Baffling blank page at checkout_shipping.php

[ci-rory]

Hi all,

I edited the checkout_shipping.php and uploaded it to the template override folder within includes/languages/english as per good Zen Cart practice.

The changes I made were minimal and did not affect any syntax - I basically just changed the word 'shipping' to 'delivery' in the definition values. I have compared and re-compared with the original file in WinMerge but there is nothing different that should cause a problem that I can see - e.g. stray commas, missing apostrophes, etc.

However now when I click through from the delivery information in the checkout through to the next screen, I just get an inexplicable blank screen. I have read through similar threads but they all seem to have done something wrong syntax-wise in the PHP file that I just can't see in mine.

Could anybody offer any suggestions on this?

Many thanks,

Rory. :)

My modified checkout_shipping.php code:

--

<?php

/**

* @package languageDefines

* @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: checkout_shipping.php 4042 2006-07-30 23:05:39Z drbyte $

*/



define('NAVBAR_TITLE_1', 'Checkout');

define('NAVBAR_TITLE_2', 'Delivery Method');



define('HEADING_TITLE', 'Step 1 of 3 - Delivery Information');



define('TABLE_HEADING_SHIPPING_ADDRESS', 'Delivery Address');

define('TEXT_CHOOSE_SHIPPING_DESTINATION', 'Your order will be delivered to the address at the left or you may change the delivery address by clicking the <em>Change Address</em> button.');

define('TITLE_SHIPPING_ADDRESS', 'Delivery Information:');



define('TABLE_HEADING_SHIPPING_METHOD', 'Delivery Method:');

define('TEXT_CHOOSE_SHIPPING_METHOD', 'Please select the preferred delivery method to use on this order.');

define('TITLE_PLEASE_SELECT', 'Please Select');

define('TEXT_ENTER_SHIPPING_INFORMATION', 'This is currently the only delivery method available to use on this order.');

define('TITLE_NO_SHIPPING_AVAILABLE', 'Not Available At This Time');

define('TEXT_NO_SHIPPING_AVAILABLE','<span class="alert">Sorry, we are not delivering to your region at this time.</span><br />Please contact us for alternative arrangements.');



define('TABLE_HEADING_COMMENTS', 'Special Instructions or Comments About Your Order');



define('TITLE_CONTINUE_CHECKOUT_PROCEDURE', 'Continue to Step 2');

define('TEXT_CONTINUE_CHECKOUT_PROCEDURE', '- choose your payment method.');



// when free shipping for orders over $XX.00 is active

define('FREE_SHIPPING_TITLE', 'Free Delivery');

define('FREE_SHIPPING_DESCRIPTION', 'Free delivery for orders over %s');

?>



--

[Steven300]

What programme are you using to edit the file? I don't know whether it's just this forum but it looks like there are big gaps (double spaced?) between the code. Make sure to use a code-friendly editor such as Notepad++.

Failing that, try step 2a:
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=82

[ci-rory]

Hi,

Thanks for getting back to me. There are some double, even triple spaces between lines in the file but they exist in the original php file - I haven't added them in.

I edit the files using jEdit.

I ran the debugging thing from the link you provided and it found lots of notices, a handful of warnings but no fatal errors, so nothing obvious to go on there either.

Any more ideas?

Thanks again,

Rory. :)

[Steven300]

There are some empty lines in checkout_shipping.php but that's not quite the same as double spacing. Empty lines are okay but double spacing is not.

What errors *did* you receive when running the Debug Error-Logging Utility?

Also, delete any space there may be after the closing ?>

[ci-rory]

Yes that's done it!

I took out all of the double/triple spaces (carriage returns) and also removed the one empty line after the closing ?> at the end of the file. The checkout now works without a problem.

Thanks for your help with that

Now, I am just wondering why that has fixed things. I suppose it shows my ignorance of PHP to ask what difference blank spaces make, but that's the question on my lips nonetheless...

Thanks again,

All the best,

Rory. :)

[Steven300]

Well as far as double spacing goes, I imagine it's because the code becomes formatted, almost like a picture, and so when it comes to the server trying to read the code, it won't know what to do.

On the other hand, if you have space before the opening PHP tag, the server reads this blank data and treats it as header information in the form of text/html. So then when PHP begins and tries to send its own header information, the server throws a blank page with a response like "headers already sent". It's likely a similar story for space after the closing PHP tag.

Interestingly, the Zen Cart devs are starting to remove the closing PHP tags from the end of files as they're not actually required. https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=313

This should solve a lot of problems.

[Soulkreed]

Yes that's done it!

I took out all of the double/triple spaces (carriage returns) and also removed the one empty line after the closing ?> at the end of the file. The checkout now works without a problem.

Thanks for your help with that

Now, I am just wondering why that has fixed things. I suppose it shows my ignorance of PHP to ask what difference blank spaces make, but that's the question on my lips nonetheless...

Thanks again,

All the best,

Rory. :)

Hi,
I have the same problem, however, I can't seem to find my checkout_shipping or checkout_payment php files anywhere, i have some checkout and payment ones but they are not the same ones as you guy's have mentioned here

Can they be named other things also and if so what?

Cheers.

[timdwyer42]

Hi the default checkout_shipping.php is located in includes/languages/english/

[Soulkreed]

I found the php files and have edited the gaps/spaces and i'm still getting the screen which is blank.

[timdwyer42]

Are you sure there is no space at all after the final ?>

if there isn't have you installed http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=84613

if you havn't try that and follow the instructions. If you have is that creating an error log?