Ok...not sure what to do.

I really hate posting on forums about issues like this because it's easy enough to Google what ever info I need but I've not been able to find the solution to the problem I am having.
What I am trying to do is edit my home page and I've been following the tutorials. This stuff is pretty easy but I've stumbled across something I can't get an answer to. Here is what I am using/doing:

Using Kompozer to edit header.php
Using Hostmonster as my host site
Trying to save my header to the appropriate Zen Cart folder

When I publish the edited header.php it does not change on my home page. I've even used HostMonster ftp to load it directly into the carts folder stored on the server but still nothing changes. Everything has been going real smooth up and until this point.

I also want to take a moment to thank the countless numbers of people that get on here and help newbs like me to figure this stuff out. It says a lot about people that get on these boards and spend their time trying to help educate other.

I am not familiar with Kompozer, but I understand it is a WYSIWYG html editor...

... so basically it is of no use to you for editing core ZC files !

The core code (php) is best edited in a PLAIN TEXT EDITOR, and notepad++ (not notepad), and crimson editor are fine for this purpose.

Rather than tell us what TOOLS you are using, let us know what you are trying to achieve. And make your postings titles specific: eg:

• How do I change the logo in the header?
• How do I switch of breadcrumbs on the main page?
• Where are the main language defines?
  etc

So, what is it that you are trying to do with your header... ?

What I was trying to change was the header. I think you just pointed me in the right direction. I didn't know that I was using the wrong program to edit this. Thanks a ton.

What are you trying to change in the header??? The logo???

There is usually no need to change CODE to change basic display features...

What I am trying to change is the message at the top of the page that says "Sales Message Goes Here" and the congratulations you've installed zen cart. According to all of the tutorials the only way to change this part of the homepage is to edit it with a program like notepad ++ that you pointed me to. That's all I'm trying to change.

I downloaded notepad ++ and edited it according to the tutorials. The only thing that I can't figure out is why the page isn't changing. I uploaded it into the appropriate are of my server but it's still not showing up as having been changed.

Thanks for pointing me to that program by the way.:D

roge212:

I uploaded it into the appropriate are of my server but it's still not showing up as having been changed

If it's not showing, then you've either edited the wrong copy of the file, or not re-loaded it to the proper folder.

What is the name you have given to your CUSTOM template system?

Ok, now I'm beginning to feel more stupid than when I first sat down and started working on this stuff weeks ago. What I did was edit the copy of header.php that I have on my computer then tried to upload it to the inludes/languages/english stored in the Zen Cart files on my server using my ftp file transfer. None of the tutorials that I saw on this subject made mention of making a custom template folder. Thanks man for your help so far. I hate for having someone to hold my hand like this. :blink:

Ummm.... did you read https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=127 which clearly states:

CAPITALIZED words refer to a folder or language that you choose. We use CUSTOM for your template and ENGLISH for your language by default. These generic terms should be changed to  the name of the  template/language you are using.

roge212:

I hate for having someone to hold my hand like this.

Hey... I started in the same place as you are now! No need to feel bad about that. The GOOD THING is that you have ZC and are keen to learn how it works.

We are all here to help.

roge212:

Ok, now I'm beginning to feel more stupid than when I first sat down and started working on this stuff weeks ago. What I did was edit the copy of header.php that I have on my computer then tried to upload it to the inludes/languages/english stored in the Zen Cart files on my server using my ftp file transfer. None of the tutorials that I saw on this subject made mention of making a custom template folder. Thanks man for your help so far. I hate for having someone to hold my hand like this. :blink:

May I suggest you grab a copy of the Zen book?
I know I personally spent hours, and hours, and hours, and....ok, you get it....before I bought the book. It covers quite a bit of stuff. It doesn't really cover customizing your site a whole lot, but it does cover how the cart works, adding products, adding attributes, overrides, the stylesheet, etc, plus much more.
It will make your life easier I promise.

afo:

Ummm.... did you read https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=127 which clearly states:

CAPITALIZED words refer to a folder or language that you choose. We use CUSTOM for your template and ENGLISH for your language by default. These generic terms should be changed to the name of the template/language you are using.

Yeah, I clearly saw that but I'm not using a custom template, all I am doing is trying to modify the header.php file in the default folder. I really want to keep this as simple as I can for now. I don't know I may be missing something.

Here is the tutorial that I am using:

http://www.2serveu.net/ZenCart/tutorials/zencart_tutorial_edithomepage.htm

I am following this to the "T" (where does that saying come from anyway?) but my homepage still does not change.

This is the most frustrating :censored: software that I have had to work with. I can't understand why they didn't make this editable through the admin like most of the other things.

Ok, now that I have created my CUSTOM folder by following these rediculous tutorials....what now!? I have followed all of these tutorials to the proverbial "T" but they leave out a ton of stuff like for instance what the :censored: do I do with a virtually empty CUSTOM folder?

The only place that I can successfully edit my header.php and index.php and get the homepage to change is in the classics folder. I've done some searching on this and I have found posts that say 'if you do this it will change when it is updated'. So what does a fella do then? What else needs to go into the CUSTOM folder to get the browser to point here without jacking up the website.

I've noticed there are a lot of other people that are really frustrated over this crap too. Is it so hard to make this thing a little more simple to edit?

roge212:

Here is the tutorial that I am using:

http://www.2serveu.net/ZenCart/tutorials/zencart_tutorial_edithomepage.htm

I am following this to the "T" (where does that saying come from anyway?) but my homepage still does not change.

Tell us where you are uploading the file to.
Should be something like (we can get into the folder overides later).

includes/languages/english/classic