Contest System [support thread]

[wagnerguy]

What SEO mod are you using can you give us a link.
Because when I use index.php?main_page=contest to access the contest it reverts to contest using seo code.

Skip

I am using simple SEO mod..It was actually turned on..

try it now..

even turning it off did not fix the page sideboxes

is there a way i can adjust the coding to get the SEO and the contest to work together

[skipwater]

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

Skip

[DivaVocals]

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

Skip

I agree..

This module doesn't overwrite core files, and if you follow the install instructions that come with the readme file, it should just install with no issues.

In your setup it's not just the placement of the sideboxes that's an issue, what your contest page displays in general is NOT how this module is designed to work. The link I posted earlier (and the links from other successful installs posted in this support thread) reflect what you should see when this module is installed correctly.

There is something in your custom template and setup which is creating an issue that's never been reported before, and therefore I believe is NOT caused by this module at all.. Even if SEO was one issue, (and I don't believe that is your issue here) excluding the contest page from your SEO should resolve any SEO issue..

I think if you tested this with a different template, you would find the problem no longer exists.

[wagnerguy]

As of now there seems to be more then just the screen layout.

Your custom template and configuration is setup in away that I can not debug your issue. You have your left and right columns turning on and off based on what page is displayed.

There is an error with your checkout button when a customer is not logged in and has a empty cart.

In the end yes you can edit the contest pages to display correctly on your page.

Skip

I agree..

This module doesn't overwrite core files, and if you follow the install instructions that come with the readme file, it should just install with no issues.

In your setup it's not just the placement of the sideboxes that's an issue, what your contest page displays in general is NOT how this module is designed to work. The link I posted earlier (and the links from other successful installs posted in this support thread) reflect what you should see when this module is installed correctly.

There is something in your custom template and setup which is creating an issue that's never been reported before, and therefore I believe is NOT caused by this module at all.. Even if SEO was one issue, (and I don't believe that is your issue here) excluding the contest page from your SEO should resolve any SEO issue..

I think if you tested this with a different template, you would find the problem no longer exists.

something is definitely wrong with my temp.. when I switch temps it screws up.. I need to work on the actual template

[DivaVocals]

something is definitely wrong with my temp.. when I switch temps it screws up.. I need to work on the actual template

My suggest is always to start with one of the "endorsed" templates that aare supported here on this forum..

Even better??? Create your own template from scratch. I know most folks like templates because they "think" it saves them time.. But I have seen more posts related to template issues than I care to shake a stick at.. IMO most of the time unless it's a properly constructed template, most folks spend more time trying to get their template to work than they would have if they had constructed the template themselves..

All the templates out there (yes including the dread Template Monster templates) can EASILY be re-created following Zen standards without all of the hacks and junk many of these plug-n-play templates offer..

[cuttinboards.com]

Backed up before installing contest system. Tried it the first time exactly like the install instructions stated. I renamed all YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to the name of my template (template_default). This resulted in a working product, except that the headings were screwed up. Click here for previous post with pictures. Ok, did database restore which removed all contest system stuff off server. Also removed table "contest". Ok I tried a different method this time. I copied all the files from the zip to the exact folder/location on server. So basically I have installed this contest system 2 different time, two different ways, all files in readme are in the exact right spot. Every time I try an add-on it takes 3-4 days of hair pulling to get it working, what is the deal, what am I missing? I had a reply from DivaVocals and they said "Simple.. You haven't uploaded all the module files.. Specifically the language files.. " I say BS. I have even gone out and applied the template files to my (template_classic, and template_custom) folders. But the one I use is template_default, and not working. Anyone with a clue. Am I not installing this correctly?

[cuttinboards.com]

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to. Also the includes\languages\english\extra definitions\contest.php &contest_sidebox_defines.php out of "my template" folder and into the "extra definitions" folder, it also fixed those pages. Maybe I just thought that when it said to put it into "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder, I shouldn't have. Or maybe I have everything so screwed up on my end that I'm the only one that has ever had this problem. Sorry for all the confusion.

[skipwater]

cuttinboards

I am glad you worked it out.

Normally "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder indicates that you would rename the mods folders with this name. To the template that the site is using folder name.

Sample:

The mods directory tree looks like

includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/contest.php

Your site is using the classic template so you would rename the mods directory tree to match your site.

includes/languages/english/classic/contest.php


Skip

[DivaVocals]

**sigh** My answer wasn't BS at all.. You really didn't have the language files installed correctly.. I see you have it all worked out, but the way you've resolved the issue is incorrect and will cause issues down the road. You are using the template folders and the ZenCart overrides system incorrectly and that is a huge part of the issue you had installing this module to begin with. (Based on what you posted, you are using the default template as your main template) If you install other modules you will continue to have similar issues, and if you ever need to upgrade your cart you will find yourself in a bind as well..

In short the default_template is NOT a template that you should EVER be using as your primary template AT ALL.. I suggest that you read the following FAQ articles to get a sense of how the templates and override system works..

1. What is "template_default"?
2. The Override System really simplified
3. Understanding the Override System
4. Template Files - What are they and how are they used?
5. How do I set up the template overrides?

Backed up before installing contest system. Tried it the first time exactly like the install instructions stated. I renamed all YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to the name of my template (template_default). This resulted in a working product, except that the headings were screwed up. Click here for previous post with pictures. Ok, did database restore which removed all contest system stuff off server. Also removed table "contest". Ok I tried a different method this time. I copied all the files from the zip to the exact folder/location on server. So basically I have installed this contest system 2 different time, two different ways, all files in readme are in the exact right spot. Every time I try an add-on it takes 3-4 days of hair pulling to get it working, what is the deal, what am I missing? I had a reply from DivaVocals and they said "Simple.. You haven't uploaded all the module files.. Specifically the language files.. " I say BS. I have even gone out and applied the template files to my (template_classic, and template_custom) folders. But the one I use is template_default, and not working. Anyone with a clue. Am I not installing this correctly?

While moving it to the english folder might appear to work it is not the right way to do this. Skip is right, (as the readme indicates) you should have renamed the YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to match the name of the template you are using which looking at you site looks like it is classic. Please check out the FAQs I listed above.. It'll help you understand template overrides and why some modules include folders named YOUR_TEMPLATE and how you should deal with them.

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to.

[wagnerguy]

Never mind, I found out the major problem. I was putting includes\languages\english\YOUR_TEMPLATE\contest.php inside my template folder, but when i moved it to the "english" folder, everything shows up like it is supposed to. Also the includes\languages\english\extra definitions\contest.php &contest_sidebox_defines.php out of "my template" folder and into the "extra definitions" folder, it also fixed those pages. Maybe I just thought that when it said to put it into "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder, I shouldn't have. Or maybe I have everything so screwed up on my end that I'm the only one that has ever had this problem. Sorry for all the confusion.

cuttinboards

I am glad you worked it out.

Normally "YOUR_TEMPLATE" folder indicates that you would rename the mods folders with this name. To the template that the site is using folder name.

Sample:

The mods directory tree looks like

includes/languages/english/YOUR_TEMPLATE/contest.php

Your site is using the classic template so you would rename the mods directory tree to match your site.

includes/languages/english/classic/contest.php


Skip

**sigh** My answer wasn't BS at all.. You really didn't have the language files installed correctly.. I see you have it all worked out, but the way you've resolved the issue is incorrect and will cause issues down the road. You are using the template folders and the ZenCart overrides system incorrectly and that is a huge part of the issue you had installing this module to begin with. (Based on what you posted, you are using the default template as your main template) If you install other modules you will continue to have similar issues, and if you ever need to upgrade your cart you will find yourself in a bind as well..

In short the default_template is NOT a template that you should EVER be using as your primary template AT ALL.. I suggest that you read the following FAQ articles to get a sense of how the templates and override system works..

1. What is "template_default"?
2. The Override System really simplified
3. Understanding the Override System
4. Template Files - What are they and how are they used?
5. How do I set up the template overrides?

While moving it to the english folder might appear to work it is not the right way to do this. Skip is right, (as the readme indicates) you should have renamed the YOUR_TEMPLATE folders to match the name of the template you are using which looking at you site looks like it is classic. Please check out the FAQs I listed above.. It'll help you understand template overrides and why some modules include folders named YOUR_TEMPLATE and how you should deal with them.

I think I have made the same mistake.. I thought that the "your template" meant to put the files in the folder of the template I am using..

so to be extra clear(possibly dense, sorry) where it says "your template" I should change the name to the name of my template, then move the entire folder over to server?