Wordpress On ZC [Support Thread]

[ourcollegetown]

Hi all,

I just want to followup and show everyone what worked for me.

I tried WOZ 1.3 and 1.4 and could not get either to work after a week of trying.

I have now gone with the following solution:
Note: I am using Worpress 2.91 and Zen Cart 1.38a on PHP 5
My blog is housed in a separate subdirectory from my store.

1. Install the Numinix method for integrating Wordpress and Zen Cart. (It took me a while to figure out that changing the folder name for the blog is mandatory for this to work).

2. For integration of the blog, I used sidebox banners to drive traffic to it.

3. To add the blog content to my store, I followed the instructions form this page to add the article titles where I wanted them. http://www.corvidworks.com/articles/...on-other-pages

At the top of the define page:
<?php
// Include Wordpress
define('WP_USE_THEMES', false);
require('./blog/wp-load.phpNOTE THIS IS THE ABS ADDRESS OF YOUR BLOG');
query_posts('showposts=3');
?>

and then the following where I want the content to show up:

<?php while (have_posts()): the_post(); ?>
<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
<p><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">Read more...</a></p>
<?php endwhile; ?>

To see a working store with all of this implemented, visit: http://www.OurCollegeTown.net

[DivaVocals]

Thanks for the article link.. It gives me an idea how to create sideboxes to work with the Numinix embedding solution.. (Since CLEARLY based on other posts, my WOZ Sidebox Only solution will not) If I can figure out how to make this work, I will share with the community.. (and that will end ANY need for anyone to use WOZ ever again IMO)

As for your solution, my only comment is that the link to the blog in your store needs to be omni-present. It only shows when the blog banner "happens" to come up in the banner rotation, and truthfully I could only see it more frequently when I "forced" the blog to show by going straight to the blog URL..

Also the places where you are adding blog content to your store don't seem to be any place obvious.. Did you not add this code yet?? Lastly regarding this same code, if you are planning on adding it to one of the defined pages, you might wanna give a looksee into how you can incorporate it into the Admin Editable sideboxes module.. (Sideboxes which use a defined page to control the sidebox content -- VERY handy module)

Hi all,

I just want to followup and show everyone what worked for me.

I tried WOZ 1.3 and 1.4 and could not get either to work after a week of trying.

I have now gone with the following solution:
Note: I am using Worpress 2.91 and Zen Cart 1.38a on PHP 5
My blog is housed in a separate subdirectory from my store.

1. Install the Numinix method for integrating Wordpress and Zen Cart. (It took me a while to figure out that changing the folder name for the blog is mandatory for this to work).

2. For integration of the blog, I used sidebox banners to drive traffic to it.

3. To add the blog content to my store, I followed the instructions form this page to add the article titles where I wanted them. http://www.corvidworks.com/articles/...on-other-pages

At the top of the define page:
<?php
// Include Wordpress
define('WP_USE_THEMES', false);
require('./blog/wp-load.phpNOTE THIS IS THE ABS ADDRESS OF YOUR BLOG');
query_posts('showposts=3');
?>

and then the following where I want the content to show up:

<?php while (have_posts()): the_post(); ?>
<h2><?php the_title(); ?></h2>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
<p><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>">Read more...</a></p>
<?php endwhile; ?>

To see a working store with all of this implemented, visit: http://www.OurCollegeTown.net

[cslakans]

Thanks for the article link.. It gives me an idea how to create sideboxes to work with the Numinix embedding solution.. (Since CLEARLY based on other posts, my WOZ Sidebox Only solution will not) If I can figure out how to make this work, I will share with the community.. (and that will end ANY need for anyone to use WOZ ever again IMO)

As for your solution, my only comment is that the link to the blog in your store needs to be omni-present. It only shows when the blog banner "happens" to come up in the banner rotation, and truthfully I could only see it more frequently when I "forced" the blog to show by going straight to the blog URL..

Also the places where you are adding blog content to your store don't seem to be any place obvious.. Did you not add this code yet?? Lastly regarding this same code, if you are planning on adding it to one of the defined pages, you might wanna give a looksee into how you can incorporate it into the Admin Editable sideboxes module.. (Sideboxes which use a defined page to control the sidebox content -- VERY handy module)

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet! Good luck DivaVocals! You could make so many in the community very happy! And give you and Misty some time for other things for a change

And, thanks for sharing your solution "ourcollegetown". Hopefully, you got something good started.

[DivaVocals]

Sweet, Sweet, Sweet! Good luck DivaVocals! You could make so many in the community very happy! And give you and Misty some time for other things for a change

And, thanks for sharing your solution "ourcollegetown". Hopefully, you got something good started.

Awww you are sweet.. The trick is finding TIME for all these Zen Cart "experiments" I keep engaging myself in.. This one I am determined to get a resolution for because I pass on the benefits to my clients when I come up with an answer.. They let me "try" out my "experiments" on their shops after I test 'em in my lab.. This way I can get feedback from a live shop, and they get a cool new toy in their stores.. (Just recently hooked up a client with another of my lab experiments.. )

I will DEFINITELY share my outcome with all when I'm done..

[ourcollegetown]

No, I had not implemented the front page solution in entirety yet. You can check it now at: http://www.OurCollegeTown.net .

Also, you are right that the blog is not omni-present, as it is not my intention for it to be. There are a number of value-added parts of our site, such as the news-blog and the history and trivia pages, but the focus is, and always will be, on the products and encouraging purchases. The blog creates a more engaging customer experience, but the goal isn't to make every visitor click on it.

Also, the blog itself has a separate address, http://www.MercerU.com and its own marketing campaign through http://www.facebook.com/MercerU and http://www.Twitter.com/MercerU to drive traffic to it, and thus, the store.

Any other observations you have will be greatly appreciated. I do all of this myself and can use all the help I can get.

Thanks for the article link.. It gives me an idea how to create sideboxes to work with the Numinix embedding solution.. (Since CLEARLY based on other posts, my WOZ Sidebox Only solution will not) If I can figure out how to make this work, I will share with the community.. (and that will end ANY need for anyone to use WOZ ever again IMO)

As for your solution, my only comment is that the link to the blog in your store needs to be omni-present. It only shows when the blog banner "happens" to come up in the banner rotation, and truthfully I could only see it more frequently when I "forced" the blog to show by going straight to the blog URL..

Also the places where you are adding blog content to your store don't seem to be any place obvious.. Did you not add this code yet?? Lastly regarding this same code, if you are planning on adding it to one of the defined pages, you might wanna give a looksee into how you can incorporate it into the Admin Editable sideboxes module.. (Sideboxes which use a defined page to control the sidebox content -- VERY handy module)

[DivaVocals]

One more question.. Which file specifically did you add the code that calls the WordPress blogs posts on your front page??

No, I had not implemented the front page solution in entirety yet. You can check it now at: http://www.OurCollegeTown.net .

Also, you are right that the blog is not omni-present, as it is not my intention for it to be. There are a number of value-added parts of our site, such as the news-blog and the history and trivia pages, but the focus is, and always will be, on the products and encouraging purchases. The blog creates a more engaging customer experience, but the goal isn't to make every visitor click on it.

Also, the blog itself has a separate address, http://www.MercerU.com and its own marketing campaign through http://www.facebook.com/MercerU and http://www.Twitter.com/MercerU to drive traffic to it, and thus, the store.

Any other observations you have will be greatly appreciated. I do all of this myself and can use all the help I can get.

[kburner]

No.. Josh's instructions have NOTHING to do with the WOZ Sideboxes Only solution.. His install instructions are only for WOZ.. The WOZ Sideboxes Only solution is NOT installed ON TOP OF the WOZ module.. It is installed INSTEAD OF the WOZ module.. (It is meant to be a completely different module which is BASED ON WOZ v1.3.. There is a readme file included which explains how to install it.. You would NOT run the two together..)

If you search this thread you will find this link and all the other postings I've done regarding this solution.. (Including a WOZ Recent Posts sidebox) http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showpo...postcount=1036

Hi DivaVocals,
I am getting ready to load WP and use WOZ sideboxes only. I just wanted to make sure I had all things in my mind clear before continuing. These may be dumb questions. Sorry. I just don't want to mess it up again!

Install WordPress (v2.7.x) - Does it have to be this version. I think my host has 2.9?

Install WordPress (v2.7.x) in it's OWN directory - table pre-fix When I install it asks where with my site: www.burnerbooks.com/????
Do I just add blog? or public_html?

Thank you, Kim

[DivaVocals]

Not dumb questions, but they are answered in the readme file for this mod.. Your questions refer to my original post for doing this. There have been some modifications since that original post..

Please go back to the link I provided. Read the full post, and download the zip file. There is a readme file included which gives you step by step instructions on how to implement this.. It's pretty straight forward..

Let me know if that helps..

Hi DivaVocals,
I am getting ready to load WP and use WOZ sideboxes only. I just wanted to make sure I had all things in my mind clear before continuing. These may be dumb questions. Sorry. I just don't want to mess it up again!

Install WordPress (v2.7.x) - Does it have to be this version. I think my host has 2.9?

Install WordPress (v2.7.x) in it's OWN directory - table pre-fix When I install it asks where with my site: www.burnerbooks.com/????
Do I just add blog? or public_html?

Thank you, Kim

[ourcollegetown]

One more question.. Which file specifically did you add the code that calls the WordPress blogs posts on your front page??

That's what made this so nice and clean. Right in define main:

<font size=4><b><a href="http://www.OurCollegeTown.net/blog">Latest Mercer News:</a></b></font><br><?php
// Include Wordpress
define('WP_USE_THEMES', false);
require('/home/website/public_html/blog/wp-load.php');
query_posts('showposts=3');
?>
<?php while (have_posts()): the_post(); ?>
<font size=3><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?> - </font><font size=0> More</font></a><br>
<?php endwhile; ?>
<a href="http://www.OurCollegeTown.net/blog">More Mercer News...</a><p>

[DivaVocals]

I'm not clear how WHERE you did this, and that's what I am trying to get clarification on.. Are you are saying you added this code to the main page using the define pages editor???

That's what made this so nice and clean. Right in define main:

<font size=4><b><a href="http://www.OurCollegeTown.net/blog">Latest Mercer News:</a></b></font><br><?php
// Include Wordpress
define('WP_USE_THEMES', false);
require('/home/website/public_html/blog/wp-load.php');
query_posts('showposts=3');
?>
<?php while (have_posts()): the_post(); ?>
<font size=3><a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?> - </font><font size=0> More</font></a><br>
<?php endwhile; ?>
<a href="http://www.OurCollegeTown.net/blog">More Mercer News...</a><p>