MultiSite Module Support Thread

[Mountain Mama]

Hello,

You might want to check my post above regarding a local install. If you figure out how to run the module on a local test server, I would love to hear how you did it!

Thank you!

[Janelyn]

Hi,

I am using a fresh installation of the latest version of Zen cart and I tried to install the Multisite Module but I have found the instructions very confusing. I have seen that people have had the same installation problems and errors after reading this whole thread through at least twice, but I didn't find the answers.

I intend to use sub-domains, and I am assume that each additional site is set up with a template and its own files - common, css etc., just as we have to do normally when using Zen cart, but I don't quite understand where these files should go because if I added them to the template the path to these files would read differently to how they are shown in the instructions.

includes/templates/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/html_includes/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/order_total/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/payment/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/sideboxes/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]

I also get a serious error displayed my CPanel when I try to save the file includes/configure.php after adding this code below to the file, it doesn't matter where I put it on the page, I still get the same error.

include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');

I also don't understand where these changes mentioned are meant to be made.

The category filter can now be desactivated with this line: 

define('ALLOW_CAT_FILTER','no'); //Desactivate the cat_filter for a site 

- You can now change the root category of your store by writing this line in your config files:

define('CATEGORIES_ROOT','21'); //root categories is 21 for this site

I am really confused by this, and I have tried the installation twice so I guess I must be doing something wrong. Is there someone out there that can re-write the instructions so they are totally understandable step by step and place them here on the thread? I'm sure it would help alot of people who want to use this module. In fact, I'd even be willing to pay someone a small fee to install this module for me, so if there is anyone out there who can do it, please get in touch :)

Jane :)

[Adam65]

Hi Jane,

I am hoping someone will answer you because I have exactly the same concerns... exept I run my own live web server and when I go to the browser address I used to see my zen cart on I get the domain does not exist!

I'm ok with steps 1, 2 and 3 but then following on... the steps continue 4, 3, 4 then 5 and 6... i'm lost. Obviously it's just a numbering issue but the english is so bad and sometimes he's not clear about the directory you should be in or the filename. I wish someone would have warned me that this was going to take a whole day of reading posts only to find it doesnt work for me.

Obviously I haven't followed a step properly but that's because they are not easy to follow..for someone who doesn't know much about code... Then this support thread seems to have very little support except for a couple of people that are so busy with much more complex issues that they don't seem to answer the "newbie" questions.

I'm going to continue on in this post to describe where I was confused about the instructions step by step.. then maybe someone will answer each in turn

Here goes:
"Step1: Backup your database and files"
This one was easy for me... I just copied the whole /zen directory to another place (a USB stick).
I had to do a bit of reading about phpadmin to learn how to export the database and save it to a file as a backup. But no problems there.

"Step2:Execute SQL"
This was easy enough aswell. Just got into a command prompt and my MySQL/bin directory and after logging in (mysql -u root -p) typed: use zencart (the name of the database), then copied and pasted the command in the instructions: ALTER TABLE orders ADD order_site varchar(30) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'no'; MySQL returned:
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.11 sec)
Records: 0 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0
(i have no reason to suspect this wasnt what it should read so I figure I completed this step properly)

"Step3:Add the ‘NEW’ files"
Well the directory containing these files in the multi-site mod (MSM) download is actually named ADD_FILES (not NEW_FILES as the instructions say)
.. but in there I found /admin and /includes. So the first line in the green box says : "admin/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/order_site.php"
So I figured I'd copy that file to the corresponding directory (mine is c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\admin\includes\languages\english\extra_definitions\) [but here I noticed nothing was mentioned about the other directories hanging off ADD_FILES/admin/ (i.e ADD_FILES\admin\includes\boxes\extra_boxes\) and the file multisite_tools_dhtml.php...so I ignored them]

The next line says: "includes/config_sites/help.txt", so this time there is no "admin" in the line so I went to my first includes folder (which in my case is c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\includes\) and created a directory called config_sites (because it didn't exist) then copied the file "help.txt" from the MSM's corresponding directory to it.

Now that the directory /includes/config_sites exists for the next two lines:
"includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php" and
"includes/config_sites/www.example.com_config.php" I just followed the above procedure and copied the files from their corresponding directories from the MSM to it.

The next four lines: "includes/functions/extra_functions/cat_filter.php
includes/init_includes/overrides/init_sessions.php
includes/init_includes/overrides/init_templates.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/site_links.php"
did have corresponding directories off my 'c:\zen\includes\' directory so I just copied those files from the MSM to them.
[however not mentioned again in the instructions were two other files in the ADD_FILES/includes/init_includes/overrides directory: "init_add_crumbs.php" and "init_category_path.php" ...so i ignored them too]

OK then onto the next step "Step 4:Add the ‘MODIFIED’ files":...this is where I get a bit stumped and went searching in the support thread because the bold RED writing says if it's a fresh Zencart install go ahead and "copy the files over the top of existing files"... but this was not the case for me ( i had already customised my template a bit and added header, logo, changed category names and added new products and product images... so i figured the second bold red paragraph referred to me and it was saying I "...need to wait for the more detailed instructions coming in the not too distant future. These more detailed instructions will tell you which code to add to which file and where to add it. "...after about an hour of reading the support posts searching for a link to these "more detailed instructions" or an answer to poor Steve who asked the same question but never did get answered... I gave up reading and thought I'll just treat it as a fresh install and copied the files in "Group 1" straight over their existing counterparts in the corresponding directories off my /zen/ directory.

Then more confusion because straight after the "Group 1" green box the author has written in terrible english:
"The next files have to replace the existing zencart by the use of the templates but it would mean creating these files for each site and you will see that it is more really convenient... so I advice you to just modify the files." ...I just could not work this out... what does he mean when he says: "...replace the existing zencart by the use of the templates..." and "...so I advice you to just modify the files"
....well, after more post reading, i decided that he meant by "modify the files" to just copy them over the existing ones as I did for the "Group 1" files.
The: "WARNING: You can replace your existing files ONLY if you haven't modified them before your install of Zen-cart !"
didn't make much sense because how could you modify any files BEFORE installing Zen-cart?
the authors next statement is: "(I'll try to make a Modify process help file later for those who can't replace their modified files...)"...well I had already looked for that, and fruitlessly...

okay now the next step, his second "Step 3: Make a Template for each site"... well this one I found very easy as I had done it before. To work it out read this link https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=142.

Now the next step: his second "Step 4:Create the configuration files of your sites"
He says: Add this line at the beginning of your "includes/configure.php": and then in the green box: "include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');" ....my only problem with this statement is he says at the beginning of the file... now does that mean before or after the
<?php that starts the file?... I figured after it ...am i wrong? If not then it's not really the "beggining of the file..."

Now we come to another bold red section with confusingly bad english at the end of which he says "(folder "includes\config_sites")"... it took me a while to figure out he is instructing us to create these new config files in that directory (still not sure if I'm right...)

now when creating these config files he says:"...This file "www.site1.com_config.php" has to contain:"and then in the green box: "<?php
$template_dir = "site1";
define('SITE_NAME','site1');
?> "... okay I did that.. the only thing I changed in that file was (as instructed) the words "site1". I changed it to the name of my new templates directory (off the directory:../includes/templates/) which is the same as the name I gave to the template in the file template_info.php in the line that starts: $template_name = 'blah'.
(blah being the name of the directory housing my template and to keep things easy the name I gave my template).

The way I read his instructions the config file you are creating doesnt have to be www.blah.com_config.php just because you named your directory and template that BUT IT DOES HAVE TO BE: www .the_domain_name_you_want_people_to_enter_into_a_browser_so_they_see_your_blah_t emplate .com. (In which case you should already have the domain name(whatever it is) registered, paid for, on a nameserver, resolved to your static IP and ready to go).

The next green box has all of this example code...but he isn't clear about where it should be...does he mean you can stick that in the config file you are creating aswell?... I guess so. He doesn't name any other likely file.

The next green box is a 'query' you can 'execute'... the problem is, me being a total novice, he doen't say how or where to execute a query... does he mean you can stick this in the file aswell??....I guess so...?

Anyway I put together the config file as stated in the instructions.
But I also had a look at the www.example.com_config.php file included in the MSM and there are two additional lines he does not include in the instructions:

define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

(i added them but it didn't seem to make a difference.)

At the next step: "Step 5. Category Filter".. I was totally lost and still am.
He says:" ...you need to add this description to EVERY categories description that have to be display in a shop. Sub categories Included!" and then in the green box: " <!--site1-site2-site3--> Description of a category that will be displayed in site1, site2 and site3."... no mention of the file you have to put this into?... are we still on the config file here? Where do I put this code comment?.. I don't know.

Then there's another bold red section and then another green box with another "query" we need to "execute"... How do I execute this query? in a file somewhere? at the MySQL prompt? ...huh? are we still in the config file?... I don't get it.
He says: "... once you have put your html comments in your categories, ..." "IN" my Categories?..huh? in Zen Admin categories.. how? where?.

I know I am dumb.. and very new to it all. I'll probably overcome all these issues and laugh at myself later down the line. But right now I really wish these instructions were a just a bit clearer so I wouldn't have to bother the busy people who support this forum.

"Step 6. Site Links"
Well this didn't apply to me so I didn't bother working it out but it seemed pretty straight forward (even with the terrible english.).

My intention in questioning every step of these instructions was to maybe entice some brilliant Zenner to add comments clarifying each step as they read it. Confirming my actions or condemning them by setting me on the right track. After all I was sold on Zen Cart initially as "Zen Cart Ecommerce - putting the dream of online business ownership within reach of anyone!"

And in the hope that this thread can be more for people with complex issues and their interested supporters and less of a trap for newbies who sit reading 85 pages just to find out that no-one seems to answer the newbie questions about the installation instructions.

Oh well, I loved my ZenCart before this module frustrated the zen out of me. Hope someone can help.

Have a nice day!

[milkyway]

This mod is abit tricker to install, but if you follow it as per instcruction, it should works.

For instance, your zencart store will definitely have /includes/ folder.

So any files/folder inside ADD_FILE/includes/ will be copied under /inside/ the same things apply with /admin/ folder.

If your store has not been customized before, you can easily upload all files without worry. (after editing the site switch)

I suggest to debug your issue one by one so folks here can help, because too many points to solve will be a little hard to solve at a time.

Thanks

Donny

Hi Jane,

I am hoping someone will answer you because I have exactly the same concerns... exept I run my own live web server and when I go to the browser address I used to see my zen cart on I get the domain does not exist!

I'm ok with steps 1, 2 and 3 but then following on... the steps continue 4, 3, 4 then 5 and 6... i'm lost. Obviously it's just a numbering issue but the english is so bad and sometimes he's not clear about the directory you should be in or the filename. I wish someone would have warned me that this was going to take a whole day of reading posts only to find it doesnt work for me.

Obviously I haven't followed a step properly but that's because they are not easy to follow..for someone who doesn't know much about code... Then this support thread seems to have very little support except for a couple of people that are so busy with much more complex issues that they don't seem to answer the "newbie" questions.

I'm going to continue on in this post to describe where I was confused about the instructions step by step.. then maybe someone will answer each in turn

Here goes:
"Step1: Backup your database and files"
This one was easy for me... I just copied the whole /zen directory to another place (a USB stick).
I had to do a bit of reading about phpadmin to learn how to export the database and save it to a file as a backup. But no problems there.

"Step2:Execute SQL"
This was easy enough aswell. Just got into a command prompt and my MySQL/bin directory and after logging in (mysql -u root -p) typed: use zencart (the name of the database), then copied and pasted the command in the instructions: ALTER TABLE orders ADD order_site varchar(30) NOT NULL DEFAULT 'no'; MySQL returned:
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.11 sec)
Records: 0 Duplicates: 0 Warnings: 0
(i have no reason to suspect this wasnt what it should read so I figure I completed this step properly)

"Step3:Add the ‘NEW’ files"
Well the directory containing these files in the multi-site mod (MSM) download is actually named ADD_FILES (not NEW_FILES as the instructions say)
.. but in there I found /admin and /includes. So the first line in the green box says : "admin/includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/order_site.php"
So I figured I'd copy that file to the corresponding directory (mine is c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\admin\includes\languages\english\extra_definitions\) [but here I noticed nothing was mentioned about the other directories hanging off ADD_FILES/admin/ (i.e ADD_FILES\admin\includes\boxes\extra_boxes\) and the file multisite_tools_dhtml.php...so I ignored them]

The next line says: "includes/config_sites/help.txt", so this time there is no "admin" in the line so I went to my first includes folder (which in my case is c:\xampp\htdocs\zen\includes\) and created a directory called config_sites (because it didn't exist) then copied the file "help.txt" from the MSM's corresponding directory to it.

Now that the directory /includes/config_sites exists for the next two lines:
"includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php" and
"includes/config_sites/www.example.com_config.php" I just followed the above procedure and copied the files from their corresponding directories from the MSM to it.

The next four lines: "includes/functions/extra_functions/cat_filter.php
includes/init_includes/overrides/init_sessions.php
includes/init_includes/overrides/init_templates.php
includes/modules/sideboxes/site_links.php"
did have corresponding directories off my 'c:\zen\includes\' directory so I just copied those files from the MSM to them.
[however not mentioned again in the instructions were two other files in the ADD_FILES/includes/init_includes/overrides directory: "init_add_crumbs.php" and "init_category_path.php" ...so i ignored them too]

OK then onto the next step "Step 4:Add the ‘MODIFIED’ files":...this is where I get a bit stumped and went searching in the support thread because the bold RED writing says if it's a fresh Zencart install go ahead and "copy the files over the top of existing files"... but this was not the case for me ( i had already customised my template a bit and added header, logo, changed category names and added new products and product images... so i figured the second bold red paragraph referred to me and it was saying I "...need to wait for the more detailed instructions coming in the not too distant future. These more detailed instructions will tell you which code to add to which file and where to add it. "...after about an hour of reading the support posts searching for a link to these "more detailed instructions" or an answer to poor Steve who asked the same question but never did get answered... I gave up reading and thought I'll just treat it as a fresh install and copied the files in "Group 1" straight over their existing counterparts in the corresponding directories off my /zen/ directory.

Then more confusion because straight after the "Group 1" green box the author has written in terrible english:
"The next files have to replace the existing zencart by the use of the templates but it would mean creating these files for each site and you will see that it is more really convenient... so I advice you to just modify the files." ...I just could not work this out... what does he mean when he says: "...replace the existing zencart by the use of the templates..." and "...so I advice you to just modify the files"
....well, after more post reading, i decided that he meant by "modify the files" to just copy them over the existing ones as I did for the "Group 1" files.
The: "WARNING: You can replace your existing files ONLY if you haven't modified them before your install of Zen-cart !"
didn't make much sense because how could you modify any files BEFORE installing Zen-cart?
the authors next statement is: "(I'll try to make a Modify process help file later for those who can't replace their modified files...)"...well I had already looked for that, and fruitlessly...

okay now the next step, his second "Step 3: Make a Template for each site"... well this one I found very easy as I had done it before. To work it out read this link https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=142.

Now the next step: his second "Step 4:Create the configuration files of your sites"
He says: Add this line at the beginning of your "includes/configure.php": and then in the green box: "include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');" ....my only problem with this statement is he says at the beginning of the file... now does that mean before or after the
<?php that starts the file?... I figured after it ...am i wrong? If not then it's not really the "beggining of the file..."

Now we come to another bold red section with confusingly bad english at the end of which he says "(folder "includes\config_sites")"... it took me a while to figure out he is instructing us to create these new config files in that directory (still not sure if I'm right...)

now when creating these config files he says:"...This file "www.site1.com_config.php" has to contain:"and then in the green box: "<?php
$template_dir = "site1";
define('SITE_NAME','site1');
?> "... okay I did that.. the only thing I changed in that file was (as instructed) the words "site1". I changed it to the name of my new templates directory (off the directory:../includes/templates/) which is the same as the name I gave to the template in the file template_info.php in the line that starts: $template_name = 'blah'.
(blah being the name of the directory housing my template and to keep things easy the name I gave my template).

The way I read his instructions the config file you are creating doesnt have to be www.blah.com_config.php just because you named your directory and template that BUT IT DOES HAVE TO BE: www .the_domain_name_you_want_people_to_enter_into_a_browser_so_they_see_your_blah_t emplate .com. (In which case you should already have the domain name(whatever it is) registered, paid for, on a nameserver, resolved to your static IP and ready to go).

The next green box has all of this example code...but he isn't clear about where it should be...does he mean you can stick that in the config file you are creating aswell?... I guess so. He doesn't name any other likely file.

The next green box is a 'query' you can 'execute'... the problem is, me being a total novice, he doen't say how or where to execute a query... does he mean you can stick this in the file aswell??....I guess so...?

Anyway I put together the config file as stated in the instructions.
But I also had a look at the www.example.com_config.php file included in the MSM and there are two additional lines he does not include in the instructions:

define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

(i added them but it didn't seem to make a difference.)

At the next step: "Step 5. Category Filter".. I was totally lost and still am.
He says:" ...you need to add this description to EVERY categories description that have to be display in a shop. Sub categories Included!" and then in the green box: " <!--site1-site2-site3--> Description of a category that will be displayed in site1, site2 and site3."... no mention of the file you have to put this into?... are we still on the config file here? Where do I put this code comment?.. I don't know.

Then there's another bold red section and then another green box with another "query" we need to "execute"... How do I execute this query? in a file somewhere? at the MySQL prompt? ...huh? are we still in the config file?... I don't get it.
He says: "... once you have put your html comments in your categories, ..." "IN" my Categories?..huh? in Zen Admin categories.. how? where?.

I know I am dumb.. and very new to it all. I'll probably overcome all these issues and laugh at myself later down the line. But right now I really wish these instructions were a just a bit clearer so I wouldn't have to bother the busy people who support this forum.

"Step 6. Site Links"
Well this didn't apply to me so I didn't bother working it out but it seemed pretty straight forward (even with the terrible english.).

My intention in questioning every step of these instructions was to maybe entice some brilliant Zenner to add comments clarifying each step as they read it. Confirming my actions or condemning them by setting me on the right track. After all I was sold on Zen Cart initially as "Zen Cart Ecommerce - putting the dream of online business ownership within reach of anyone!"

And in the hope that this thread can be more for people with complex issues and their interested supporters and less of a trap for newbies who sit reading 85 pages just to find out that no-one seems to answer the newbie questions about the installation instructions.

Oh well, I loved my ZenCart before this module frustrated the zen out of me. Hope someone can help.

Have a nice day!

[milkyway]

Hi Jane,

Please state what the error you got?

Hi,

I also get a serious error displayed my CPanel when I try to save the file includes/configure.php after adding this code below to the file, it doesn't matter where I put it on the page, I still get the same error.

include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');

Jane :)

[Adam65]

Hi milkyway,

Can you help me with step 5. Category Filter please?

to which file would I add the description to and where?

Thankyou

[karimm]

jkovar,
The solution I used for this was to create an email_header.gif (or whatever name you want) in each store's templates/[template_name]/images folder.

Then in the includes/config_sites/[site config file] include this line:
define('EMAIL_HEADER_IMAGE','includes/templates/'. $template_dir. '/images/email_header.gif');

Hello,

I have tried to make this work, but no succes.

Do i have to alter the EMAIL HTML TEMPLATES in the email folder ? like the file email_template_checkout, do have to change the following code:

<!-- Header Section -->
<div class="header">
<img src="email/header.jpg" alt="logo" />
</div>

i think this is static code and there fore can only show one store logo.

cablesimple, stuffforboys or any one please help i'am stuck.

Thanks you'll

[roylen1]

Hi milkyway,

Can you help me with step 5. Category Filter please?

to which file would I add the description to and where?

Thankyou

---------------
The comment "<!--site1-site2-site3-->" goes in the description of each category. if you want category "categorya" to show up on site1 you need to update the description of "categorya" and add the comment "<!--site1-->"

There is a much simpkler way to do this ie
1. Go to tools and select multisite tools
2. Click on "Display the relations Categories/Sites" - This shows you a list of all your categories with a box for you to add the site name
3. Add the site names manually to each category. (the buttons AddToAll\RemoveFromAll do not work for me)

[roylen1]

[QUOTE=Adam65;761465]Hi Jane,

Now the next step: his second "Step 4:Create the configuration files of your sites"
He says: Add this line at the beginning of your "includes/configure.php": and then in the green box: "include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');" ....my only problem with this statement is he says at the beginning of the file... now does that mean before or after the
<?php that starts the file?... I figured after it ...am i wrong?

yes it is after the 1st <?php

[roylen1]

[QUOTE=Janelyn;758705]Hi,

I don't quite understand where these files should go because if I added them to the template the path to these files would read differently to how they are shown in the instructions.

includes/templates/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/extra_definitions/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/html_includes/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/order_total/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/payment/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/shipping/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]
includes/languages/english/modules/sideboxes/[YOUR_TEMPLATE]

Replace [YOUR_TEMPLATE] with the folder(directory) name of your template

I also get a serious error displayed my CPanel when I try to save the file includes/configure.php after adding this code below to the file, it doesn't matter where I put it on the page, I still get the same error.

include_once('includes/config_sites/sites_switch.php');

this line goes after the first <?php in your configure file. (you must make the file writeable before making the change and readonly after)
what is the error you get?

I also don't understand where these changes mentioned are meant to be made.

The category filter can now be desactivated with this line: 

define('ALLOW_CAT_FILTER','no'); //Desactivate the cat_filter for a site 

- You can now change the root category of your store by writing this line in your config files:

define('CATEGORIES_ROOT','21'); //root categories is 21 for this site

These two lines and would go into your "domain_configure.php" file.