Things every New Zenner needs to know

[jillsuzette]

Kind of embarassing, but I only understsand the basic template offerings (yet i do have a website that is decent and in working order). I've only just now upgraded to the newest version. I just need to do a basic enlargement of my current product images. I was able to easily do this on the earlier version i thought? I looked thru the FAQs and it says to rename images this and that LG SM MED etc, and upload to a server. I don't even know how to do this! I tried changing every image setting under Configuration/Images, and also posted different sized pics with my camera on different size settings or whatever you call it (400 vs 1200 etc). Can anyone help me, using basic verbage? Thanks for helping a "non-techy"!!

[jackie.taferner]

jill,
the best way to get the large images is to follow that FAQ's instructions by naming those images & uploading to the server.

FTP (file transfer protocol) is how you would access your server files. You need to get the FTP login information from your website host. Download & install an FTP software (filezilla is good: http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type=client), then login using your username/password.

Be VERY CAREFUL when browsing around in your FTP files. make sure you only mess with the correct folder, or you could potentially break your site.

The images are in the /images directory in your site. Backup the files that are there by "downloading" them into a folder on your computer. Upload the new images from your computer into the /images folder.

Good luck!

[WhitePhantom]

Hi,

I'd love some documentation on ZenCart, all in one document - either hard copy or soft copy - so I'm wondering what would anyone recommend? I'm finding it really frustrating trying to find the answers to my questions by searching the FAQs/tutorials, because sometimes I don't quite know what the question is / how to phrase it properly.

Thanks,
J.

[kuroi]

Hi,

I'd love some documentation on ZenCart, all in one document - either hard copy or soft copy - so I'm wondering what would anyone recommend? I'm finding it really frustrating trying to find the answers to my questions by searching the FAQs/tutorials, because sometimes I don't quite know what the question is / how to phrase it properly.

Thanks,
J.

Have you seen the ad for the book at the top of the page. It has over 400 pages of information about setting up and configuring a Zen Cart.

[frank18]

Could not agree more with kuroi. It's a very small outlay for a great manual, you won't regret it!

PS: I don't have any shares in the publishers company

Frank

[WhitePhantom]

Thanks guys, I did check that out alright, but when I saw the published date of Sept 2007 it kinda put me off... is it still current and worth buying then?

[frank18]

I have used my copy for ZC 1.3.7.1 and also for a recent (fully patched) 1.3.8.a install. Apart from some minor differences and improvements it is still as relevant today as it was in the Sept 2007 edition. I find it especially useful for the little bits and pieces that I have worked with in the past - but had forgotten in the meantime (oldtimers disease...)

Unless you want to do some real extensive modifications on your install, the book is a real time saver.

[Celtic]

My issue with the book is its price.

Now, before you jump on me and yell it's cheap for the effort and knowledge contained in it, yeah I agree.

But, I'm just checking out zenCart to see if it does what I want it to. I'm not committed to it yet, even though I've just invested a couple of days working my way around this forum and going through a maze of posts to work out which patches and bug fixes I need to apply before I should even consider going live. And that's before I get to put any of my own products and customisations into it.

So, for a total newbie like me, yeah, £40 is bloody expensive. The problem is, of course, that I need the info in the book in order to work out if zenCart is any good for my needs - and to decide that, I need help in setting the darn thing up.

Chicken and an egg!!!

Anyway, must delve back in, but I'm certainly not reading 68 pages of this blimmin thread!!!! Where's the real info?

[clydejones]

My issue with the book is its price.

Now, before you jump on me and yell it's cheap for the effort and knowledge contained in it, yeah I agree.

But, I'm just checking out zenCart to see if it does what I want it to. I'm not committed to it yet, even though I've just invested a couple of days working my way around this forum and going through a maze of posts to work out which patches and bug fixes I need to apply before I should even consider going live. And that's before I get to put any of my own products and customisations into it.

So, for a total newbie like me, yeah, £40 is bloody expensive. The problem is, of course, that I need the info in the book in order to work out if zenCart is any good for my needs - and to decide that, I need help in setting the darn thing up.

Chicken and an egg!!!

Anyway, must delve back in, but I'm certainly not reading 68 pages of this blimmin thread!!!! Where's the real info?

Tutorials/FAQ section (link at the top of the page)

[obesechicken13]

I haven't read the rest of the thread, just the OP, and I just started a few days ago.

The biggest issues I have had with zencraft were getting concise and simple instructions. Eg instead of saying "move this document to this directory" show us a picture of what it might look like, and a video. This would probably be more helpful if everyone used the same type of web server and stuff though...

Things I wish were easier or more explained:
1. installation
2. backing up
3. changing templates, I like the guide posted in this thread but a lot of it is rather overwhelming and I just followed the install txt file. Newbies can't read 6 pages of technical text to get how something works. Please summarize.
4. FTP how does this work? Any videos?
5. Finding a free web host.

Basically imagine that you are an office worker just layed off, with no past knowledge of computer servers. Imagine you want to start a business. You want a one stop place to learn everything you need to do it. This is a good target of what your guide should do imo. If it's too much work, spread it out into a nontechnical/ updated wiki.

I'm a computer engineering student... but I'm still rather nooby. If you do this, I will worship the ground you walk on. Everything is there, it's just that it's difficult to understand.