Noob questions

I've read through the FAQs and tried to find stuff in the Wiki. I've familiarized myself with the menus and the basic structure of the PHP scripts. I have all the recommended tools. I'm struggling with several issues that experienced users can probably help me master in a few minutes:

1. What are all the steps to make a product downloadable assuming I have a DOWNLOADS directory installed above the public_html folder and my downloadable product is in there?
2. What are all the steps to link my site's INDEX.html page to my catalog?
3. If I want to draft my own catalog page and then link each item to the shopping cart (and link the shopping cart back to my custom catalog page), how can I do that?
4. Is there some general setting that will tell Zencart to look into a "Custom" folder first for PHP files?
5. If you have some favorite add-ons or other resources (besides the book, which will get here around Christmas) please list them.

Thanks!

:frusty:

1. https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=71

2. Just a link on your site's home page to the Zencart folder if it's in its own directory, or to index.php if it isn't. If you want Zencart to co-exist with an existing site, the subdidectory (/store, for example) is the way to go.

3. No. Zencart is designed to be the whole shopping cart. You'll run into sessions problems by switching back and forth between Zencart and non-Zencart pages.

4. Some PHP files, yes. It's the override system, enabled by creating your CUSTOM template.

https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=230
https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=142

5. I think the fewer mods the better, but most of the ones I use are Admin-related, like Master Password.