I have NO experience in zen cart so when I read the posts it comes across to me that people have a great amount of experience in the zen cart system and thus the talk on the advanced side of the things. Now I know I have a lot of learn to catch up on I just want to know how to start off so I can add my own layout around/to the zen cart.

SO where would I start and what things do I need to do to add my own layout on top of the zen cart system using your temples (because to be fair the templates given are not bespoke thus very generic and slightly over used and thus becoming less attractive)

Any advise is more than welcome.

Regards,
Johan
a.k.a. Noob in Need!

[DivaVocals]

I am NO expert.. I am an HTML coder who had to step her game up to keep up with client needs.. Thus I had to learn some new stuff.. Now I am no PHP coder, but I have spent lots of time practicing and playing with Zen Cart to get it.. I'm still learning, but I learn something new with each Zen Cart site I build.. Zen Cart is awesome, and I am always amazed with the things you can do if you think a little outside the box..

Where you can start is to setup a test store, download Josh's template contribution, follow the instructions for configuring it and just dive in.. There is no SIMPLER way of getting into this than that.. and remember Josh's template is PRIMARILY designed to wrap your own site design around Zen Cart.. You will still have to modify the template's stylesheet in order to tie Zen Cart to your site's color scheme.

As for the template offerings here, yes they are generic.. They should be. They are merely a place to start for most folks.. Once you get into this, you will see that there is WAAAAAAY more you can do with Zen Cart than these templates would lead you to think at first blush.

JOsh,

from what I have read so far (and there is A LOT of posts ) your work is really really good. But I just need to stress I have NO experience in zen cart so when I read the posts it comes across to me that people have a great amount of experience in the zen cart system and thus the talk on the advanced side of the things. Now I know I have a lot of learn to catch up on I just want to know how to start off so I can add my own layout around/to the zen cart.

SO where would I start and what things do I need to do to add my own layout on top of the zen cart system using your temples (because to be fair the templates given are not bespoke thus very generic and slightly over used and thus becoming less attractive)

Any advise is more than welcome.

Regards,
Johan
a.k.a. Noob in Need!

[DivaVocals]

chas1 was 2 people a husband and a wife team. the bloke was not that bad. but the wife, iovey.
<rant>But I have to agree with her a lot of the open source is not for the lazy harted. you may have to RTFM. After all I wrote the program. I know how to use it. any documentation I provide is out of the goodness of my heart and in all reality the time it takes me to write it is food off my plate.
</rant>
(I almost abandoned giving any support after I had to deal with them)

JOsh

Well wife/husband.. It's all tastes like chicken!!

They were rude, and made me mad..

[jdhiler]

hi guys,

i, too, am over my head, but am stupid enough to try this anyway. i am a record producer and i've got a new record label i'm designing a site & store for. we tried hiring people to do it, but when 2 different people said yes and then ran away with our money i had no choice but to do it myself.

so, i designed the site first in dreamweaver, then i installed zen cart into a subdirectory and spent weeks learning it and customizing it (based on the barebones template). i always intended to insert it into my site using iframe. not elegant, but heck, i'm not even a coder. it's a miracle i've gotten this far...

so, today i was all stoked to finally insert it into the html page and go live with the whole thing and announce it to the world when to my horror i discovered the problem with iframe and zen cart. stupid me!

after picking myself up off the floor, i found this thread. well, i just finished reading all 31 pages and my eyes are crossed and i'm ready to cry , but i'm still dumb enough to think i can do it. first i wanted to ask you guys a couple questions, especially JOsh and DivaVocals (i'm in LA, too!).

first, does using this mod (and template) mean i lose all those weeks of customizing i did to the barebones template? i feel like i've got a house of cards here and i'm deathly afraid of losing what took me so long to set up.

secondly, if you had a moment to check out what i've got so far, perhaps you'd be able to point out any other red flags i'm not even aware of at this point.

website: http://www.anomalyrecords.net/beta/artists.html (will be moved to root eventually)

store: http://www.anomalyrecords.net/catalog

as you can see at store.html the cart is currently iframed in, but it is my understanding it won't work for all the explained reasons.

i'm so over this and so desperately need to get back to making records instead of code! (although there is a lot of similarity, iykwim.)

thanks in advance to you wise people.

[DivaVocals]

hi guys,

i, too, am over my head, but am stupid enough to try this anyway. i am a record producer and i've got a new record label i'm designing a site & store for. we tried hiring people to do it, but when 2 different people said yes and then ran away with our money i had no choice but to do it myself.

so, i designed the site first in dreamweaver, then i installed zen cart into a subdirectory and spent weeks learning it and customizing it (based on the barebones template). i always intended to insert it into my site using iframe. not elegant, but heck, i'm not even a coder. it's a miracle i've gotten this far...

so, today i was all stoked to finally insert it into the html page and go live with the whole thing and announce it to the world when to my horror i discovered the problem with iframe and zen cart. stupid me!

after picking myself up off the floor, i found this thread. well, i just finished reading all 31 pages and my eyes are crossed and i'm ready to cry , but i'm still dumb enough to think i can do it. first i wanted to ask you guys a couple questions, especially JOsh and DivaVocals (i'm in LA, too!).

first, does using this mod (and template) mean i lose all those weeks of customizing i did to the barebones template? i feel like i've got a house of cards here and i'm deathly afraid of losing what took me so long to set up.

secondly, if you had a moment to check out what i've got so far, perhaps you'd be able to point out any other red flags i'm not even aware of at this point.

website: http://www.anomalyrecords.net/beta/artists.html (will be moved to root eventually)

store: http://www.anomalyrecords.net/catalog

as you can see at store.html the cart is currently iframed in, but it is my understanding it won't work for all the explained reasons.

i'm so over this and so desperately need to get back to making records instead of code! (although there is a lot of similarity, iykwim.)

thanks in advance to you wise people.

To answer your first question.. Not at all.. You will simply use this template to "wrap" you site's look and feel (& possibly the existing navigation) around Zen Cart.. No nasty iframes, and it will be seemless.. I'll refrain from flogging you anymore on WHY this won't work.. sounds like you've had a bit of baptism by fire on that score.. cheer up.. it's a "learning fall" as my husband would say..

As for your second question.. I don't see anything obvious.. So it's just a matter of applying the template.. I also sent you a PM..

[DivaVocals]

Wanted to add this:

All this template does is as it's name implies, is to "embed" your Zen Cart so it looks like a seemless part of your exiting site.. Let me put it another way.. It is the equivilent (visually) of what your iframe did without the scrollbar, and the nasty little session errors.. Customers going from one part of your site to the other will not "know" they have crossed over into "Zen Cart" land..

To answer your first question.. Not at all.. You will simply use this template to "wrap" you site's look and feel (& possibly the existing navigation) around Zen Cart.. No nasty iframes, and it will be seemless.. I'll refrain from flogging you anymore on WHY this won't work.. sounds like you've had a bit of baptism by fire on that score.. cheer up.. it's a "learning fall" as my husband would say..

As for your second question.. I don't see anything obvious.. So it's just a matter of applying the template.. I also sent you a PM..